Minutes 04/26/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 26, 1988 Willett Mall On Sunday, 'February 14, 19~8, Willett-Hall was reopened to the sounds of' the Virginia Symph6ny after extensive renovations.~ With the rededication-of Willett H-all, the~City and School. Administratiori cre~ted a "Management Team" to ensure t,hat the facility is utilized to its fullest by providing educational activities, entert~inment <and cuI4au,ral and civic events for the benefi, t:of all l~ort~smo~th c~itizens~< - ~Willett Ha~ll, ;for- over 30 year,s,r h:a,s been underutilized.; however, ~'with -ou~ d'~dicated~ efforts to marke-t -the f~acility,, we have the opportuni%/~ to m&ke' it the pr~m'iere concert hall within the region. Toward that effort, funds for consulting promotional s~er, vices, automated regiona~ ticket sa~es and a full time cashier are included in this Droposal. Ce~metery Maintenance Over the past two years the Department of Parks and Recreation has improved its maintenance frequency at City-owned, as well as abandoned, cemeteries. With the utilization of lawn chemicals we. have been able to remove unsightly weeds from around tombstones, dramatically improving the appearance of City maintained~ cemeteries. In addition, with City Council's approval two years ago to clear and maintain abandoned~cemeteries (over a three-~ear pe~iod~, we have accomplished clearing at Ebony Heights, Barclay Cemetery and a portion of Mt. Calvary/Mt. Olive. Wit~ funding this year we should 'be'~ble to ac'complish'our c'l~:arin~ 'operation a%~t. Calvary/Mt. Olive. I have also phased in the pav~ng o~~ cemetery roads in 'Cedar Grove, Oak Grove and Olive Branch. For the propo,sed f~sCal year, Cedar Grove will be paved, H~man Serviees Community Services Board The proposed budget ref~ect~ ~-~ws ~and bad news in the human services areas. On the one hand, the proposed budget for the Community Services Board reflects a 20% increase in state funds allowing for the addition of 26 new positions. On the other hand, almost all of the state funding is intended for the support of new program initiatives and not to expand or support current programs, even though many current programs are operating at or near capacity. In authorizing the new positions, I directed the Executive Director of the Community Services Board to require that new hires under new initiatives programs s~gn an employment agreement in which the employee would acknowledge his understanding that'th~ City has no'obligatiOn to continue his emplo~;ment ~hould state fund~ing cease or fail ~o increase in an amoun~ sufficient to continue the program. In-the past,, the, State has established new program~initiatives, but in'later years held eonstant~or reduced fuhdihg levels forcing the ,local government to pick'u~ additicnal ~ost: While I suppo~,and recognize the need for these new pro~rams~ I feel compelled to protect the inte~ity of-our local tax paying citizens.