REGULAR MEETING
December 11, 1967
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, December 11, 1967 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Biggs, Harris, Hastings, Hayes, Holpp, Hughes, Jackson and Smith.
The invocation was said by the Rev. Archie McGilvary of the Faith Community Church.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of November 27, 1967 were approved by Council and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
REPORTS
The Chief of Police report for the month of November was accepted.
The report of the Building Inspector and Fire Marshall for the month of November was accepted.
The report of the Alderman for the month of November was accepted. Fines in the amount of $433.00 were remitted to the City during the month of November.
Report of the Cash Receipts, General Fund, for the month of November was accepted.
The Budget Report, General Fund, for the month of October was accepted.
Report of the Cash Receipts, Electric Revenue Fund, for the month of November was accepted.
Report of the Cash Receipts, Electric Improvement Fund, for the month of November was accepted.
Report of the City Manager for the month of November was accepted.
UNION BAPTIST CHURCH
Agreement has been reached with the Union Baptist Church on the purchase of their property at the corner of Bank Lane and New Street. It will make possible the widening of Bank Lane between New and Queen Streets. The purchase price has been set at $11,500. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council authorized the City Manager on behalf of the City of Dover to purchase the property of the Union Baptist Church at the above mentioned price.
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND TREES COMMITTEE
A written report of the meeting of the Parks, Playground and Trees Committee held on Monday, December 4, 1967 was presented to Council. On motion of Mr. Harris, Council accepted the report as presented.
SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
A written report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Committee held on Monday, December 4, 1967 was presented to Council. On motion of Mr. Hayes, Council accepted the report as presented.
COUNCIL MEETING, DECEMBER 25, 1967
On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council unanimously authorized a request of Mayor Carroll to dispense with the regularly scheduled meeting of December 25, 1967 in observance of the Christmas Holiday.
UTILITY COMMITTEE
Chairman Holpp presented a written report to Council of the Utility Committee meeting held on Wednesday, December 6, 1967. On motion of Mr. Smith, Council accepted the report as presented.
EXPANSION OF SEWER FACILITIES
A proposed plan for the construction of additions to the Sanitary Sewer lines, forced mains, and pumping stations for the proposed areas of the Beeches and the Dover Downs area. City Manager has stated that the City might possibly be eligible under a Federal Grant of 30% of the construction cost of such project. Councilman Harris then stated that he objects to the expansion of the present treatment facilities. He further stated that he has objected to the annexing of areas because the present facilities have been deemed as overloaded, and he cannot justify putting more load on the present plant until a definite plan of expansion of the present treatment facilities. He further stated that he has objected to the annexing of areas because the present facilities have been deemed as overloaded, and he cannot justify putting more load on the present plant until a definite plan of expansion of the treatment facilities is worked out. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed the City Manager to contact Albright & Friel, Inc., the consulting engineers making the study on the Sewage Treatment Plant, and request that they meet with the City Manager and Utility Committee to come up with a final recommendation and plans on the expansion of the present treatment facilities. Councilman Harris voted “NO” on the above motion of Mr. Holpp.
FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION
Council has authorized participation by the City in the Federal program of grants in aid for sanitary sewer lines, force mains, and pumping stations that will be required in the areas of The Beeches and Dover Downs through Federal Agency of HEW. On motion of Mr. Hastings, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to sign such applications for the Federal Grants.
H. B. #350
A bill, H. B. #350, has been introduced into the State Legislature to authorize the Levy Court of Kent County to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $5,000,000 to be expended for the construction and installation of a Kent County Water and Sewer System. Repayment would be by general taxation of the residents of Kent County. The feeling of Council was that if the City were not to participate in the County sewer system, the residents of the City of Dover should not be obligated to help repay their indebtedness. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council directed the City Manager to draw up a resolution to be presented to the members of the Legislature and the surrounding Community, stating the opposition of the City of Dover to this H. B. 350 on the grounds that the City of Dover feels with a sewage treatment facility and water system of their own, they don’t feel they should support the County system, if they are not going to participate.
REA LINES
In the recently annexed area to the City of Dover, the Delaware Electric Cooperative owns and maintains electric lines. The City Manager would like permission to negotiate with the REA for the purchase of these lines by he City of Dover. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council authorized the City Manager to enter into such negotiations with the REA.
BUILDING INSPECTOR AND FIRE MARSHAL
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council by unanimous vote appointed Mr. Jack T. Roe as Building Inspector and Fire Marshall for the year of 1968.
