REGULAR MEETING

September 10, 1973

The regular meeting of City Council was held on Monday, September 10, 1973 at 7:30 PM with Mayor Carroll presiding. Members present were Messrs Biggs, Harris, Hayes, Holmes, Holpp, Legates, Muir and Walls.

The invocation was said by the Council Chaplain Rev. J. H. Williams.

MINUTES

The minutes of the Council meeting held on August 27, 1973 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.

REPORTS

Chief of Police report for the month of August was accepted.

Building Inspector & Fire Marshal report for month of August was accepted.

City Planner report for month of August was accepted.

City Alderman report for August was accepted, fines in the amount of $862 were remitted.

Cash Receipts, General Fund, for month of August were accepted.

Cash Receipts, Electric Revenue Fund, for month of August were accepted.

Cash Receipts, Electric Improvement Fund, for month of August were accepted.

City Manager report for month of August were accepted.

COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEES REPORT

A written report of the Committee of Committees meeting held on September 5, 1973 was presented by Chairman Hayes. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Legates, Council accepted the report as presented.

REVENUE SHARING REQUESTS

The Committee of Committees has considered the various requests received by the City for revenue sharing monies. Many of the organizations requesting money have in the past received State and Federal grants and are subsidized in many other ways. The Committee has recommended that all future requested be accompanied by a financial statement of the organization and any other information pertaining to the method of operation and receipt of monies. At the same time the Committee of Committees has recommended that the revenue sharing money in the amount of $418,883 that must be reported by September 14, 1973 in a planned use report be allocated the General Fund in the allowable categories under the revenue sharing laws. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Muir, Council approved the above recommendations of the Committee of Committees and stated that the City Manager set up the guidelines for filing for future revenue sharing money from the City of Dover.

DOVER CHORAL SOCIETY

A request has been received from the Dover Choral Society for a donation of $500 to help defray the cost of their programs in the City of Dover. It is the recommendation of the Committee of Committees that this request be granted. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Muir, Council approved the request as recommended.

DOVER LITTLE LEAGUE

A request has been received from the Dover Little League requesting that their debt to the City of Dover in the amount of $16,000 due on October 1, 1973 be reduced to $5,000 because of the unbudgeted expenditures which the league encountered during the past season. It the recommendation of the Committee of Committees that this request be granted and that the balance of the loan be extended to permit the Little League to meet their current obligations. On motion of Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council approved the recommendation of the Committee as outlined above.

CITY HALL ROOF

The Committee of Committees has considered certain recommendations of the architect regarding the construction of City Hall. The mansard roof was originally designed for a portion of the roof around the City Hall Annex and no screening around the transformers in the rear of the Annex. The architect has received a bid of $18,000 for the present contractor, John L. Briggs Company for the additional work to the City Hall Annex that would place a mansard roof completely around City Hall Annex and provide a brick wall around the transformers, etc. at the rear of the Annex. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Holmes, Council approved the recommendations of the Committee of Committees also considered the change in the construction of the roof of City Hall, presently under construction, that would change from imitation slate to slate the roof of the new City Hall at a savings of $2,000. The architect has recommended this due to some difficulties that been recently encountered in the construction of imitation slate roofs. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Holmes, Council approved the recommendation of the Committee of Committees and directed that a slate roof be constructed on the new City Hall at a savings of $2,000.

BRUSH & PALETTE ART SHOW

A request has been received from the Brush & Palette Art Studio located at 59 S. Governors Avenue for a sidewalk showing of art work on the 20^th and 21^st of October between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. On motion of Mr. Legates, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council approved the request pending the final approval of the Chief of Police and City Manager.

RECYCLING CITY GARBAGE

A letter was received from Miss Carolyn White if L-3 Garden Court Apartments asking the City of Dover to consider the possibility of separating the garbage by the residents of the City that would enable the recycling of some of this garbage, thereby permitting the burning of some and recycling of the remaining. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Legates, Council requested that acknowledgment of the letter being received be made to Miss White and at the same time refer the request to the Utility Committee for their study and recommendation.

ZARTMAN REZONING REQUEST

A request has been received from Mr. Paul Zartman concerning the zoning classification of a parcel of land he owns located on U. S. Route 113. He has owned this land for approximately 19 years, all of which it has been operated as commercial land, and upon annexation within the City limits some four years ago it automatically became R-20 zone. It came to the attention of Mr. Zartman that it wasn’t zoned for commercial when he attempted to have a sign placed on that property by his present tenant. He would like for Council to consider the change of the zoning without his having to apply and file the necessary fees. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council referred this request to the Legislative & Finance Committee for their study and recommendation on this request and possibly the establishment of a policy regarding other areas within the City limits.

