Minutes 02/14/1967 - Laserfiche WebLink

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',; f) ~.') , .^, ' ~,U " TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 1967 The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, with Dr. Fred T. Renick, Mayor, presiding, was held Tuesday, February 14, 1967, in the Council Chamber, City Hall, beginning at 7:30 P.M., with all ~embers being present, viz., Mayor F. T. Renick, M.D.; Vice-Mayor E. E. Stone; Harry L. Boaz; W. Donald Hartford; and Francis T. West. After the invocation, Council approved as recorded the minutes of its regular meeting held January 30, 1967. City Manager Noland introduced Mr. Odell William Gray, Jr., who became employed by the City as Superintendent of the Public Welfare Department as of February 1, 1967, succeeding Mr. Glenn Fuqua, resigned. Mr. Douglas K. Frith, Attorney at Law, appeared before Council as representa- tive of local physicians and dentists, seeking a reduction (or favorable revision) in local license tax rates imposed on the "professional" tax category. Mr. Frith presented statistics showing Martinsvillefs tax rate on this group as being next to the highest of' such rates among Virginia cities and counties. Mr. Frith also made some ratio comparisons of the tax rate on the professional group and the tax rate on retail merchants, the latter group having been recently granted a 46% reduction, effective May 1, 1967. Council pointed out, however, that the rate reduction on retail merchants has not been guaranteed as being permanent and, furthermore, in the interests of equity, that no further adjustments in the Cityfs business-and-occupational license tax structure should be made until a comprehensive study and analysis of the structure can be made; whereupon motion, duly seconded and unanimously carried, Council authorized Mayor Renick to appoint a tax study committee to organize itself and perform its tax-study assignment as expeditiously as possible.