REGULAR MEETING
November 14, 1966
The Regular Meeting of City Council was held Monday, November 14, 1966 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs. Biggs, Harris, Hastings, Hayes, Holpp, Hughes, Jackson and Smith.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of October 24, 1966 were approved and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
REPORTS
Report of the Chief of Police was accepted.
Report of the Alderman James was accepted. Fines in the amount of $379.60 were remitted to the City in the month of October.
Report of the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector was accepted.
Report of Cash Receipts, General Fund, was accepted.
Budget Report, General Fund, was accepted.
Cash Report, Electric Revenue Fund was accepted.
Cash Report, Electric Improvement Fund was accepted.
Report of the City Manager was accepted.
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS & TREE COMMITTEE
Councilman Smith presented a report of a meeting of the Parks, Playgrounds & Tree Committee held on Monday, November 7, 1966. A committee appointed by Mr. Smith, consisting of Mr. Hastings, Sgt. Donovan, Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Woods, looked into the possibility of increasing the boat license fee for all boats using the facilities of Silver Lake. They recommended increasing the boat license fee for all boats from $1.00 to $2.50 and have an additional charge of $1.00 for each 10 or portion of 10 H.P. of the motor. They also recommended that the dealer’s license be increased from $5.00 to $10.00. On motion of Mr. Hastings, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council recommended that the ordinance governing the licensing of boats using Silver Lake be changed to fees recommended above. Mr. Hughes voted ‘No’.
Councilman Smith presented the deed from the developer for the playground in the Mayfair-Crossgates area. The area was deemed acceptable by the City.
By unanimous vote the City Council accepted the Committee report
SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Councilman Smith presented a report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Committee held on Monday, November 7, 1966. Mr. Smith stated that the Committee was concerned with the traffic congestion problem in the vicinity of State and Loockerman Streets. Chief of Police Turner stated that he would put a Patrolman at this intersection to direct traffic during the busy hours, to see if this would help alleviate this problem. Chief Turner stated he will report back to Council on this at a later date.
Councilman Smith reported that the Committee feels that a pedestrian traffic problem will exist on Walker Road with the completion of the new Elementary School located at Pear Street and Walker Road. The State Highway Department is going to rebuild Walker Road, but their plans do not include the building of sidewalks where they do not already exist. The Committee feels that sidewalks are definitely needed in this area, since small children will be occupying this school. By unanimous vote, the City Council directed that the State Highway Department be apprized of the City’s desire the have sidewalks incorporated in their plan for rebuilding of Walker Road.
By unanimous vote the City Council accepted the Committee’s report.
PARKING AUTHORITY
A Draft of Agreement, drawn up by the Parking Authority, was presented to City Council, for the purpose of turning over to the Parking Authority annually, a certain sum of monies received from On Street Parking, so the Parking Authority could undertake a program of property acquisition for the purpose of constructing Off Street parking facilities. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council voted to delay action on the Agreement until a later date and a meeting can be arrange with the Parking Authority.
DOVER HOUSING AUTHORITY
A Cooperative Agreement was presented to The City Council by the Dover Housing Authority. It is the Housing Authority’s desire to gain approval from the Federal Government to construct 125 units of Low Rent Housing within the City of Dover. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Hastings, the City Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING COOPERATION AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this locality to eliminate substandard and other inadequate housing, to prevent the spread of slums and blight, and to realize as soon as feasible the goal of a decent home in a suitable living environment for all of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, provides that there shall be local determination of need for low-rent housing to meet needs not being adequately met by private enterprise; and
WHEREAS, low-rent housing is needed to assist in meeting the housing goal of this locality; and
WHEREAS, the application of the Dover Housing Authority as required by said United States Housing Act, was heretofore approved by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Dover on November 14, 1966:
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Governing Body of this locality that a Cooperation Agreement be entered into providing for local cooperation in connection with such low-rent housing projects;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Dover as follows:
1. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to execute a cooperative agreement on behalf of the City of Dover with respect to approximately 125 units of low-rent housing and the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to affix or impress the official seal of The City of Dover thereon and to attest the same, said cooperation agreement to be in substantially the form attached hereto, (accompanied by a letter stipulating the Council of the City of Dover’s desire to have at least 50 of these units constructed for the elderly and/or single person eligible for this housing.)
Passed November 14, 1966
AUDIT REPORT
Receipt of the Audit Report was acknowledged by the member of City Council and on motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by unanimous vote delayed action on this report until the Auditor, Mr. Manter could be invited to attend the next Council meeting, November 28, 1966.
ESTIMATE OF UTILITY COSTS TO COVER NORTH OF PRESENT CITY LIMITS
City Manager Neylan presented to the Council estimated cost of supplying Sewer and Water to certain areas north of the present city limits, as requested by the Utility Committee. This was brought about by a request of the Utility Committee by a property owner north of Silver Lake to be served with City Sewer and Water. Mr. Neylan felt the best way to supply these areas was for the City to first annex these areas into the Corporate Limits of the City of Dover. The three are:
Area 1. Bounded on the West by Silver Lake and on the North by Lands of Delaware State College and on the East by U.S. 13 and on the South by the City Line.
Area 2. Bounded on the North by the Leipsic Road and on the West by U.S. 13 and on the south by Towne Pont Development and including the Gruell farm and lands of others
Area 3. The Richardson Home Farm.
Mr. Neylan stated that the cost represented in this report were for supplying sewer and water to these areas if they were annexed, for Right-of-Way Development and On Site Development. The cost of On Site Development would probably be borne by the developer of undeveloped land, and the land owners of the already developed lands. Also included in this report, was the cost of a main interceptor from Division Street to the Disposal Plant, to run parallel with the present main interceptor, which is now presently overloaded. On motion of Mr. Hastings, seconded by Mr. Jackson, Council by a vote of 7 ‘yes’ and 1 ‘no’, Mr. Harris, authorized the City Manager to take a sampling of the residents of these aforementioned areas to see if they might be for or against a referendum for annexation to the City of Dover. Mr. Neylan will report his findings to the Council at a later date.
NOMINATIONS OF FIRE CHIEFS
A letter was received from the Robbins Hose Company submitting the names for fire line officers for the year of 1967. There are no contests for any of the five (5) positions, therefore no judges will be needed for the election. On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by unanimous vote accepted the nominations for Fire Chiefs as submitted by Robbins Hose Company.
CORRESPONDENCE
A letter was received from Mr. C. F. Harper of 45 South New Street, Dover, Delaware, requesting permission to depress the curb on a lot he owns adjacent to his home at 45 South New Street, for the purpose of using this lot for off street parking. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council authorized the Chief of Police to look into the problem and report to the Council at it’s next meeting.
A letter was received from some residents in the area of New and Loockerman Streets concerning the noise revolving around the entertainment room located at 222-224 Loockerman Street, Third Floor known as ‘The Sound Room’. The letter states that this noise is at times very annoying, and is kept most all of the day and night. Chief Turner was advised of this situation before hand, and had a Police Officer with a tape recorder, recording the noise from different locations on the street in the area last Saturday Evening. This was played to Council at this time. The City Solicitor, Mr. