SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on February 28, 2006, at
5:01 p.m. with Chairman Hogan presiding. Members present were Mr. Carey, Mr. Ritter, and
Mr. Lakeman (arrived at 5:14 p.m.). Mr. Link was absent. Members of Council present were
Mr. Slavin. Mayor Speed was also present.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Ritter and unanimously carried.
“Jeanne Clery Act” Presentations
The “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” is a landmark Federal Law, originally known as the Campus Security Act, that requires all colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. The “Jeanne Clery Act” is named in memory of a nineteen (19) year old Lehigh University freshman Jeanne Ann Clery who was raped and murdered while asleep in her residence hall room on April 5, 1986.
Mr. John Schaible, Chief of Public Safety for Delaware Technical & Community College Terry Campus, presented members with a PowerPoint Presentation regarding how Delaware Technical & Community College complies with the “Jeanne Clery Act”. Mr. Schaible indicated that Delaware Technical & Community College has a minimal amount of reportable crime. The website to view the crime statistics for Delaware Technical & Community College is www.dtcc.edu/publicsafety.
Responding to Mr. Hogan, Mr. Schaible stated that another Blue Light Emergency Phone had been installed on Campus and most of the uses of these phones are for vehicle assistance rather than reporting crime.
Dr. John L. Cunningham, Director of Public Safety for Wilmington College, presented members with a PowerPoint Presentation regarding how Wilmington College complies with the “Jeanne Clery Act”. Dr. Cunningham indicated that there are two (2) Blue Light Emergency Phones at the Dover Campus, four (4) at the New Castle Campus, and two (2) at the Graduate Center. He also noted that they have experienced technical difficulties with these units. Dr. Cunningham also stated that a security announcement post card is mailed to each college student/perspective student, employee/perspective employee, and staff member/perspective staff member at the end of every extended enrollment period . The website to view the crime statistics for Wilmington College is www.wilmcoll.edu/security. Dr. Cunningham indicated that Wilmington College has a minimal amount of reportable crime and the Constables have limited arrest authority.
Dr. Kenneth Waldrop , Dean of Students for Wesley College, presented members with a PowerPoint Presentation regarding how Wesley College complies with the “Jeanne Clery Act”. The website to view the crime statistics for Wesley College is www.wesley.edu/studentlife/safety_security.html#3. Responding to Mr. Hogan, Dr. Waldrop will request that the statistics for the past three (3) years be posted on Wesley’s website.
Dr. Waldrop noted that when the new dormitory opened there was an increase in alcohol violations. He stated that Wesley College employs security officers to patrol the campus and that there is at least one (1) security officer on duty at any given time of day.
Responding to Mr. Ritter, Dr. Waldrop noted that all violations committed on campus will be included in the report whether or not the violation is student related.
Dr. Waldrop stated that the College does not notify the surrounding communities of any serious crimes that have been reported. Mr. Slavin suggested that the residential communities surrounding Wesley College should be made aware of any serious crimes that were committed on campus and would help Wesley College find a strategy in order to do so. Dr. Waldrop noted that if a crime is committed and public knowledge is not made, he could not confirm the crime due to the guidelines of the Family Education Right to Privacy Act. Chief Horvath indicated that a crime would not be reported to the public if there was an on-going investigation.
Housing/Crime PresentationMrs. Ami Sebastian-Hauer, Executive Director of the Dover Housing Authority, and Chief Horvath, Police Chief of the Dover Police Department, presented members with a Housing/Crime PowerPoint Presentation. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer indicated to members that the Dover Housing Authority owns and manages 302 public housing units in seven (7) developments on 22 scattered sites within the City of Dover. The admissions policy, occupancy policy and lease documents enable the Housing Authority to enforce a zero tolerance policy against criminal and drug activity in the housing developments. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer stated that all the applicants applying for housing must pass a thorough background check which includes a criminal and credit check, landlord and personal reference check, and income and household composition verification. Once this process has been completed, a meeting is held with the applicant regarding the different policies, review of the lease documents, and review of the strict Federal policy. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer stated that the lease and the landlord tenant code have been enforced in accordance to Federal Regulations and local laws.
Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer noted that the Housing Authority, City of Dover, and the Dover Police Department have enjoyed a really great working relationship since 1993. She advised members that the Housing Authority has been administering a Drug Elimination Program even when funding was reduced.
Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer stated that the Dover Housing Authority does receive weekly reports from the Community Policing Officers and that there has been a decrease in crime. The incidents involved have been guests of residents or people living with residents illegally and also noted that the same person was involved in two (2) of the three (3) recent shooting incidents. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer also noted that the persons interviewed by the local television stations regarding these crimes were not residents of the housing developments at all. All involved parties have since been evicted.
Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer indicated that safety and security has been the top priority of the Dover Housing Authority for the past six (6) years for not only the residents but surrounding communities as well and commits approximately $100,000 annually to this effort. She stated that the latest enhancement has been the installation of hi-tech cameras, which are visible, that record traffic at the entrance to the Manchester Square Apartment complex.
Chief Horvath confirmed the great working relationship that has developed between the Dover Police Department and the Dover Housing Authority. He also confirmed that the same person was involved in two (2) of the three (3) shootings and most of the people that have been arrested are not residents of Manchester Square Apartments. Chief Horvath indicated that there is a problem with there being no cooperation from witnesses in the Manchester Square Apartment neighborhood. Through the Community Policing Unit, Chief Horvath hopes to gain the trust of the residents of that neighborhood so that they feel comfortable reporting incidences to the police. Chief Horvath presented members with a form indicating all calls for service in the Manchester Square Apartments (Attachment #1). Chief Horvath also noted that the Police Department will continue to be proactive along with the Dover Housing Authority to make this neighborhood a better place to live.
Mr. Hogan questioned how the Manchester Square Apartments Statistical information would compare to the other Dover Housing Authority sites. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer stated that all of the sites have had good reports recently.
Responding to Mr. Ritter, Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer stated that most of the tenants pay rent and that it would be a violation of personal rights and be considered discrimination to restrict residents from having visitors. Mrs. Sebastian-Hauer noted that it takes approximately three (3) to six (6) months to go through the Court process in order to evict a resident.
Chief Horvath stated that the Dover Police Department and the Community Policing Officer frequently visits the Manchester Square Apartment Complex and so does the Quality of Life Task Force.
Mr. Ritter moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:17 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth L. Hogan
Chairman
KLH/jcr
S:ClerksOfficeAgendas&MinutesCommittee-Minutes20062-28-2006 SA&T.wpd
Attachments to Original File Copy
Attachment #1 - Dover Police Department Crime Report