Dover, Delaware, Feb. 5th, 1923.
The Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 P.M. with the following hold-over members present: Messrs. Burton, Keith, LeFevre and Clark.
ORGANIZATION: On motion of Messrs. Keith and Clark, Mr. Burton was made Temporary Chairman, and on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clark, Mr. Harold W. Horsey was made temporary Clerk.
Election Certificates:
State of Delaware, }
Town of Dover, ss.}
At an election held in the Levy Court Room in the Town of Dover, on Monday, the 8th day of January, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, 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 C. Hopkins President of Council
James A. Downes Members of Council for the First District
W. Denney Clements “ “ “ “ “ Second “
D. Rodney Bice “ “ “ “ “ Third “
Harry R. Hancock “ “ “ “ “ Fourth “
AND Frank VanSant Assessor for the Town;
The said persons having each received the greatest number of votes for the respective offices.
In witness Whereof we, the undersigned, E. F. Wood, Alderman of the said Town, Jesse S. Burton and Thomas V. Keith, Members of the Town Council of said Town appointed to hold said election, have each hereunto set our hands this eighth day of January A. D. 1923.
Signed: Edwin F. Wood Alderman.
Thomas V. Keith Councilman.
Jesse S. Burton Councilman.
On motion of Messrs. Keith and Burton the Certificate of Election was approved and ordered spread upon the Minutes of Council.
OATH OF OFFICE: Mr. John C. Hopkins was then sworn in as Mayor of the Town and President of Council for the current year by Mr. Burton, and the President of Council then proceeded to swear in Messrs. Hancock, Clements, Bice and Downes as Councilmen.
ROLL CALL: The following members answered roll call: Messrs. Hopkins, Burton, Clark, Downes, Hancock, Keith, Clements, LeFevre and Bice.
OATH OF ASSESSOR: The oath of Assessor Elect. Frank Vansant, was sworn in by Alderman Wood.
2.
Reading of Minutes: The minutes of the last regular meeting of January 2nd and the Special meeting of February 2nd were read by the Clerk and on motion of Messrs. Burton and Hancock same were approved.
SALARY OF CLERK FIXED AND CLERK ELECTED: Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Downes the Clerk’s salary was fixed at $300.00.
Messrs. Keith and Downes placed Mr. W. S. Haman’s name in nomination for Clerk. Nominations closed on motion of Messrs. Clements and Hancock, whereupon H. W. Horsey was unanimously elected and immediately sworn in by the President.
TREASURER – SALARY FIXED: ELECTED: On motion of Messrs. Downes and Clements, Treasurer’s salary was fixed at $200.00.
Messrs. Keith and Downes placed Mr. W. S. Haman’s name in nomination whereupon nominations were closed on motion of Messrs. Downes and Hancock and Mr. Haman unanimously elected and immediately sworn in by the President.
Election of Alderman: Messrs. Downes and Keith nominated Mr. E. F. Wood. Nominations were then closed on motion of Messrs. Downes and Keith. The Clerk was ordered to cast the ballot for Mr. Wood as Alderman on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Clark. Mr. Wood was then sworn in by President Hopkins.
Chief Engineer – Salary Fixed: Elected: Council, acting upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Hancock, fixed the salary of the Chief Engineer at $27.00 per week. Mr. A. L. Kichline was nominated by Messrs. Downes and Clements and Hancock and Mr. Kichline then unanimously elected and immediately sworn in by President Hancock.
Assistant Engineers - ELECTED: SALARIES FIXED; Elected: The petition of the three Firemen to Council for an increase of salary of $3.00 per week was received by Council and ready by the Clerk.
Messrs. Downes and Hancock then placed the names of Earl Pleasanton, E. Saxton and C. G. Erdle in nomination. Nominations were closed on motion of Messrs. Keith and Clark whereupon the three nominees were unanimously elected by Council.
Election of Water & Light Committee: Messrs. Downes and Clements nominated Messrs. Bice, Clark and LeFevre for the Water & Light Committee. There being no other nominations these were unanimously elected. They retired and elected Mr. Bice as the Chairman of the Committee and the President of Council swore him in as such.
STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1923: The following Committees were appointed by the President of Council to serve for 1923:
FINANCE ACCOUNT ORDINANCE STREETS
LeFevre Downes Clark Clements
Burton LeFevre Keith Clark
Downes Burton Hancock Hancock
3.
STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1923(con’t)
FIRE & POLICE SEWER TREE WATER & LIGHT
Keith Burton Hancock (Elected)
Clark LeFevre Keith Bice
Bice Bice Bice Clark
LeFevre
Alderman’s Report: The following report for the month of January 1923 showed twelve arrests and fines collected amounted to $53.50. This amount less a check. Upon motion of Messrs. Clements and LeFevre the report was accepted and ordered entered in the minutes and filed.
Engineer’s Report: The following report of the chief Engineer was received, read by the Clerk and on motion same was accepted by Council, ordered filed and entered in the Minutes.
Jan. 31, 1923.
Commercial Light 63,920 K.W.
Street Light 8,600 K. W.
Cylinder Oil Used 60 Gals.
Engine Oil “ 52 “
Cup Grease Used 8 Lbs.
Waste “ 13 “
Coal Used 309 T. 520 Lbs.
Coal on Hand 671 T. 660 “.
Would advise that all meters now on 2nd floors or higher be moved either on first floors or basements. Town run lines to location free of charge, owner to pay expense of inside work. This would save time in reading meters and a benefit to owners.
Signed: A. L. Kichline,
Chief Engineer.
PROPOSAL TO MOVE METERS DISCUSSED: The recommendation of the Engineer to have meters moved where placed on 2nd and 3rd floors of buildings was discussed by Council and finally a motion made and passed that where owners are agreeable, the Engineer could have the meters re-located in properties. This motion was made by Mr. Keith, seconded by Mr. Burton.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: The following report was submitted by the Superintendent, read, and upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Hancock same was ordered accepted, entered in the Minutes and filed:
Amount rec’d for Water Rents $3,709.38
do Light 5,971.90
Sundries 230.90
1921 Taxes 481.66
1922 “ 374.37
Total Amount rec’d; Paid Treas. $10,768.21
4.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
General Fund
Receipts
Rec’d from Supt. Burton, 1921 Taxes $ 481.66
1922 “ 374.37
Kent County-1921 Allowance, Bal. due. 96.79 $952.82
Disbursements
Overdraft – Jan. 1st, 1923. $3773.20
Coupons 300.00
Order No. 1. 96.48