Dover, Delaware, March 5th, 1923.
Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 P. M. with the following members present: Messrs. Downes, Bice, Keith, Burton, Clark, Clements and Pres. Hopkins.
The Minutes of the last meeting were read by the Clerk and upon motion of Messrs. Burton and Clements same were approved.
Alderman’s Report: The Alderman’s Report showed 19 arrests and fines collected amounted to $96.50, check for same being turned over to the Treasurer. Accepted on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clark.
Engineer’s Report: The following report of the Chief Engineer was read by the Clerk and on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements same was accepted and ordered filed by Council:
Dover, Feb. 28, 1923.
Commercial Light 56680 K. W.
Street Light 7330 K. W.
Cylinder Oil 60 Gals.
Engine Oil 50 “
Compressor Oil 48 “
Cup Grease 8 Lbs.
Waste 13 “
COAL USED 286 Tons 935 Lbs.
COAL on Hand 384 Tons 1725 “
4" water main on N. Bradford St a point at J. W. Radish to William St. main 270".
Signed: A. L. Kichline
Chief Engineer.
Superintendent’s Report: The following report was presented by the Superintendent and read by the Clerk. On motion of Messrs. Keith and Burton the report was accepted and ordered filed and entered in the Minutes:
Feb.28, 1923
Amt. rec’d for Water Rents $ 56.30
“ “ “ Light 4,787.07
Sundries 15.65
1922 Taxes 18.16
Amount Received and paid Treasurer $4,876.98
Treasurer’s Report: The following report of the Treasurer was read and on motion of Messrs. Clements and Clark was approved by Council and ordered filed and entered in the Minutes:
GENERAL FUND WATER & LIGHT
Receipts Receipts
W. D. Burton, Sup’t $18.16 Feb. 5th: Balance $11,625.53
E. F. Wood 52.20 Cash-Jas. M. Benson Shows 550.00
“ G. D. Pardee 45.10
“ W. D. Burton, Sup’t. 4,858.82
Total Receipts: --------- 70.36 $ 17,079.45
2.
TREASURER’S REPORT(con’t)
Disbursements Disbursements
Feb. 5th: Overdraft 3,877.86 Order No. 4 Atlantic Ref. Co. 118.34
Order No. 3. J.B. Bice Co. 16.00 5 Bristol Co. 4.17
4. Clarke & McDaniel 4.80 6 Camp. Peacock, Kinzer 659.70
5. Del. State News 46.00 7 Gen. Elec. Co. 315.70
6. J. S. Godwin 3.30 8 Yarnell-Waring 18.27
7. W. M. Hinkle 20.32 9 Dover Garage Co. 1.44
8. Index 4.50 10 Dover Ins. Agency 385.03
9. P. N. Kellum 2.00 11 A. J. Kingsbury 712.72
10. T. W. Killen 48.00 12 Morris & Dawson 128.35
11. H. McDaniel, Sr. 26.25 13 Donohos & Son 5.90
12. H. McDaniel, Jr. 1.00 14 Dover Mch Works 376.70
13. Harry Vane 6.16 15 M. A. Hartnett 88.75
14. J. W. Wise 5.25 16 E. T. Heite 3.00
15. Robbins Hose Co. 50.00 17 E. W. Humphreys 17.30
16. D. S. Tel. Co. 3.05 18 J. R. Hunter 4.25
17. W. S. Haman, Treas. 494.29 19. Harvey Johnson 1.00
20. W. S. Haman, Treas. 1,051.21
Total Disbursement: $4,608.78 $3,891.83
OVERDRAFT: March 5th: $4,538.42 BALANCE:-March 5th:- $13,187.62
Committee on Accounts: The following billing were presented for payment, audited and found correct by the Committee, and on motion of Messrs. Downes and Bice Council instructed the Clerk to draw the orders necessary for their payment:
GENERAL FUND
Order No. 17 W. S. Haman, Treas. $494.29
18 Capital Printing Co. 43.00
19 Clarke & McDaniel 1.65
20 The Index 1.30
21 M. A. Godwin 6.00
22 P. N. Kellum 4.50
23 Wm. H. Simmons 9.60
24 Walter Ware 16.78
25 Wm. Mann Co. 38.25
26 Robbins Hose Co. 50.00
27 Harry Vane .60
28 Madison Paint Co. 39.15 $714.72
WATER & LIGHT
Order No. 20 Wm. S. Haman, Treas. $ 1,051.21
21 Atlantic Ref. Co. 52.64
22 Baltimore Oil Co. 21.28
23 Gen. Elec. co. 25.08
24 H. Mueller Mfg. Co. 22.08
25 H. C. Roberts Elec. Supply Co. 5.30
26 Western Elec. Co. 86.00
27 C. R. Sampson 163.00
28 Jno. Bell & Sons 67.95
29 T. K. Jones & Bro. Co. 10.40
30 Dover Mch. Works 52.05
3.
WATER & LIGHT(con’t)
31 Stewart Bros. 93.54
32 E. W. Humphreys 12.90
33 Fooks Auto Co. 4.50
34 A. J. Kingsbury 39.15 $1,707.08
TOTAL OF APPROVED BILLS. ------------------------------------------------- $2,421.80
Fire & Police Committee: No Report
Ordinance Committee: No Report
Tree Committee: No Report
Sewer Committee: No Report
Finance Committee: No Report
Street Committee: Chairman Clements presented petition of Mr. Teat for permit to install a gas tank in front of his business on S. State Street. Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Burton Council voted to table the matter until the next meeting of Council.
The request of Mrs. Roscoe for privilege of placing a sign at corner of State and Division Street was received and on motion of Messrs. Downes and Keith Council referred the matter to the Street Committee with power to act.
