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343
<br />
<br />January 8, 1980
<br />
<br /> Mr. FYank Cadlaon, Chairman of "Voice of Democracy", Post 993, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
<br />presented Mayor Davis with citation in appreciation and recognition of valuable cooperation
<br />and assistance rendered in behalf of the Voice of Democracy Broadcast Scriptwriting Program.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Holley and seconded by Mr. Beamer, that a copy of Miss Hohmann's essay,
<br />"My Role in America's Future, to be placed in the Public Library, and was adopted by unanimous
<br />vote.
<br />
<br />80-25-- Edwin L. Ellis, Chairman of CAC, made the following report:
<br />
<br /> "As you are aware, the Citizen's Advisory Committee last summer completed an 18 months
<br />long series of visits to Portsmouth's neighborhoods. Each visit consisted of a tour and dinne
<br />with neighborhood leaders, followed by an open forum for all citizens. Participation at these
<br />meetings-was, in general, very good. While attendance could have been better at some of the
<br />meetings, we sometimes had over a hundred citizens in the audience with as many as 20 speakers
<br />
<br /> The entire Committee feels that we learned more about Portsmouth and its problems in that
<br />18 months than in any previous conparable period. While we cannot list every complaint receiv.
<br />and its resolution, if any, there are several issues which soon became apparent. Subsequent
<br />discussion by CAC members has identified specific actions which, we think, will help us give
<br />better advice to City Council.
<br />
<br />Our report to you consists of the following points:
<br />
<br />Three major concerns were found in every area of Portsmouth. They are desire for
<br />better drainage, curbs and gutters, desire for better parks and recreation pro-
<br />grams and facilities, and desire for stronger housing codes enforcement. These
<br />concerns had different priority in the various neighborhoods, but the same three
<br />problems were widely discussed in every neighborhood.
<br />
<br />While we do not recommend total overhall of the drainage and street improvement
<br />priority system, we do recommend that higher priority system, we do recommend
<br />that higher priority be given to drainage problems around shcools, senior citizens
<br />centers, and other places where the very young and the very old gather.
<br />
<br />~Concerning parks and recreatmon and codes enforcement, we feel that Portsmouth
<br />has upgraded its efforts in these areas in recent years. However, you should be
<br />aware of the strong desire for further improvement which was expressed to us in
<br />virtually every neighborhood we visited.
<br />
<br />2. Some problems were reported to us because people don't know whom to contact to solve
<br /> governmental problems. They need to be made more aware through better public in-
<br /> formation efforts. Perhaps the Citizens' Information Directory should be re-issued
<br /> and distributed, or a simple flyer with telephone numbers of various City departments
<br /> The Citizens' Assistance number should be more widely publicized and a 24 hour
<br /> telephone answering machine should be considered.
<br />
<br />3. We ~ould like to invite a City Council member to occasionally visit a CAC meeting
<br /> when the situation warrants. Although such visits are not necessary on a regular
<br /> basis, there are times when the exchange of views resulting from such a visit would
<br /> be helpful.
<br />
<br />4~
<br />
<br />We would like to invite your recommendations or requests to the CAC on problems
<br />we might invetigate for you. Our enabling ordinance states that the CAC should
<br />serve as liaison between Citizens and Council, and to meet that charge, we should
<br />have greater communication with Council.
<br />
<br /> We hope this report is useful to you. If you would like further details on our findings,
<br />I will be happy to discuss them with you.
<br />
<br /> Mayor Davis asked that thanks be given to the members of the CAC for the report. Mayor
<br />Davis and other members of Council complimented Mr. Ellis and his Committee on their efforts
<br />in the CAC.
<br />
<br />UNFINISHED BUSINESS
<br />
<br /> 79-442 Tbs following ordinance approved on first reading at the Public Hearing of
<br />December 10, 1979, was taken up and read:
<br />
<br />(b) "ZONING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE Z 79-20"
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Gray and seconded by Mr. Holley, the ordinance was adopted, and by the
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Beamer, Early, Gray, Holley, Oast, Davis
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 79-442 On motion Of Mr.
<br />proved on first reading at the
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />Gray and seconded by Mr. B~amer, the following resolution apl
<br />Public Hearing of December 10, 1979, was adopted, and by the
<br />
<br />
<br />
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