REGULAR MEETING
February 2, 1925
The Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 P.M. with the following holdover members present; Messrs. Keith, Burton, LeFevre and Clark.
ORGANIZATION
Mr. Burton acting as temporary chairman called for the Certificates of Election held on the 12th, day of January 1925 the same was read as follows,
STATE OF DELAWARE)
TOWN OF DOVER, SS. )
At an election held in the Levy Court Room in the town of Dover on Monday, the 12th day of January, A.D. One Thousand nine hundred and twenty five, being the second Monday of the said month for the purpose of electing a President of Council, Four Members of Council and an Assessor, for the said Town of Dover, in the manner prescribed by the Charter of the said Town. The following named persons were elected, viz:
John Wallace Woodford President of Council
James Albert Downes Member of Council 1st Dist’c
W. Denney Clements “ ” “ 2nd “
Grover C. Frear “ ” “ 3rd “
Willard M. Hinkle “ ” “ 4th “
and
George E. Coffin Assessor for the Town.
The said persons having each received the greatest number of votes cast for the respective offices.
In witness whereof we, the undersigned Edwin F. Wood Alderman of the said Town, John P. LeFevre Member of the Town Council and Thomas V. Keith Member of the Town Council appointed to hold the said election, have each hereunto set our hands and seals this Twelfth day of January A.D. 1925.
(Signed) Edwin F. Wood, Alderman
John P. LeFevre, Councilman
Thos. V. Keith, Councilman
On motion of Messrs. LeFevre & Burton the Certificates of Election were approved and ordered spread upon the Minutes of Council.
Oath of Office
Mr. John Wallace Woodford was then sworn in as Mayor of the Town and President of Council for the current year by Alderman E. F. Wood. Mr. Wood ten proceeded to swear in the newly elected members Messrs. Downes, Clements, Burton, Frear, Clark and Hinkle.
Roll Call
The following Members answered roll call: Messrs. Woodford, Downes, LeFevre, Keith, Clements, Burton, Frear, Clark and Hinkle.
CLERK ELECTED AND SALARY FIXED
Upon motion of Messrs. Clements and Burton Walter A Green was placed in nomination. Motion Downes and LeFevre nominations close. W. A. Green was unanimously elected.
Upon motion of Messrs. Clements and Burton the salary of the clerk was fixed at $300.00. Preparing Tax Duplicate $100.00.
TREASURER ELECTED AND SALARY FIXED
Upon motion of LeFevre and Clark the salary of the Treasurer be $300.00. Messrs. LeFevre and Clements nominated W. S. Haman whereupon he was elected by acclimation.
Assessor
Mr. G. E. Coffin after being elected to the office of Assessor refused to serve, where upon Council acting upon the motion of messrs. Downes and LeFevre nominated H. L. Gaffied, there being no other nominations Mr. Gafford was unanimously elected.
ELECTION OF ALDERMAN
Council acting upon the motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements unanimously elected Mr. Edwin F. Wood. Mr. Wood being present was sworn in by the president.
CHIEF ENGINEER SALARY FIXED AND ELECTED
Council acting upon motion of messrs. LeFevre & Downes that salary be fixed at $35.00 per week and $15.00 per week be allowed for the use of Mr. Kichlines truck. There being no other nominations Mr. Kichline was elected by acclimation.
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS SALARIES FIXED AND ELECTED
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre & Downes elected the following Asst. engineers as hereinafter by acclimation. 1st Wm. Hurley, $30.00, G. Morrow 2nd, $28.00, E. Pleasanton 3rd $28.00.
Fireman
1st, Erdle $28.00, Snyder 2nd, $27.00, 3rd, Abbott $27.00.
LIGHT & WATER COMMITTEE ELECTED
Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Burton, Messrs. LeFevre, Downes, Clark and Hinkle were nominated for the Light and Water Committee, there being no more than three nominations Council acting upon motion of Messrs. Burton and Keith proceeded to vote by ballot which resulted as follows LeFevre 7, Downes 7, Clark 8 and Hinkle 2. Therefore LeFevre, Downes and Clark having received the greatest number of votes were declared elected.
The Light and Water Committee then elected Mr. LeFevre as Chairman for the year 1925.
STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1925
The following committees were appointed by the President for the year 1925.
FINANCE Burton, LeFevre & Downes
ACCOUNTS Downes, Burton & LeFevre
ORDINANCE Clark, Keith & Hinkle
STREETS Clements, Clark & Hinkle
FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT Keith, Clements & Frear
SEWERS Frear, Burton & Clements
WATER AND LIGHT COMMITTEE (ELECTED) LeFevre, Downes & Clark
TREE COMMITTEE Hinkle, Keith & Frear
J. HENRY HAZEL REQUEST FOR SEWER
Mr. Hazel came before council and requested that a sewer be placed in Hazel Road about 550 feet from State Street. Council after considering the matter instructed the Sewer Committee to proceed with the work. This action was on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Keith.
FIRE HOSE BOUGHT
Council allotted 5 minutes each to Mr. Bennett of the Fabric Fire Hose Co., and Mr. Moriarty of the Eureka Fire Hose Co. to explain their hose to council, which after some discussion signed a contract with the Fabric Fire Hose Co. for 1000 feet of Keystone Brand at $1.40 per foot. Contract is now on file with the Clerk file Clements-2-1925.
APPROVE BILL BY FORMER MAYOR HOPKINS
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Clark approved the action by Mr. Hopkins in approving a bill for $50.00 in favor of Solicitor Satterfield.
COMMITTEE CARDS PRINTED
Council acting upon motion messrs. LeFevre and Downes voted to have 100 committee cards printed.
Aldermans Report
The Aldermans report for the month of January 1925 showed 11 arrests and fines collected amounting to $30.85 check for same being turned over to Treasurer. Upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Keith the report was accepted, ordered entered int eh minutes and filed.
ENGINEERS REPORT
The following report of the Chief Engineer was received, read by the Clerk and upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Clark ordered entered in the minutes and filed.
January 31, 1925.
Commercial Light 86,420 K. W.
Street Light 8,300 K. W.
Cylinder Oil 75 Gal.
Compressor Oil 36 Gal.
Cup Grease 12 Lbs.
Waste 14 Lbs.
Coal Used 340 T. 710 Lbs.
Coal on yard 674 T. 780 Lbs.
Electric Pumps 18,900 K.W.
Boiler feed water 72,150 Gal.
Blow Downs 105 Times
A. L. Kichline, Chief Engineer
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The following report of the Superintendent was accepted upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Burton,
January 31, 1925.
Amount received for water rents
Amount “ ” Light “
Amount for Sundries
1923 Tax
1925 Tax
$ 3,887.12
7,043.17
7.40
6.30
183.02
$ 11,127.01
TREASURERS REPORT
General Fund
Disbursements
Jan. 5th, 1925 Overdraft
Approved Bills
$ 8,542.75
730.13
$ 9,272.88
Receipts
Jan. 5th, 1925 Cash E. F. Wood
19 Sewer Fee J. C. Hopkins
31 1923 Tax
1924
Total Overdraft
$ 53.95
15.00
6.30
183.02
$ 258.27
$ 9,014.61
Light Fund
Receipts
Jan. 5th, 1925 Balance
Light Receipts
Sundries
$ 6,329.07
7,043.17
7.40
$ 13,379.64
Disbursements
Jan. 5th, 1925 Approved Bills
Total Balance
$ 3,163.97
$ 10,215.67
Water Fund
Jan. 5th, 1925 Balance
$ 3,887.12
FINANCE COMMITTEE No Report
STREET COMMITTEE No Report
SEWER COMMITTEE No Report
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE No Report
FIRE AND POLICE No Report
TREE COMMITTEE No Report
Light For Hospital Sign
Mr. Bice request was granted by Council on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Downes.
STOP AND GO SIGN FOR DIVISION AND STATE ST.
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Clark authorized and directed the Street Committee to purchase a Stop and Go sign and have same erected at the intersection of State and Division Streets.
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Council acting upon motion of LeFevre and Burton authorized the President of Council to arrange for Liability Insurance for the employees at the light and water plant and the employees of the electric lines and report to Council March 3rd, 1925.
INSURANCE
Council acting upon motion of messrs. Downes and LeFevre authorized the payment of the following bills.
Dover Ins. Agency,$ 385.03
A. J. Kingsbury497.10
Morris & Dawson128.35
S. A. Wise 12.34
Total$ 1,138.82
COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTS
The following bills were audited and found correct and on motion of messrs. LeFevre and Downes the Clerk was instructed to draw orders necessary for their payment.
GENERAL FUND
Order No. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
$ 7.85
43.00
3.50
6.60
23.41
54.50
8.65
54.00
2.00
5.85
13.75
36.44
$ 259.55
LIGHT FUND
Order No. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
$ 66.98
66.00
1.97
3.50
3.50
7.00
16.85
96.25
13.00
18.38
513.32
1.10
1,039.50
159.53
304.64
315.30
122.63
198.30
259.15
309.30
128.35
128.34
385.03
497.10
81.00
$ 5,036.02
Water Fund
Order No. 1
Total Expenditures
$ 2,270.92
$ 2,270.92
$ 7,566.49
Building Committee
On motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements Council named Mayor Woodford and Mr. LeFevre as a committee to await upon the Governor about the site for the new office building to be erected by the State of Delaware.
EXTENDING LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF DOVER
Council acting on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Downes, received approved the plan as submitted by Mr. LeFevre, and further that the Mayor, Mr. LeFevre, Messrs. Hughes, Hutton, H. Mayor, and Solicitor Jas. M. Satterfield, be authorized to prepare the bill and urge its passage at the present Legislature.
CONSULTING ENGINEER
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Downes agreed to accept the contract of Walter J. Deery as consulting Engineer for one year at a salary of $1000.00.
CITIZENS MEETING CALL
Council acting on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Downes authorized the Mayor to call a Citizens Meeting according to provisions of the Town Charter on February 16th, 1925 for the purpose of determining whether the citizens of the Town want a new Fire Truck. Meeting to be called at 7:30 P.M. in the Court Room.
Report of Fire Chief
Dover, Del.
Jan. 30, 1925
To His Honor the Mayor and Town Council;
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit to your Honorable body annual report of the Dover Volunteer Fire Department, together with such information and recommendations necessary for its efficiency.
Alarms and fires during the year ending December 31, 1924.
Total No. of alarms 47
Out of town alarms 17
In town alarms 27
Alarms unable to be answered
truck out of order 3
The apparatus of this department consists of 1 Ahrens-Fox 850 gallon pumping unit, equipped with ladders, nozzles, hand chemicals and 1000 feet of 2½ inch hose also 200 feet of 3/4 inch used in connection with booster system. Also 1 Kelley Chemical truck of antique design and equipped with 500 feet 2½ inch hose and 150 feet 3/4 inch chemical hose.
Recommendations;
I respectfully recommend certain measures for your considerations that I think would increase the efficiency of the department.
That the Town Council take such action as they may deem necessary to get a new pumping unit for emergency needs, also provide not less than 1000 feet of 2½ inch hose of good grade.
In conclusion, I desire to extend thanks to His Honor the Mayor and the Members of town Council for courtesies extended and their efforts in behalf of the Fire Department. I also want to thank the Police Department for their assistance at all fires, and the press of the Town for their many kind acts, and for the manner for which they stand by this department. I also want to thank the members of this Department for their prompt response to all alarms, and their excellent discipline and courtesy, and Honor they have extended to me.
Respectfully Submitted,
E. W. Humphrey
Chief of Fire Department
Council acting on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Keith accepted the report as submitted, order entered in the minutes and filed.
Adjournment
There being no further business Council adjourned at 10:22 P.M.
Signed:
W. A. Green
Clerk