HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-55~.~
Council Minutes
Pulaski, Va., June 7, 1x55
The Minutes of the regular monthly meeting of the
Town Council of theTown of Pulaski, Virginia, held on the
'7th day of June, 1955, at the municipal offices.
There were oresent:
Mayor C. V. Jackson, presiding
Councilmen: I. R. Carper, C. T.Brookman, 0. 0,
m Crowell,, J. R. P~~artin, W. r,Z.Farmer
_ and_ 1V'.F. White
Absent: M. E. Lester and ~1`. A. Larson `
.Also present:
Town Manager: Julian F. Hirst
Clerk: Audrey E. Kingr~a
Town Attorney: Garnett S. Moore
Visitors: Mrs. John Draper
Mrs. Constance Meredith
Mrs. 0. H. It2eredith
Mrs. Jess Harrison
Mrs. Hubert Hiltzheimer
Dr. James Chitw ood
Dr. W. VIG. V1Calton
Mr. James P. Low
Mr. A. L.Graham
Reverend Charles G. Tusing
The Reverend Charles G. Tusing opened the meeting
with a prayer.
Dr. James L. Ch.itwood and Dr. W. W. ulU`alton ax~peared
before Council on_behalf of the Pulaski Hospital, Inc.,
objecting to the use of the vacant lot behind the hospital
as a playground because of the noise. Dr. Chitwood stated
they had no objection to smaller children playing there under
supervision, but he felt the older children playing ball
would create too much noise.
Mayor Jackson thanked the doctors for their interest
and assured them that the matter would be given further con-
sideration.
Mrs. Q, H. TVferedith, President of Pulaski Uvoman's
Club,stated that she and tc~ other ladies, who also were
members of the ~~~omants Club, were interested in having the
Town zoned. She stated that a delegation from the Woman's
Club had come before Council about five years ago in con-
nection with zoning and at that time they thought zoning would
come shortly after the Planning Commission, but as yet they
had heard nothing further about it. She asked that they be
told why nothing had been done, and when the Council would
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Council Minutes Cont~d Pulaski, Va., June 7, 1955
zone the Town. The Mayor informed the committee of ladies
of the Town's interest in zoning and in the work of the
Planning Commission. Dr. ~!iartin, also a member of the
Planning Commission from the Council, stated the commission
y work in the preparation of the
had done some prelim inar
,
zoning maps. Upon being questioned the Town Manager, also
_ a member of the commission, advised that two years ago tl
Planning Commissi on had, as Dr. r~2artin stated, undertaker
some general zoning study. At that time the Commission ad.so
started work on a subdivision control ordinance submitting
in Februar~,r, 1954, recommended subdivision control ordinance
to the Council. It was the expression of the Planning
Committion that the subdivision control ordinance be clewed
or acted upon by the Council bef ore they, the commission,
undertook additional work on their zoning ordinance. The
Town Attorney-informed the Council that he had generally
completed his redraft work on the commissions recommended
ordinance.
Mrs. Constance r=7eredith, as Relent of Daughters o~
American Revolution asked that the Council proclaim the days
of June 14 and September 17 through 23 as Flab; Day.
Mr. A. L. Graham and Mr. James P. Low next appeared
before Council. Mr. Graham stated that he was a member of
the Agriculture Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and
had .been appointed temporary chairman of a committee to g~~t
the curb market in operation this season. He said that tide
Chamber of Commerce would 'ssue identif~.cation cards or pA~mits
only to farmers in Pulaski County and that items they soli:
would have to have been raised in the Count,p. He stated tshe
farmers would si
n a
reements to com
with
i
l
t
l
t
g
g
p
y
cer
a
n regu
$~.
ions
set up by the Committee. i~1r. Graham indicated the market
would operate on a two day a week schedule, and a committed
would be appointed to supervise the stalls and see that they
are kept in good sanitary condition. He advised that a small
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Council 1t~Iinutes Cont~d Pulaski, Va., June '7, 1855
fee of X0.25 per da,y would be levied on each farmer to defray
additional cleaning expenses. He further stated that no date
had been set for the opening of the curb market.
P,~r. Low stat ed that t he rer~ulations and method of
supervision would be subject to approval by the Town Council.
Upon motion of W. ~:Z. Farmer, seconded by I. R. Carper,
it was unanimously
RES~3LVED, that action in regard to the 10th Street
pla,y~;round be postponed for further study.
