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<br />( <br />L <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />MAY 10, 1983 <br /> <br />with keeping a goat within the City, which is prohibited under the section although, <br /> <br />under certain conditions, the keeping of other animals or livestock is permitted) and <br /> <br />may well do so to some other unsuspecting citizen in the future. Mr. Gardner further <br /> <br />expressed the hope that, if Council believes the ordinance is not legally valid, the <br /> <br />Council will take appropriate action to correct it or terminate it. Upon inquiry, City <br /> <br />Attorney stated that, in his opinion, this code section is unconstitutional and dis- <br /> <br />criminatory. By consensus, Council referred this matter to City Manager Edmonds and <br /> <br />(to) City Attorney Worthy for study (with no time-frame stipulated) and, if in their <br /> <br />joint opinions revisions to this section should be made, for report back to Council <br /> <br />with their recommended revisions. <br /> <br />Mrs. Teresa C. Biggs, a Community Corrections Specialist with the Virginia Department of <br /> <br />Corrections, appeared before Council and, supplemented by a photographic slide presen- <br /> <br />tation, informed Council of a program under the Community Diversion Incentive Act <br /> <br />whereby non-violent offenders, in lieu of being incarcerated upon conviction, may be <br /> <br />allowed (under adequate monitoring) to remain in local restitution centers whereby these <br /> <br />offenders may remain employed or obtain employment in support of their families, may <br /> <br />make restitution to their victims, and may perform community services, all for a 68% <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />cost savings to the Commonwealth of Virginia as compared to the cost of State incarcer- <br /> <br />ation. The cost per bed in a restitution center was estimated to be 24% lower than <br /> <br />State incarceration. By letter, the Martinsville-Henry County Bar Association urged <br /> <br />Council and the Henry County Board of Supervisors to study this program; whereas, the <br /> <br />Collinsville Lions Club and the Martinsville-Henry County Association of Life Under- <br /> <br />writers, Inc., endorsed either the concept or the program. In addition, the Honorable <br /> <br />A. L. Philpott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and a member of the State <br /> <br />Crime Commission, strongly urged Council, jointly with the Henry County Board of <br />