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<br />374 <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />MAY 10, 1977 <br /> <br />The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, <br /> <br />with Mayor William D. Hobson presiding, was held Tuesday, May 10, 1977, in the Circuit <br /> <br />Courtroom, City Hall, beginning at 7:30 P.M., all members being present, viz., <br /> <br />William D. Hobson, Mayor; William C. Cole, Jr., Vice Mayor; Barry A. Greene; <br /> <br />L. D. Oakes; and Francis T. West. <br />* <br /> <br />Pursuant to public notice, Council conducted a public hearing to ascertain citizens' <br /> <br />opinions and wishes as to whether the City should (1) continue operating its public <br /> <br />transit (bus) system as it is presently being operated or (2) revise the operation <br /> <br />thereof pursuant to the study report (Mass Transit Technical Study) and recommendations <br /> <br />recently submitted by the City's consulting firm of Wilbur Smith & Associates or (3) <br /> <br />discontinue said public transit operations. From subsequent press reports, approximately <br /> <br />one hundred and seventy-five citizens were present at this hearing, with some one-half <br /> <br />of whom advocating continued operation of the bus system to accommodate citizens who <br /> <br />have no other transportation means--other than taxicabs--to shop in the downtown <br /> <br />business district and/or to go to and from work and/or to visit hospital and <br /> <br />convalescent home patients, and with the other half advocating the discontinuing of <br /> <br />the public transit system. Speaking specifically for the latter group were <br /> <br />Mr. John J. Hartley and Mr. Benton S. Blackard on behalf of the local taxicab <br /> <br />companies and Mr. George L. Nease, plus certain other citizens, who pointed to the <br /> <br />fact that taxpayers are subsidizing the transit system operation in the amount of <br /> <br />$75,000.00-to-$100,000.00 per year and, also, to the fact that the proposed system <br /> <br />recommended by the City's consultants anticipates continuing annual deficits. <br /> <br />Representing the City's consultants was Mr. Thomas Wright, who outlined the scope <br /> <br />of the Mass Transit Technical Study as well as projected routes, revenues and <br /> <br />expenditures, all for the purpose of presenting information to enable City Council <br />