The Town r~~~ana;~er advised Council that the trailer
on Eleventh Street ~~~hich had been brought to the attention of
the Council in a previous meeting, had been moved to Dora Highway
east of the corborate limits. He stated that he had studied
the ordinance on trs.lers further and recommended that no
changes be male in it at this time.
The Town ?aTanager recommended that the Council obtain
from the two banks in Pulaski sufficient funds to pus chase
the airport on either a 60 or 90 day note until Council decides
how they want to provide for the ourchase in the budget.
Af ter due consideration and discussion, and upon
motion of W. F.White, seconded by I. R.Carper, it was
unanimously
RESOLVED, that ~~26,950 be a?~nrapriated from the General
Fund for the purchase of the airport property.
No action was taken on the request of P7essrs. Paul. C.
Roop and C. P. ~Iacgil.l for the extension of a water line in
Claremont Grove Subdivision, the matter continuing with the
V~ater Committee.
Action on the nraposal of Councilman Crowell prohibiting
left turns from Commerce Street into >outh ~+"~"as~~in~;ton Avenue
was postponed until the Street Committee has an opportunity to
investigate it.
I ~~:-~
Council ~1~inutes Cont~d Pulaski, Va., June 7, 1955
Th.e Town Manager ~~ esented petition of three property
1
onwers on ~~ashburn .Avenue for extension of the sidewalk to
their properties w'nich properties represented a total of
almost 200 feet. He stated the construction would be on a
50-50 basis anc~ that these three persons had made an earnei~t
effort to secure the sie;natures of the other property owners
but had been unable to d o so.
Upon. motion of ti~T. F. Vuh.ite, seconded by 0. 0. Crow+~`11,
1
it was unanimously
RESOLVED that the Town extend the present sidewalk•°°to
the three properties as requested under the usual 50-50 colt
snaring policy basis, due to the indefinite termination of''.
any designated block.
The Retirement Study Committee set Monday, June 13~
155, at '7:30 P. M. as the date for their meeting with Trai~ele rs
Insurance Company representative.
Council. decided to meet June 14, 1955, at 4 p.m. i
the municipal office for the purpose of studying the proposed
budget.
Upon motion of I. R. Carper, seconded by ,~~:. Ni. rarr~er,
1
it was unanimously
RESOLVED, that June 14 and September 17 - 23 be prc~~~-
.
claimed Flab Days.
The Town Mana,~er advised Council that the E. T. Hov~hrd
Estate's water account at I`jorth Jefferson Avenue and 1K~.in street
has been set up as two ap artments with t~rro baths since survey
~~
in 1947, when in reality there are two apartments with only"
one bath, and asked that the Council decide i.f a refund is '.
due them and if so for hotiv far back.
Upon motion of VJ. F, l"lhite, seconded by I. R. Carpe,
it was unanimously
RESiILVED, that a refund is due the E. T. Howard Estate
and that the Town Attorney should ~;o into the matter and de~ide
f
how far back the refund should begin.
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Council Minutes Cont'd Pulaski, Va., June 7, 1955
At the request of Councilman Farmer, and with t:~e
approval of ru2ayor Jackson there is set out below a copy of
comments read by W. T4. Farmer.
"Mr. P.~ayor and Gentlemen of the Council:
Recently, at my own iniative and personal expense,
i conducted a survey in the Second Ward of the Town of Pulask
to determine the desires of my constituants concerning certain
hi{Phly controversial gLiestions which are either now before
this body or will in the immediate future come before this
body for consideration and solution. The survey was conducted
by mail---using the _sar~tpling methods as an proved by suer
nationally known public opinion sampl~_ng organizations as
Dr. Gallop, etc., One hundred fifty questionaires were
mailed---representing a true cross-section of the voters in
the second ward. Of this number, fifty-two, or 34.6 were
completed and returned. At this point, I might add that the
percentage of return is more than sufficient to project a
true picture of the desires of the voters in the second ward
and I would venture that the same results would prevail had
the survey been made on a town-wide basis.
So that .you might more closely follow the results of
the survey, each of you will be furnished a copy of the
questionnaire used in the survey. V~hile I will encourage
comment and discussion, it is requested such comment and
discussion be withheld until-after the report has been given
in its entirety.
