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185
<br />
<br /> April 10~ 1979
<br />
<br /> It eScapes me how a city can neglect a tax paying community street lights and comment I
<br />"We ~eed to change our philosophy about l~ghting streets and bridges," and~then turn arQun~
<br />at the very same meeting and appropriate $23,000 in lighting for Recreational purposes, and
<br />talk to me about priority listing. But we're not here at this time to address street lighting.
<br />
<br /> What we are here to address the Council with is drainage. The new I664 Western Freeway
<br />will close in this community from the north, preventing further growth, neverthless, adding
<br />to our drainage problem. Our community and our Civic League are greatly concerned with the
<br />additional demands put on our poorly existing drainage system.
<br />
<br /> This community has open ditches that are at least 6 feet high in some places, and have be~n
<br />that way for over 75 years. You may ask, why complain now? Simple, the open pits are the
<br />homes of many snakes and when these ditches overfill, the snakes com= up into the yards alon~
<br /> 1th trash and debris, and often'find their way into the homes of the residents. With the addi-
<br />tional overflow from the Western Freeway, these occurrences would be more frequent. The pro-
<br />posed 1664 is almost underway, and the residents of Ebony Heights see an urgent need for our
<br />city to improve existing drainage for our community or appeals will hve to be made to other
<br />health and safety organizations.
<br />
<br /> The public works department of the city, while working in the ditches of our community,
<br />often warned residents of th'e snakes and their nesting.
<br />
<br /> Ebony Heights hereby appeals in writing to the City Council of Portsmouth this 10th day
<br />of April, 1979, to closs the open drainage ditches by connecting to the adjacent underground
<br />existing drainage pipes of our bording community, where our ditches now attach.
<br />
<br /> Our community needs are so basic, they are
<br />
<br /> Ms. Judith C. Apperson, 3792-C Towne Point
<br />budget.
<br />
<br />of life and death, health and safety."
<br />
<br />Road, spore against the proposed School
<br />
<br />Board
<br />
<br /> Ms. Rosa Wells, 5632 High Street, W., representing Portsmouth Education Association,
<br />spoke concerning low salaries in. the School Board budget for teachers; recommended that the
<br />Council to discuss with the School Board possible redistributing 27.~ million dollars now
<br />allocated for education in the proposed budget for next year.
<br />
<br /> Larry D. Mallonee, 403 Chautauqua Avenue, representing teachers, spoke concerning the
<br />number of teachers leaving the school system due to economics.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Gloria O. Webb, Chairman, School Board, presented the following statement:
<br />
<br /> "This is the first ~ime since my tenure on the School Board that the Chairman has not
<br />appeared before the Council with several requests.
<br />
<br /> Gentlemen, on behalf of the Board, I am here tonight not to burden you with further
<br />rqquests, but rather to transmit our appreciation to you and the City Manager for your cooper-
<br />ation with the School Board in their budget planning process. It has been outstanding. I am
<br />convinced this bond of cooperation and understanding will continue in the future.
<br />
<br /> Budget preparation is a laborious, time consuming, frustrating exercise as yon can well
<br />appreciate. Although we would like to do better, we will be unable to accomplish many things
<br />asked of us .by teachers, parents, Board members, administrative staff because of the financial
<br />constraints of the city. Nevertheless, we feel we will once again be able to offer all child-
<br />ren in this city, no matter what their ability, a quality education. It has been a united,
<br />well coordinated, joint effort by all of us. The lines of communi~ation have never been
<br />better. For this, we are grateful.
<br />
<br />~ ' ~t should be apparent to citizens of the city t~at the City Council and School Board
<br />are h~ading toward the same goal - to make Portsmout~ a desirable, attractive city in which
<br />to live."
<br />
<br /> Dr. M. E. Alford, Superintendent of Schools, spoke concerning the preparation of the
<br />School budget attempted to develop ihe budget from a unit base budget, explaining the Steps
<br />it went through before reaching the City Manager; also stating the increase proposed for the
<br />budget and if approved, would include 1~% from last year, t~ to be added, plus VSRS pension
<br />to' be paid by the School Board.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Elliott and seconded bY Mr, Barnes~ that Council to recess for I minute,
<br />~nd was ad0pte'd by unanimous vote~
<br />
<br /> UNFINISHED BUSINESS
<br />
<br /> 79-96. - The following ordinance approved on first reading at the~ ~egular meeting of
<br />March 27, 1979, was taken up and read:
<br />
<br /> "AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $58,020 FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR
<br /> THE pHASE II RESTORATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE 1846 PORTSMOUTH COURTHOUSE."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Oast and seconded by Mr. Barnes, the ordinance was .adopted,
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Early, Elliott, Gray, Holley, Oast
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br />and by the
<br />
<br />
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