Minutes 09/26/1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~') j ,I-,.; TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 1978 City Manager Noland and City Attorney Worthy brought to Council's attention the necessity of Council's taking certain actions in the event Council desires to request the 1979 Virginia General Assembly to amend the City's Charter in order to comply with certain financing recommendations made by the City's consulting engineers (R. W. Beck and Associates) in connection with the recently-submitted Hydro-Electric Appraisal Report, said actions being either (1) to call for a special election or (2) to conduct a public hearing on the question of amending Section 3 of Chapter 11 of said charter whereby the probable life of the proposed hydro-electric project (and the real estate acquired therefor) would be extended to as much as fifty (50) years. Meanwhile, Councilman West recommended that, at an early and appropriate date, the City create a special study committee, whose responsibilities would include an independent feasibility appraisal of the proposed project and the advising of Council on the findings as well as the informing of the public thereof. In addition, Councilman West urged that Council confer with Appalachian Power Company officials, with the U. S. Corps of Engineers, and with officials of the City of Danville, to explore all facets of the proposed undertaking. Upon motion, duly seconded and unanimously carried, Council adopted the following resolution calling for a special election to be held December 19, 1978 on the question of amending the City Charter to the extent set forth in said resolution, the results of said special election to serve as some indication as to whether Council should commit the City for the estimated cost (approximately $500,000.00) of engineering-and-other costs necessary to proceeding with the next phase of the hydro-electric project: WHEREAS, Section 15.1-911 of the CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950, and as amended) authorizes the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, to provide for holding an election, to be conducted according to the provisions of Section 24.1-165 of said Code, to determine if the qualified voters of said City desire that said Council request the General Assembly of Virginia to amend Section 3 of Chapter 11 of the Charter of said City by adding thereto the following sentence: