COUNCIL COMMITTEES

The Council Committees Meeting was held on April 27, 1998 at 6:30 p.m., with Councilman Salters presiding in the absence of Council President Christiansen. Members of Council present were Mr. Lambert, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Leary, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Carey, Mrs. Malone, Mr. Weller and Mayor Hutchison.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS

Mrs. Malone moved for approval of the agenda as submitted, seconded by Mr. Leary and unanimously carried.

LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Legislative and Finance Committee met with Councilman Leary presiding (since Councilman Salters was acting as Council President). Members present were Councilwoman Malone and Mr. Merritt. Mr. Truitt was deputized to serve as a member.

Proposed Budget Revisions for Fiscal Year 1997-98

Staff submits budget revisions during the year to meet the changing needs of the City’s departments. In previous years, the major revisions in revenues and expenses and a final revised budget would be submitted to City Council with the total budget package in June. To provide departments with additional time for action, staff presented revenue and expense revisions for the City’s major operating funds at this time. The revised budgets for the other funds will be included with the budget package, which will be distributed in approximately two (2) weeks.

Mrs. Malone moved to recommend approval of the proposed budget revisions ordinance, as presented by staff. The motion was seconded by Mr. Truitt and unanimously carried. (It was noted that, at the request of staff, the First Reading of the proposed ordinance will occur during the Council Meeting of April 27, 1998).

Bid - Utility Tractor

Bids were advertised for a compact four wheel drive tractor with loader bucket, backhoe, canopy and cab enclosure. The following two (2) bids were received:

             Company                                                 Tractor Bid        Trade-In           Total

             Hoober, Inc.                                              $25,000            $8,000            $17,000

             First State Ford New Holland, Inc.           $24,668            $4,670            $19,998

It was noted that a 1987 John Deere Tractor will be traded-in and that an amount of $21,315 was included in the Grounds Department 1997/98 Budget for this purchase. Staff recommended that the bid be awarded to the low bidder, Hoober, Inc., in the amount of $17,000 with a trade-in of a 1987 John Deere Tractor.

Mr. Salters questioned the lack of bid responses for this purchase. Responding, Mr. O’Connor stated that dealers are aware that if they were to submit a bid, it would not be competitive against an authorized dealer and; therefore, may have chosen not to submit a bid. He also noted that the City’s bid specs contain requirements that could possibly be difficult for a company other than an authorized dealer to provide.

Mr. Carey noted that, according to comments by employees, the City has previously purchased equipment that does not have power steering, making it extremely difficult to handle. He suggested that all bids for this type of equipment include a requirement to provide power steering.

Mrs. Malone moved to recommend that the bid be awarded to the low bidder, Hoober, Inc., in the amount of $17,000 with a trade-in of a 1987 John Deere Tractor, as recommended by staff. The motion was seconded by Mr. Truitt and unanimously carried.

Proposed Ordinance - Section 7-4, Speed Reduction Devices

Members reviewed a proposed ordinance that would prohibit speed bumps (and similar devices) in the City. It was recently determined by the City Solicitor that the provisions regarding speed bumps, as addressed in the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations of the Dover Code, apply only to speed bumps in public streets. The proposed ordinance will be located in the Fire Prevention and Protection Chapter of the Dover Code and will pertain to all locations, both public and private. In addition, an appeal to this section would require review by the Construction Code of Appeals Committee.

Mr. DePrima advised members that although the Planning Commission recently approved three (3) speed humps at Delaware State University on the private loop road, which will be grand-fathered, no further speed humps could be constructed on their property. He also noted that according to the proposed ordinance, the Planning Commission would no longer have the authority to approve speed humps. Mr. DePrima stated that as a result of the City Solicitor’s review, it is recommended that the word “resulting” be replaced with “which may result” in the proposed ordinance.

Responding to Mr. Salters, it was Mr. DePrima’s feeling that adoption of the proposed ordinance would not allow appeals to be considered by individuals that were previously made to remove speed humps.

Mrs. Malone moved to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance (Attachment #1) as recommended by staff, seconded by Mr. Truitt and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:45 P.M.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

The Utility Committee met with Chairman Lambert presiding. Members present were Councilmen Weller and Pitts and Mr. Kramedas and Mr. Farling.

Bid - Relocation of Electric Lines and Equipment - Scarborough Road Project

The State of Delaware recently began working on the Scarborough Road Project and has requested that the City relocate the electric lines and equipment. This project will require outside contractor work. Bids were solicited for an outside contractor, with the low bid received from Bryan Emory, in the amount of $55,500.

The estimated total project cost is $302,821 (material - $154,762; engineering and labor - $92,559; and outside contractor - $55,500). Funding for this project will be available from the Electric Improvement and Extension Fund; however, the costs for the project will be billed to the State of Delaware for full reimbursement.

Staff recommended that the bid for the outside contractor’s work be awarded to the lowest bidder, Bryan Emory, in the amount of $55,500.

In response to Mr. Kramedas, Mr. O’Connor stated that DelDOT has estimated that the Scarborough Road Project will be completed by December 1999.

Mr. Weller moved to recommend approval of staff’s recommendation, seconded by Mr. Farling and unanimously carried.

Mr. Pitts moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Weller and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:57 P.M.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Reuben Salters

                                                                                    Acting Council President

RS/lcg