^(1)
n(2)
n(~)
Are you satisfied with the present garbage collection
s .ys tem?
Fourteen returns, representing 27~ replied "Yes",
thirty-seven or "71~ replied "No". One return was
with no vote on this issue.
Do you favor annexation at this time?
Twenty-two or 42 ~~ replied "Yes"'. Twenty-eight
replied „No". Two returns were received without
this question.
Do ,you feel the recreation program justifies the
of slightly more than X14,000.00 per year.
I would ask that you gentlemen give me your
I read to you the results of this question.
majority of the votersin the second ward do
unnecessary spending of tax-payers money.
percent are against it while only twenty-se
agree that the program is good.
1
while
received
or 53 ~40
vote on
expenditure
attention while
An overwhelming
not favor this
Sixty-nine
ven percent .
"(4) Do you favor the construction of a neyv' municipal building?
"Gentlemen, I assure you this survey was conducted weeks
before the Council received the PJIUNICIPAL BUTLDIN G - AIRPORT
PROPERTY - EAST MAII~T STREET BRIDGE "pink sl ip" memorandum.
"Fifteen questionnaires were returned with the voters
indicating agreement with the project, however, thir ty-
five did not favor the construction of a municipal building.
In other words, only 29~ were in favor of it while 67~I
were against it. .Two of those surveyed did not indicate
an opinion.
"(5) The fifth question in the series was not properl,p worded
consequently some confusion did exist in analyzing the
returns. This is ref lected by the large percent (61~)
~~c~.'~
;, ~.. ~.•
Council Minutes Cont~d Pu]aski, Va., June 7, 1955
who wrote on the return that the question was without tru
meaning. The following results were received concerning -,
questions of an administrative nature included in the sur~tey:
(1) Should councilmen continue to be ebcted by the present
system of "wards" or w ould you prefer that they be elected
"at large" . (~
Thirty-nine or 75~/~ would retain the ward system while, only
thirteen or 25o would like to see the "at large" system aidopted.
(2) Should department heads continue to receive their ap oint-
ments by the council or should they be elected by the peole?
Eighteen say appoint by the council and thirty-four day
elect by the people. B4.5o are for appointments while 65~5~
are for election.
(3) Should the facilities of Calfee Park be held exclusi~tely
for the use of one organization or should these facilities
be made available to all civic groups?
Two returns were without comment while fifty or 96~ ire
of the opinion that the park should be available to all civic
groups.
(4) Do you favor limiting the holding of public office to not
more than two consecutive terms?
Twenty-nin.e said yes (56~). Twenty-two said no. (42~~).
"To say that_I was surprised by the results of this
survey could be considered the understatement of the year: and
if you present here today are truly interested in finding out
just exactly what the voters expect from this body I would
certainly recommend this procedure as an exce~etnt way of
finding out. My thinking of several issues covered in thdi
survey has under gone a definite change since I have had the
opportunityto study and analy$e the returns of the survey
M,y first obli,r_;ation is to conscientiously try to represen
the desires and wishes of the voters regardless of how mush
they might differ with my own opinions --- my entire camp~iign
for the council was based on that promise and while I do of
wish to appear dogmatic nor is it my inten ti on to be delier-
ately obnoxious, my decisions on the .subjects covered in tihe
survey will be governed by the results of the survey and
sa~r this without any intention of eventually withdrawing $rom
my stated position.
~'My closing remarks are not intended to ?~ersonall~'
critize the newspaper coverage of council meetings in the`:
past, however, I would like to make this observation.
Can several occasions I have attended council meetings ands
have read the newspaper account of them the following day~~
The account as reported and the actual happenings have lii~itle
similarity -- ~r so it would seem to me. It is my hope, ~nere-
fore, that the newspaper will see fit to use this report its I
have given it. kith this in mind, I will at the conclusic~h
of this meeting furnish the newspaper representative an e~s.ct
copy of the report just submitted. }
I thank you for the attent you have thus far given the
report and will be glad to'answer any questions you might have.
S~ V~. n.~. '~Bi11" Farmer
Councilman
b~:~..~
Council Minutes Cont~d Pulaski, Va., June 7, 1955
On motion of ~~. F, V~Thite the meeting adjourned at
6:20 P. M.
Ap ~
Gt- e...
May or
Attest:
C rk
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