REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
The Regular Council Meeting was held on January 22, 1996 with Council President Christiansen presiding. Council members present were Mr. Lambert, Mr. Tudor, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Malone, Mr. Fenimore, Mr. Salters and Mr. Hare. Mr. Leary was absent.
Council staff members present were Chief Smith, Mr. Lucas, Mr. O'Connor, Mr. DePrima, Chief Carey, Mrs. Boaman and Mr. Rodriguez.
OPEN FORUM
The Open Forum was held at 7:15 p.m., prior to commencement of the Official Council Meeting. Council President Christiansen declared the open forum in session and reminded those present that Council is not in official session and cannot take formal action.
Mrs. Rexene Ornauer of 17 Mifflin Road referred to the recent heavy snowfall experienced in our area and suggested that the City consider prohibiting the placement of sidewalks immediately adjacent to curbs. She stated that there were areas where the sidewalks were under deep snow, due to high banking from snow removal, and could not be used until the snow melted. Mrs. Ornauer also referred to a problem experienced with private contractors that clear driveways of one individual and push the snow into the way of another individual's driveway or yard. She suggested that the City make it known to private contractors that when clearing a driveway they should spread the snow along the edges of the property owned by the individual that hired them. She observed situations where snow was removed from one property and moved to the property of another and felt that this practice should be prohibited.
The invocation was given by Reverend Mildred Williams, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Lambert requested the addition of a Resolution relating to the Puncheon Run Connector. Mr. Fenimore moved for approval of the agenda as amended, seconded by Mrs. Malone and unanimously carried.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 1996
The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 10, 1996 were unanimously approved by motion of Mr. Salters, seconded by Mrs. Malone and bore the written approval of Mayor Hutchison.
RECOGNITION OF 1995 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - JEROME COOPER
Council President Christiansen introduced Mr. Jerome Cooper who was chosen as the City of Dover 1995 Employee of the Year. Mr. Cooper is an Inspector in the Inspections Department. He has independently put together a comprehensive housing program for the City of Dover. He is a diligent worker who takes his job very serious. He often observes violation problems off duty, and follows up on them when on duty. Under his own initiative, he helped to coordinate "Good Neighbor Day" on his own time. This program recruited and supervised young volunteers to do clean up/fix up maintenance on low income housing for elderly citizens and helped obtain the materials to do the work. Although Jerome has only been with the City for three years, he has already proven to be a valued employee and a fine example of Community Excellence Through Quality Service.
In expression of appreciation by the City, Mayor Hutchison, Council President Christiansen and City Manager O'Connor presented Mr. Cooper with an Employee of the Year Plaque and presented him with a $500 savings bond and a certificate for three additional vacation days. They conveyed their congratulations to Mr. Cooper and thanked him for working so diligently on behalf of the City of Dover. Mr. DePrima, Director of Inspections, relayed his appreciation to Mr. Cooper for his excellent contribution to the department. Mr. DePrima introduced the other members of the Inspections/Planning Department and conveyed his appreciation to all of them for working together as a team and for their support to Mr. Cooper.
Mr. Cooper expressed his appreciation for the award, stating that he feels it is a privilege and an honor to work for the City of Dover and he thanked all City employees and staff for the support they have shown him and for the 1995 Employee of the Year Award.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION - OPPOSITION TO PROPOSAL FOR PUNCHEON RUN CONNECTOR
By motion of Mr. Lambert, seconded by Mrs. Malone, Council adopted the following Resolution by a unanimous roll call vote (Mr. Leary absent):
WHEREAS, the Dover City Council has consistently opposed the State of Delaware Department of Transportation's (DelDOT) planned construction of the Puncheon Run Connector; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), DelDOT and all other highway agencies are required to maximize capacity of existing highways before constructing new highways; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Transportation for the State of Delaware has publicly agreed that the Puncheon Run Connector will not be constructed until the traffic volumes on Route #10 and U.S. Routes #13 and #113 warrant its construction; and
WHEREAS, DelDOT's recent (June 1995) traffic forecasts indicate that there is no significant difference in traffic volumes or traffic levels of service in the year 2005 on the Route #1 Toll Road, on U.S. Routes #13 and #113 and on Route #10, with or without the proposed Puncheon Run Connector. This clearly indicates that there is no traffic benefit to the Dover area by the $32 million construction of the Puncheon Run Connector and that there is no cost benefit justification to its construction at this time; and
