1982-04-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS STAFF REPORT RE~ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION APPROVED THE MINUTES OF APRIL 6TH AND 12TH. ELNORA SHANNON, REPRESENTING THE INTERFAITH PEACE COALITION, ASKED COUNCIL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REDUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. MR. CONOVER STATED THAT HE REGRETS THAT IT IS NOT IN COUNCILtS POWER TO DIRECTLY ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF LIMITING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, BUT THAT BY PASSING THE RESOLUTION, NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERS WILL BE MADE AWARE OF COUNCIL'S SUPPORT. MR. ALBRO STATED THAT HE HAD SOME RESERVATIONS, NOT ABOUT THE CONTENT, BUT QUESTIONED THE ROLE OF COUNCIL IN ADOPTING SUCH A RESOLUTION. HE INDICATED THAT HE PERSONALLY AGREES WITH THE RESOLUTION, BUT THOUGHT THAT COUNCIL SHOULD AFFORD THE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT SINCE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS. MR. BUCK STATED THAT HE FELT THE RESOLUTION WAS BEING PASSED BY COUNCIL AND NOT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE. HE STATED THAT THE RESOLUTION IS GENERAL AND SERVES THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING THE ISSUE OUT INTO THE OPEN. HE FELT THAT ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION IS A POSITIVE EFFORT FROM COUNCIL, NOT PARTICULARLY FROM THE CITY. MRS. GLEASON STATED THAT SHE IS IN FAVOR OF STUDYING CURTAILMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ON MOTION BY MR. CONOVER, SECONDED BY DR. HALL, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE, MR. ALBRO ABSTAINING: MR. CONOVER, MRS. GLEASON, DR. HALL. NOES: NONE. AYES: MR. BUCK, W.HEREAS NUCLEAR WAR WILL PRODUCE DEATH, DESTRUCTION, AND SUFFERING BEYOND COMPREHENSION. WHEREAS SUCH A WAR IS NOT A RATIONAL ALTERNATIVE, IT CAN ONLY RESULT FROM ERROR, MISCALCULATION, OR MADNESS. WHEREAS THERE ARE GREAT RISKS INVOLVED IN LIMITING AND REDUCING THE LEVEL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, BUT THE RISKS OF NOT DOING SO ARE GREATER. THE U.S. AND U.S.S.R. NOW HAVE 50,000 NUCLEAR WARHEADS AND IN ANOTHER DECADE WILL HAVE 70,000. WITH THIS NUMBER OF WEAPONS DISASTER IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. EVENTUALLY, EITHER MISCALCULATION OR INSANITY WILL CAUSE OUR DESTRUCTION. WHEREAS, SHOULD OUR COMMUNITY SURVIVE NUCLEAR EXCHANGE, NATIONAL, STATE, AND METROPOLITAN CENTERS OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCE WILL BE IN RUINS. OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE OVERWHELMED WITH REFUGEES FROM METROPOLITAN AREAS. IT WILL BE THE PEOPLE AND OFFICIALS OF COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS WHO WILL BE LEFT TO COPE WITH THE APPALLING AFTERMATH AND WILL FACE THE AGONIZING MORAL DILEMMAS OF SUCH A SITUATION. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED IN ORDER TO INCREASE NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO REDUCE THE EVER MORE OMINOUS THREAT TO ALL CIVILIZED LIFE, WE URGE THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY';'AND THE SOVIET UNION TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO LIMIT AND REDUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE CALL ON CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES TO JOIN US EXPRESSING THIS URGENT CONCERN TO OUR NATIONAL LEADERS. MR. BUCK INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AT THIS TIME. MR. COLE HENDRIX, CITY MANAGER, STATED THAT THE CITY'S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL, HOWEVER, IT IS AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN. MR. HENDRIX OUTLINED AREAS DF THE REPORT AND MR. BRUCE KEITH, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL, ENTERTAINED QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. MR. CONOVER COMMENTED THAT TRACKING AND DOCUMENTING HAD BEEN DONE BEYOND REQUIREMENTS AND COMMENDED MR. KEITH AND THE STAFF FOR THE REPORT. MR. CONOVER STATED THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS A CONTINUING PROCESS AND NOT JUST SOMETHING BROUGHT UP AT ONE COUNCIL MEETING. MR. KEITH STATED THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO FURTHER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.