FOXHALL REZONING

A request has been received from Mr. James McClements to rezone land he owns located in the Foxhall Plantation. A public hearing is required prior to amending the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council adopted the following resolution and referred the request to the Planning Commission.

A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF DOVER AND DIRECTING THAT NOTICE OF SAID HEARING BE PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DELAWARE CODE.

WHEREAS, certain property located in Foxhall Plantation is presently zoned for R-20 use, and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to hold a public hearing prior to amending the zoning map and Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:

1. That a public hearing be held in City Hall Annex on October 8, 1973 at 8:00 P.M. on a proposed amendment to the zoning map that would rezone from R-20 to R-8, R-10 and RG-3 that property located in Foxhall Plantation, owned by James B. McClements and containing approximately 50 acres.

2. That notice of this public hearing be given in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Code.

ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 10, 1973

UNTIED CEREBRAL PALSEY LETTER

A letter was received from Miss Mary Hayes, H2 Garden Court Apartments, requesting that the City Council very seriously consider the request of the United Cerebral Palsey for a share of the revenue sharing money. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council acknowledged receipt of the letter and requested that Miss Hayes be contacted and informed of the procedure that will now be necessary for the filing for revenue sharing money.

CARL ZENKER REZONING

A public hearing was duly advertised for this time and place to consider the rezoning of property located on Persimmon Tree Lane owned by Carl Zenker from R-20 to RG-2. Mayor Carroll declared the hearing closed. Mr. Pierce, representing the equitable owner, was present and spoke on behalf of the rezoning. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of this request. No one else was present to speak for or against the rezoning. Mayor Carroll declared the hearing closed. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by unanimous roll call vote adopted the following ordinance.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF DOVER BY CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON PERSIMMON TREE LANE FROM R-20 TO RG-2 USE, OWNED BY CARL & ELAINE ZENKER.

WHEREAS, the City of Dover has enacted a zoning ordinance regulating the use of property within the limits of the City of Dover, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed in the best interest of the zoning and planning to change the permitted use of the property described below from R-20 to RG-2 use.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:

1. That from and after the passage and approval of this ordinance the Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover has been amended by changing the zoning designation from R-20 to RG-2 on that property located on Persimmon Tree Lane, owned by Carl I. & Elaine T. Zenker, equitable owners being Pierce & Vietri General Contractors, and containing approximately 5.5 acres.

ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 10, 1973

YMCA REVENUE SHARING REQUEST

A request has been received from the YMCA to participate in the revenue sharing funds allocated by the City of Dover. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Legates, Council referred this request to the Legislative & Finance Committee.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT REQUEST

A recommendation has been presented to Council for their consideration in the adoption of a resolution to be forwarded to the Highway Department of the State of Delaware that would request their long range plans for the construction, repair and relocation of any streets or roads within the limits of the City of Dover. This was initiated due to the increased load upon the streets and roadways of the City of Dover in the most recent past. On motion of Mr. Legates, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council directed that such a resolution be prepared and presented to Council at its next meeting for their consideration and study prior to adoption.

VACATION POLICY - CITY EMPLOYEES

A recommendation has been made by the Legislative & Finance Committee and presented to Council at the August 27, 1973 meeting for their consideration on the changing of the vacation policy of the City of Dover employees. In the past, vacation was credited to an employees record at the beginning of the calendar year, thereby it being an advance rather than an earned vacation. The recommendation is that the vacation be credited to the employee at the rate it is earned rather than as an advance. Action was tabled at the meeting in order that the Committee may look at the vacation policy of the Dover Police Department. At this time it is the recommendation of the Committee that the vacation policy be changed as follows:

      The changes would:

Eliminate the standard 2 weeks (10 days) vacation for each year after the first years continuous service, 3 weeks (15 days) vacation after 10 years continuous service, and 4 weeks (20 days) vacation after 20 years continuous service;

      and be replaced with:

1 day earned vacation for each full month of employment after 6 months through 9 years of employment = 12 days per year vacation.

1 ½ days earned vacation for each full month of employment for 10 years through 19 years of employment = 18 days per year vacation.

2 days earned vacation for each full month of employment for 20 years and over of employment = 24 days per year vacation.

The policy will be effective as of July 1, 1974.

The policy when it goes into effect will apply to all City of Dover employees on a full time basis, with the exception of the sworn policemen of the Dover Police Department. Their vacation policy will remain as adopted July 1, 1968. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Muir, Council by unanimous roll call vote adopted the policy as recommended by the Legislative & Finance Committee and outlined above.

 

COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 8:40 PM

                                                                                    JAY R. DOUGHERTY

                                                                                    CITY CLERK

All orders, ordinances and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of September 10, 1973 are hereby approved.

                                                                                    CRAWFORD J. CARROLL

                                                                                    MAYOR

SEPTEMBER 11, 1973