REGULAR MEETING

October 25, 1971

The regular meeting of City Council was held on Monday, October 25, 1971 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Members present were Messrs Biggs, Coyle, Hayes, Holmes, Holpp, Legates, Muir and Walls.

The invocation was said by the Rev. Ed Wilkins, Chaplain of Wesley College.

MINUTES

The minutes of the regular meeting of October 11, 1971 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.

J.P. COURT #7 MONTHLY REPORT

The monthly report of the J.P. Court #7 for the month of September was submitted to Council attached to a check in the amount of $8,205.74. On motion of Mr. Coyle, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council accepted the report as presented. Also read at this time was a copy of a letter from Governor Russell Peterson to Mayor Carroll concerning the deferred payments due the City of Dover. A copy of this letter will be distributed to Council.

HALLOWEEN PROCLAMATION

A proclamation was read, issued by Mayor Crawford J. Carroll, limiting the observance of Halloween to October 30, 1971 and setting a curfew of 10:00 P.M., subject to the penalties provided by the ordinances of the City of Dover.

MR & MRS IRVING MORESS CERTIFICATES

Mayor Carroll presented Honorary Citizen Certificates to Mr. & Mrs. Irving J. (Jack) Moress, who are leaving the Dover area and moving to Florida. Mr. Moress has retired from Latex, after having served this community for many years, in many various jobs and capacities with many local organizations.

COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEES

A written report of the Committee of Committees meeting held on October 20, 1971 was presented by Chairman Hayes. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council accepted the report as presented.

CITY HALL ANNEX

The Committee of Committees has recommended a change order be issued to W.H. Simpson changing the shingles on the new front of the City Hall Annex from asphalt shingles to wooden shingles. On motion of Mr. Muir, seconded by Mr. Holmes, Council by unanimous vote approved the recommendation of the Committee and directed that a change order be issued on the wooden shingles.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

The Committee of Committees has recommended that legislation be drawn that would permit the use of absentee ballots for municipal elections, such bill to be drawn and introduced in the next session of the General Assembly. On motion of Mr. Legates, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council requested the City Solicitor to draw such legislation, and submit it to the Legislative & Finance Committee for their study and recommendation prior to the approval of Council.

CENSUS STUDY

The Committee of Committees has recommended that an estimated cost of taking a census in the City of Dover next summer be worked up by the City Planner and submitted to the Committee at a later meeting. It is the feeling of the Committee that such a census would be very valuable to the City for future studies and surveys needed by the various departments. On motion of Mr. Coyle, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council directed that cost estimates be prepared and submitted to the Committee of Committees for their study and recommendation.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

A written report of the Utility Committee meeting held on October 13, 1971 was presented by Chairman Holpp. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Legates, Council accepted the report as presented.

BIDS - UNIT #3 SUBSTRUCTURE

Bids were received on October 22, 1971 on the substructure for Unit #3 at McKee Run. Two bids were received from Ernest DeSabitino Company and Whiting-Turner Company, with the low bid being approximately $215,000 above the Engineer’s Estimate. The Engineer, LDP, and the Utility Committee met and discussed this bid and recommended to Council that these bids be rejected. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Holmes, Council by unanimous vote rejected the bids received on the substructure on October 22, 1971. It was further approved by unanimous vote of Council that this project, Project 568-Q3 Substructure, be rebid, and that this bid and all future bids on Unit #3 be open bids with the prevailing wage rates in the State of Delaware being paid.

PARADEE REZONING

A public hearing was duly advertised for this time and place to consider the rezoning of property located on the northwest corner of Saulsbury and Hartly Roads. Mayor Carroll declared the hearing opened. No one was present to speak for or against the rezoning. The Planning Commission recommended approval of this request. Mayor Carroll declared the hearing closed. On motion of Mr. Biggs, seconded by Mr. Muir, 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 THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAULSBURY AND HARTLY ROADS, FROM R-20 TO C-3 USE.

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 zoning and planning to change the permitted use from R-20 to C-3 on that land described below.

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 shall be amended by changing the zoning designation from R-20 to C-3 on that property located on the northwest corner of Saulsbury and Hartly Roads, owned by W. Charles Paradee, and containing approximately 1.5 acres.

ADOPTED OCTOBER 25, 1971

RICHARDSON PARK

William P. Richardson has contacted the City of Dover and wishes to donate a parcel of land known as Richardson park adjacent to Silver Lake, Walker Road and State Street. This land is approximately 1 acre in size and Mr. Richardson would like the City to make this into a perpetual park in Memory of Mr. Harry Alden Richardson and Mrs. Priscilla Richardson, his wife. Mr. Richardson would have a plaque made and mounted at the entrance to this park. On motion of Mr. Muir, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council very graciously accepted the offer of Mr. Richardson. Upon completion of the transfer of the deed for this property, a resolution will be adopted annexing this land into the City of Dover.

G. LESLIE GOODEN PERMIT

On October 19, 1971, G. Leslie Gooden applied for a permit to construct a fence across the southern end of Bayard Avenue on a one (1') foot strip of land that he owns between Bayard Avenue and the Little League Park. This permit was denied by the Building Inspector. Mr. James MacMillon, representing Mr. Gooden, was present and appealing to Council to grant this permit. Much discussion followed about the closing-off of Bayard Avenue if this fence were erected. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Muir Council upheld the decision of the Building Inspector and denied a building permit for the erection of the above mentioned fence. It was further moved that the Planning Commission study and make a recommendation to Council on the possibility of opening up Bayard Avenue through to Court Street, adjacent to the Little League Park.

ANNUAL AUDIT

Copies of the annual audit of both the General and Electric Funds were distributed to Council. On motion of mr. Muir, seconded by Mr. Walls, Mr. William Manter, CPA, was requested to appear before Council on November 22, 1971 and formally present this year’s audits.

COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 8:25 P.M.

Jay R. Dougherty

City Clerk

All orders, ordinances and resolutions adopted by Council at its meeting of October 25, 1971 are hereby approved.

                                                                                                                                                            

OCTOBER 26, 1971                                                                           Crawford J. Carroll Mayor