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R. C. P.
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<br />September 5~ 1916.
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<br />tended for the sum of $20,000.00; upon the same terms as offered ~o the former Council.
<br />On motion, said proposition was referred to the Public Service Department.
<br />
<br /> -An offer of J. S. Rea andMerrick Rea to sell the City for $1,500. a sufficient amount
<br />of land to enable it to open that part of Duke street which extends through their property,
<br />referred to the Department of Public Service.
<br />
<br /> A communication was received from the Portsmouth Coal & Ice Co. saying that it lSd.willing
<br />to pay $I00. towards remedying the d~ainage between the Sixth and Seventh Wards and by the pro-
<br />perty of the Portsmouth Coal & Ice Co.; but that it is u~willing to pay $150. as required by
<br />the former Council.
<br /> On motion, said communication was referred to the Bepartment of Public Service.
<br />
<br /> A communication was read from the President of the League ol Virginia Municipalities, re-
<br />questing the Council to send de!eg~tes to represent the City at the Convention of said League
<br />at Clifton Forge September 26-8~th, inclusive.
<br /> On motion of Mr. Herbert, the body took the same action on the request.as is usually
<br />ta~.~n, that is, empowered the President to appoint the delegmtes for said meeting and ma~e a-
<br />vam£able the appropriation allowed in the Budget to meet the expenses of the delegates.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Morris offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
<br /> Be It Resolved by the
<br />Council of the City of Portsmouth, Va., That expert accountants be employed by the Council to
<br />make a complete audit of all books and accounts of all City ~fficials, and to render to the
<br />Council an ex, ct statement of the true financial-condition ~f the City as of August 31st, 1916.
<br />That said report be published in one or more papers circulated in the City of Portsmouth, in
<br />order that the citizens may be thoroughly acquainted with the true financial condition of the
<br />City government, and that th~ President of the Council appoint two members to select such ex-
<br />pert accountants and to recommend same as early as possible to the Council, with probable cost
<br />of such expert work.
<br />
<br /> And on motion, ~n appropriation to employ such expert accountants was referred to the
<br />Department of Finance.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Morris moved that m quorum of the body shall consist of four members°
<br /> Er. Dashiell suggested that a quorum consist of four members, except in case of appro-
<br />priations~ when the quorum shall consist of five members.
<br /> On motion, the matter was referred to the Department of Law.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Dashiell, an~app=opriation of $20. for m light at the corner of High and
<br />Effingham streets was referred to the Department of Finance.
<br />
<br /> On motion, the City Attorney was instructed to advise the Mayor as ~o his duties with re-
<br />lation to the Police ~ud Fire Departments; mud also to give his opinion as to the manner in
<br />which Justices of the Peace are provided for.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Morris moved that a meeting of the Council be held on Tuesday nlg~ht of each week at
<br />7:30 P. M., until otherwise changed by the Council. The motion was ad6pted.
<br />
<br /> The following resolution presented by Ar. Morris was adopted:
<br /> Be It Resolved by The Coun-
<br />cil of the City of Portsmouth, Va., That the Council insert an advertisement for a City Mana-
<br />ger in The M~nufacturers Record of Baltimore, Md.., and one or more widely circulated industrial
<br />papers of the country; all answers to such advertisement to be mailed to the Clerk of the Coun-
<br />cil on or before October MOth, 1~16; and the Council to select the City Manager as early as
<br />practicable a~fter that date.
<br />
<br /> Whereupon, the Clerk w~s instructed to submit a form of advertisement for same, w~n~ch
<br />is to be acted on by the body next Tuesday night.
<br />
<br /> At this point, the President inquired of City Auditor Brinson, who was present, if the
<br />inventory of the City's property has been completed yet.
<br /> The Auditor stated that, with the exception of a few Departments yet to be heard from by
<br />him, the work is completed.
<br /> When, a motion w~s offered by Er. Herbert that the Clerk notify the Ohiefs of various
<br />Departments that the inventory of their Department must be in hand by Tuesday night, at which
<br />time the Council holds its next meeting. The motion was $~iopted.
<br />
<br /> N~. Morgan ~sked to be informed as to whether or not both the Chairmen and ~ioe-Ohairmen
<br />of the various Departments are to siEnpay rolls and other ~atters coming under their respective
<br />departments. He said he thought that the duties should be clearly defined.
<br /> Upon suggestion of ~he Chair, N~r. Herbert movedthat the heads of the vs~vious ~e-
<br />partments consider jointly mmtters referred to them, but that only the signature of the ~hAir-
<br />men wbu~A;be necessary to the papers. The motion was adopted.
<br />
<br /> On~motion of Mr. Morgan, ~the advisability of purc~h~sing the Guthrie property adjoining
<br />the Oa~ Grove Cemetery was rexerred to the Department o~ Public Welfare.
<br />
<br /> On suggestion of Mr. Hanvey, the City Attorney was instructed ~o give his opinion as to
<br />the authority of the Council with regard to the School Board, Board of Health, Park Commission,
<br />and Sixth and Seventh Ward Boards.
<br />
<br /> On motion of ~r. Dashiell, the attention of the Department of Public Service and theSs~ui-
<br />tary ~nspeotor was called to offensive odors given out by the ZnCinerator Plant.
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Morris, th'e resolution adopted by this body September 'let requiring the
<br />heads of various ~=par~gments to submit a schedule of supplies for their ~epa~tments for the
<br />yea~ o~inntng January 1, 1~17, was amended, so as to' ~equire the heads of Sep~rtments to sub-
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