Minutes 03/08/1977 - Laserfiche WebLink

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52 TUESDAY MARCH 8, 1977 WHEREAS, on July l, 1977, there was to terminate a six-year moratorium on the right of cities to institute annexation proceedings, and WHEREAS, the General Assembly, in the session just ended, almost enacted HB 855, the most controversial segment of which bill contained a "revenue sharing" formula which was added too late (mid-December, 1976) for adequate study and/or clear understanding as to fiscal impact by the Legislators and local officials, as a result of which the bill died, there being no known refutation, for example, of Martinsville's position that whereas the aim of the bill was for Henry County to pay the City for the City's permanent loss of the right to annex, the City would, in fact, be forced to pay the County until perhaps 1990, and WHEREAS, just before adjournment, the Assembly, as a result of what the press reported as "political bickering", unexpectedly extended the annexa- tion moratorium (SB 735) an additional ten years; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in regular meeting assembled, that it does hereby request The Honorable Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, to veto the bill extending the moratorium, because sixteen years is too long to restrain the territorial (form of tax base) growth of cities, because no one group of political subdivisions should have to bear the brunt of political pique, and because the requested veto would most likely assure that the Assembly will adequately joinr local governments in atudying HB 855 and possible amendments thereto, to the end that the 1978 session could bring a logical end to the problems connected with annexation in Virginia. In response to Mayor Hobson's appeal to all citizens, now that the long and bitter 1976-77 winter appears to be over, to concentrate on cleaning up their premises and to take pride in keeping their premises clean as well as in cooperating with the City in its "clean-up" campaigns, and following the suggestion of Mr. George W. Brown, Assistant City Manager-Public Works Director, Council designated the last full week in March as "Spring Clean-Up Week." Councilman Greene brought to Council's attention the fact that a number of citizens, as well as one or more business firms in or near the downtown business area, although sympathetic with the fine intentions and goals of the charitable organizations involved, have expressed some objections against the downtown street "roadblocks" seasonally established by these organizations to solicit contributions from motorists going to and from the downtown area, on the grounds that not only do the occasions of