WHEREAS, the adopted DelDOT 1996-2001 Capital Transportation Improvements Program indicates that the two sections of the proposed Route #1 Toll Road from north of Smyrna to south of Odessa are not funded for construction in the current Six Year Capital Program. These missing Route #1 highway sections result in a serious continuity travel gap in the Route #1 Toll Highway which is intended to serve traffic to and from Dover and all of lower Delaware to all parts of New Castle County; and
WHEREAS, the missing sections of the Route #1 Toll Road cause longer travel times for the motoring public and significantly reduces the traffic volumes and toll revenues on the Toll Road from what would occur if the Route #1 Toll Road was totally completed to I-95 as proposed. It is likely that additional and unnecessary traffic accidents will occur along the existing U.S. Route #13 in the missing sections as is known from current capacity and safety problems in Blackbird and other existing problem intersections; and
WHEREAS, additional highway improvements are required at the intersection of U.S. Route #13 and Route #10 to further reduce the existing traffic on U.S. Route #13 through Dover by increasing the traffic using Route #10 for those vehicles desiring to use the Route #1 Toll Road; and
WHEREAS, the Puncheon Run Connector would increase traffic on Route #13 south of Webbs Lane which is already over-stressed and one of the top three accident locations in all of Kent County; and
WHEREAS, delaying the Puncheon Run Connector project until after the year 2001 and until the traffic warrants its construction will provide an additional $32 million which should be used for completing other priority projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:
That the City of Dover's Representatives on the Dover/Kent MPO are directed to work with other local representatives on the MPO to remove the Puncheon Run Connector from the present and proposed DelDOT Transportation Capital Improvements Program; and
That it is requested that Dover's long standing position be officially presented at the Dover/Kent MPO January 24, 1996 workshop and public hearing and that Dovers' MPO representatives vote to remove the proposed funding for construction in the Draft 1997-2002 Capital Improvement Program; and
It is further requested that the Dover/Kent MPO explore other traffic alternatives to determine a more cost-effective traffic solution to the long range traffic capacity problems in Dover than the Puncheon Run Connector.
ADOPTED: January 22, 1996
PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF 711 WEST NORTH STREET
A public hearing was duly advertised for this time and place to consider a violation of the Dangerous Building ordinance at 711 W. North Street. The Building Inspector, Mr. DePrima, stated that the property is a two story frame single family home that has been determined to be unsafe. Mr. DePrima showed slides depicting rotted timbers, deterioration of an attached structure on the east side of the building, deterioration to the front of the structure and deteriorating siding.
Mr. DePrima stated that the property owner has been attempting to sell the property for over a year but has been unsuccessful. He requested that Council move forward with authorization for demolition. Asked by Mr. Salters if the owner has been in contact with the Inspections Department, Mr. DePrima stated that all contact has been through the realtor appointed by the owner. All official notification letters have been sent to both the owner and the realtor but the City has had no response from either party. Mr. DePrima stated his feeling that this structure is not a candidate for renovation and should be demolished. The proposed cost of demolition is $5,000. Asked by Mr. Tudor if the land is valued in excess of the proposed demolition costs, the City Assessor stated that he did not have the figures to give the specific land value, but felt sure that the value would be in excess of $5,000.
Council President Christiansen declared the public hearing open.
There was no one present to speak during the public hearing.
Council President Christiansen declared the public hearing closed.
Mr. Hare moved to authorize demolition of 711 West North Street and that the costs of demolition be placed as a lien against the property. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Malone and carried by a unanimous roll call vote (Mr. Leary absent).
MONTHLY REPORTS - DECEMBER 1995
It is noted that approval of the December financial reports will be considered during the Council Meeting of February 12, 1996.
Mr. Salters moved for approval of the following December 1995 monthly reports, seconded by Mr. Hare and unanimously carried:
Chief of Police Report
City Clerk/Alderman Report (Fines)
City Manager's Report
Mayor's Report
Referring to the Fire Marshal Report, Mr. Hare stated that while attending the Annual Appreciation Dinner for the volunteers of the Robbins Hose Company he learned of the attendance records of some of the volunteer firemen. He relayed that one volunteer, Mr. Al Farling, responded to 417 of the 432 fire alarms and that many others were acknowledged for their high response to alarms. Mr. Hare commended our fire department volunteers for the wonderful service they provide to our citizens.
After asking for clarification of information on the Assessor's Report, Mrs. Malone moved for approval the Building Inspector and Fire Marshal Report and the City Assessor Report. The motion was seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
Mr. Hare moved for adjournment, seconded by Mrs. Malone and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
DEBRAH J. BOAMAN
CITY CLERK
All orders, ordinances and resolutions adopted by City Council during their meeting of January 22, 1996, are hereby approved.
JAMES L. HUTCHISON
MAYOR
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