TAX ASSESSOR
On motion of Mr. Biggs, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council by unanimous vote appointed Mr. William T. James as Tax Assessor for the year of 1968.
FIRE CHIEFS
A letter was received from Mr. Robert Quillen respectfully requesting his name be withdrawn from the nomination of Deputy Chief as submitted at the Council meeting of November 27, 1967. Mr. Quillen gave employment as his reason for withdrawing his name. The Robbins Hose Company then submitted the name of Mr. Leroy Dear, Sr. as the nomination for Deputy Chief. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council elected the following Fire Chiefs for the year of 1968.
Chief William T. James
Deputy Chief Leroy Dear, Sr.
1st Assistant Wilson R. Comegys
2nd Assistant William H. Rhodes
3rd Assistant C. Donald Hodge
PARKING ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Jackson, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following ordinance.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AND RESTRICTING PARKING OF VEHICLES ON A PORTION OF THE NORTHERLY SIDE F PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE EXTENDED, IN THE CITY OF DOVER, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFORE.
WHEREAS, the aforesaid Ordinance which is hereby amended prohibits parking on a portion of the Northerly side of Pennsylvania Avenue Extended; and
WHEREAS, said Ordinance was intended to prevent parking on the Southerly side of Pennsylvania Avenue Extended.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET, THAT:
1. From and after the passage and approval of this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to park any vehicle on the southerly side of Pennsylvania Avenue Extended, for a distance of four hundred sixty-eight (468) feet measured along the southerly side of Pennsylvania Avenue Extended in an easterly direction, beginning at the intersection of the southerly line of Pennsylvania Extended and the easterly line of North State Street.
2. Any person, firm, association or corporation convicted of a violation of this Ordinance shall be fined not less that One ($1.00) Dollar, nor more than Twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars, or upon failure to pay such fine shall be imprisoned not more than five (5) days.
Adopted December 11, 1967
POLICE CARS
Bids have been received on the purchase of five (5) police cars. There were two bids received on each, one with air conditioning and one without air conditioning. The low bidder on both bids was Bolan Motors of Dover, Delaware. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Jackson, Council by a vote of 6 ‘yes’ and 2 ‘no’, Messrs Hastings and Holpp, authorized the purchase of five cars from the low bidder, Bolan Motors, with the low bid being $10,480.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
A letter was received from the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce requesting permission to place a raft in Silver Lake and one in Mirror Lake. The one on Silver Lake would have a large lighted Xmas Tree and the one on Mirror Lake a large lighted Star. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council authorized the Chamber of Commerce to place these two rafts at the sites that were requested.
AMENDMENT TO VOTER REGISTRATION ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following amendment to the Voter Registration Ordinance.
ORDINANCE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A GENERAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DOVER AND PROVIDING FOR THE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VOTING REGISTRATION BOOKS.
WHEREAS, the City of Dover passed an Ordinance relative to the registration of qualified voters; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mayor and Council to increase the period of time for the registration of voters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:
THAT, paragraph “3” of the above Ordinance providing for a General Registration of Voters within the limits of the City of Dover and providing for the preparation and maintenance of the Voting Registration Books shall be amended by changing the hours for the periods of registration for the last five working days in December, to 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., said change to remain in effect only for the year of 1967.
Adopted December 11, 1967
TOWNE POINT NORTH REZONING
A request was received from Jefferic Enterprises, Inc., owners of Towne Point North to rezone approximately 332 acres, presently zoned R-29 to C-4, R-8, R-10 and RG-2. A public hearing is required prior to any change in the zoning ordinance and zoning map. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Holpp, 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 AND DIRECTING THAT A NOTICE OF SAID HEARING BE PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DELAWARE CODE.
WHEREAS, certain land located in Towne Point North is presently zoned for R-20 use, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to hold a public hearing prior to amending the zoning ordinance and zoning map.
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 at City Hall at 8:00 P.M. on January 22, 1968 on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance and zoning map of the City of Dover which would rezone from R-20 to C-4, R-8, R-10 and RG-2 that land now located in the development to be known as Towne Point North. A legal description and plot map of the proposed area is on file in the office of the Clerk of Council, City Hall.
2. That a notice of the public hearing be given in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Code.
Adopted December 11, 1967
Council adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
Jay R. Dougherty
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of December 11, 1967 are hereby approved.
December 12, 1967 Crawford J. Carroll Mayor