Minutes 03/23/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 23, 1982 82-82(b) - Motion of Mr. Beamer and seconded by Mrs. Webb, the contract for T. A. Willett Auditorium be awarded to Stahl-Rider, Inc., being the lowest responsible bidder, and was adopt ed by unanimous vote. 82-84 The following ordinance deferred from the meeting of March 9, 1982, was taken up and read: ~'AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 20-52 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, 1973, PERTAINING TO ~SINESS L~CENS£ TAX ON PEDDLERS AND ITINERANT MERCHANTS." On motion of Mr. Barnes and seconded by Mrs. Webb, the ordinance was adopted.; and by the following vote: Ayes: Barnes, Beamer, Gray, east, Webb, Whitlow, Johansen Nays: None 82-100 Motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mrs. Webb, to discuss a P~ERSONNEL MATTER, and was adopted by unanimous at -:53 p.m.) To go into an executive session vote. (Council left the Chamber The City Council meeting reconvened at 8:38 p.m. 82-101 David Vermilya, City Assessor, made the following statement concerning real estate assessments: "Mr. Mayor, in the ongoing review and equalization process that I have City Council, we have revised assessments and are showing that the general to be altered from the previously announced 18½ percent to approximately 12 committed to the increase is going percent. This will basically effect residential properties although we are continuing to hear ap- peals on individual eases and any commercial or industrial properties that would be affected. I feel it is important that Council know that this general reduction to residential assessments will be mailed to the public within a week. We are taking every step to inform individuals who have already made appointments for review with the Board of Equalization what these changes will be so they can be properly informed before they make the final decision on their appeals. In previous meetings with the Council have been with the understanding that we are in a continuing equalization and review process of assessments. In the letter of March 16 I stated that changes were being considered on a general basis. On Friday, March 19, I stated that after several weeks of reviewing information and pursuing all avenues of the appeal process and items that were bruught to our attention, we are taking these steps to make a general decrease in the assessments we had sent out. At this pointthe final conclusions are fairly firm and the overall increase is going to be reduced on residential properties by approximately a third. I recognize that this problem of the assessments has taken a great deal of Council's time and has put the assessment procedure and the assessor's office in a political position, a posi tion that the assessments should not be involved in. And the recognition of the error in previous assessments that will be reflected in the new values are our attempt to pursue the proper~course in developing assessments for the City of Portsmouth that best reflect market value and are fair and equitable to all citizens and all types of property. Because the turmoil has become office and the assessment procedure tender my resignation effective May political and my intention is to keep the assessor's in a professional and nonpolitical condition, I do hereby 30, 1982." Vice Mayor Beamer thanked Mr. Vermilya for the statement he made in his consciousness and dilemn~ off,ur city. · Motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mr. Beamer, that the resignation of the City Assessor be accepted, effective May 30, 1982, was adopted by unanimous vote. The following reports from the City Manager were presented: 82-102 "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $199,904 in the City Garage Fund to cover expenses which will be incurred in operating the School Garage for the remainder of the fiscal year. In November, 1981, the City Garage assumed responsibility for the maintenance and opera- tion of the School Board's fleet of buses and other vehicles. A budget of $340,758 was appror priated for the remainder of the fiscal year. After four months of operation, the basic level of service to the School Board has required more labor and vehicle parts than originally was anticipated and, as a consequence, an additional $199,904 will be needed to maintain services for 1981-82. These expenses will be borne by the School Board from its existing transportatio budget. The City Manager recommends adoption on first reading. On mo~ion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mrs. Webb, the following ordinance was approved on first reading, and by unanimous vote: "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $199,904 FROM THE-CITY GARAGE FUND FOR GARAGE SERVICES FOR THE SCHOOl BOARD FOR THE REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 1981-82."