Water & Light Committee: Electric Light Line on S. Little Creek Road Taken Over By Council. Chairman Bice brought up for Council’s consideration the matter of the Light Line on the South Little Creek Road. The question was as to whether the parties on the line should pay the sum of $769.00, the balance due for construction, as per the agreement they entered into with the Town, or whether the Town should assume the obligation and own the line. Since it was the opinion of Mr. Bice. Mr. Kichline and other members of Council that the line would be a paying proposition, Messrs. Bice and Downes moved that the Town should take over the line. Motion unanimously carried.
Order Placed for Coal: Mr. Roberts of Campbell, Peacock & Kinzer was present and advised Council that it should only contract for a two month’s supply of coal at the present time in view of possible lower prices. Council, therefore, acting on motion of Messrs. Bice and Downes ordered six cars of coal at $4.50 per ton.
Bids for Hauling: No bids for the contract for hauling coal for the ensueing year having been received, Council on motion of Messrs. Keith and Bice voted that when it adjourned it did so to meet next Mon. night, March 12th.
Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company’s Claim Disallowed: The claim of the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co. for supplying the new crankshaft for the Town’s engine was brought up and discussed. The correspondence in regard to the matter was read. Upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Keith Council voted that the claim be not paid, holding, contrary to the contention of the Company, that the shaft was a defective one and should, therefore, be replaced, in accordance with the contract entered into at the time of the purchase of the Engine, at the expense of the Company.
Report of the Solicitor: The following report of the Solicitor was received, read by the Clerk and on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements, same was accepted, and ordered entered in the Minutes and filed:
Report of the Solicitor: (con’t) 4.
Dover, Delaware March 5th, 1923.
To The President and Members of the Town Council of The Town of Dover.
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the provisions of the Charter and Ordinance of the Town of Dover, I submit the following report as Solicitor for the said Town for the year ending March 3rd, 1923:
Legal advice and opinions have been given from time too time to the Alderman and various members of the Town Council when called for.
Resolutions, permits and other papers incident to the changes required by the Ordinance relative to gasoline tanks and pumps, bonds of the Town official, oath of Assessor and all other legal papers required by the Charter and Ordinances have been prepared, and such other legal work has been performed as occasion required.
A Bill has been prepared by the Solicitor providing for a $35,000 bond issue to take care of the balance of the indebtedness incident to the Legislature. This Bill has passed the Senate and is now in the Committee on Municipal Corporations in the House. The Solicitor recommends that a Committee of the Town Council be appointed to look after the passage of this Bill through the House and the approval of same by the Governor. The Legislative session is rapidly drawing to a close and it is urgent that this matter be looked after.
There are two claims pending against the Town of Dover, one being that of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, amounting to $128.00 for demurrage on shipments of coal received by the Town in March 1922, and the other of the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company for $382.19 for parts and labor on the recently purchased fire engine. These matters are in the process of settlement. Neither of the claimants, however, has entered suit.
There are no suits pending against the Town to date of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
James M. Satterfield,
Solicitor.
Election of Solicitor: Upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Keith the salary of the Solicitor for the coming year was fixed by Council at $100.00 and Mr. James M. Satterfield placed in nomination by Messrs. Keith and Downes. On motion of Messrs. Burton and clements nominations were closed and Mr. Satterfield unanimously elected Solicitor.
Election of Town Constables: On motion of Messrs. Downes and Burton the salary of the Chief of Police fixed at $25.00 per week. E. I. Lane was nominated by Messrs. Keith and Downes. Nominations were closed on motion of Messrs. Downes and Burton and Mr. Lane unanimously elected.
On motion of Messrs. Downes and Burton the salary of Night Watchman was fixed at $20.00 per week, Mr. A. Dickerson placed in nomination by Messrs. Burton and Keith, whereupon nominations were closed on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements and Mr. Dickerson unanimously elected.
Election of Town Constables: (con’t) 5.
The salary of Constable and Street Supervisor was fixed at $16.00 per week on motion of Messrs. Downes and Burton, Mr. T. W. Killen placed in nomination for that position by Messrs. Burton and Keith. On motion of Messrs. Keith and Downes nomination were closed and Mr. Killen unanimously elected.
Mr. Godwin and Mr. Scott Forbes were elected constables without pay and then they with Messrs. Lane, Killen, Dickerson and Cummins were all sworn in by President of Council, Mr. Hopkins.
Judges Selected for Robbins Hose Co’s Annual Election: The following men were selected to hold the annual election of the Robbins Hose Company, on Monday evening, March 20th, and instructions given to the Clerk to notify the Secretary of the Hose Company to post notice of the action of Council.
Judges
Mr. O. C. Hayes
Mr. G. G. Clendaniel
Mr. John Hartnett
Additional Insurance Authorized: Council, on motion duly made and seconded, voted to pay the premium of $29.15 on additional Insurance policy taken out with Mr. Kingsbury.
Chautauqua Authorized to Use Town Lot: The 1923 Chautauqua Association was granted permission by Council, acting upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Keith, to use the Town Lot for holding their meetings in June free of cost.
Correspondence Between Pres. Hopkins and Mr. Buck Read: The correspondence between Mr. C. D. Buck, Chief Engineer of The Highway Department and President Hopkins relative to the use of The Highway Police in breaking up the fast driving on State St. was read by the Clerk, approved by Council and same ordered filed by the Clerk.
Report of Chief of Robbins Hose Comapny Received: Chief Earl Humphreys of the Fire Department made an annual report to Council which was read, accepted and same ordered filed by the Clerk.
Adjournment: There being no further business Council voted to adjourn on motion of Messrs. Downes and Bice.
Signed: Harold W. Horsey
Clerk.
Judge Boyce Solicits Counci