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April 10, 1979
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council, held on April 10, 1979, there were present:
<br />
<br />Jack P. Barnes, E. Saunders Early, Jr., Archie
<br />James W. Holley, Edward L. Oast, Jr., Robert T.
<br />Gordon B. Tayloe, Jr., City Attorney.
<br />
<br />Elliott, Jr., J. Robert Gray~
<br />Williams, City Manager,
<br />
<br /> Absent: Richard J. Davis
<br />
<br /> In accordance with resolution adopted on March 27, 1979, the meeting was held in the
<br />T. A. Willett Auditorium, Woodrow Wilson High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
<br /> ~Vice Mayor Holley presided in the absence of Mayor Davis, and welcomed all visitors
<br />in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Rev. James D. Newman, Pastor, Western Branch Baptist Church, opened the meeting with
<br />prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Barnes and seconded by Mr. Oast, minutes of the called meeting of March
<br />1979; minutes of the regular meeting of March 27, 1979, to be approved as received, and was
<br />adopted by unanimous vote.
<br />
<br /> 79-116 - Vice Mayor Holley presented a proclamation to Cdr. David A. Corey, Chairman,
<br />Clea~'~comm~ty Commission, declaring the week of April 22-28, 1979, as "PRIDE WEEK".
<br />
<br />the
<br />
<br />79-117 Public Hearing on the City Operating Budgets and General Revenue Sharing for
<br />FY, beginning~on July 1, 1979 and ending on June 30, 1980:
<br />
<br />27,
<br />
<br />The following citizens spoke:
<br />
<br /> Charles Shneer, 117 Tyler Crescent, spoke and presented the following statement:
<br /> (speaking on behalf of the Mayor's Senior Citizens Commission)
<br /> 'I am appearing before you ~oday to bring to your attention some of the needs of
<br />elderly citizens of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br />the
<br />
<br /> We.have ail become aware lately of the pressure that inflation has
<br />service agencies. Theses pressures are being felt here in the services
<br />mouth is providing to our elderly citizens.
<br />
<br />put on our social
<br />of the City of Ports-
<br />
<br /> What this means to us, is that severe limitations are being imposed on our programming.
<br />The City can be proud of its new multi-purpose Senior Center. Over $100,000 is budgeted for
<br />the support of our Center. Many services and programs presently are offered, relying on
<br />volunteer support. Our Center is trying to serve as a focal point for senior services but
<br />is greatly handicapped by the lack of program dollars.
<br />
<br /> In addition to this, the congregate meals program provided by SEVAMP has also had their
<br />funds for supportive services totally eliminated.
<br />
<br /> The Center has a staff position, as well as, Group Activities Coordinator, to provide
<br />supplemental services and programming for all sen~or groups in the City. There is no money
<br />budgeted to support this program.
<br />
<br />You know as well as I, that it is ~mpossible to operate a program in this manner.
<br />
<br /> Therefore, we would appreciate your serious consideration of our request for $2,000
<br />to be allocated'for provision of operating funds for group activities for Senior Citizens.
<br />These funds will be used to provide multi-functional services in the areas of socialization,
<br />recreation, education, health education, and programming in general."
<br />
<br /> Ms. Rosalind L. Gordon, 3902 High Street, spoke regarding waste of money in various
<br />areas, requesting to trim the budget and use money wisely.
<br />
<br /> Johnny M. Clemons, 5805 Dunkirk Street, represent~ing the Ebony Heights Civic League,
<br />made the following presentation:
<br />
<br /> "Ebony Heights (previously known as Croziersville) was so named on April 3, 1979 by
<br />submitting a petition of signatures to the Traffic Engineering Department of the City o~
<br />Portsmouth, and the Ledger-Star newspaper. Ebony Heights came into being because of the need
<br />for this community to re-identify itself, re=define its boundaries and ~ncrease community mora
<br />
<br /> Ebony Heights cannot go on to things like Housing Assistance Plans (HAP) under the
<br />Community Development ~rogram because we are still struggling with the basics; lighting,
<br />drainage, and street conditions.
<br />
<br /> Our streets are in such a state of dispair that decrepit would be a kind word to describe
<br />them. The streets are crumbling at the edges so bad that in some areas only one autom6bile
<br />can pass at a time while the others wait. But we're not here to address ourselves to street
<br />conditions.
<br />
<br /> Lighting in this section of Churchland is so bad that Irwin Pharmacy (a local Pharmacist)
<br />refuses to deliver after dark. On most streets, at least two residents burn outside lights
<br />to feel secure from the encroaching darkness.
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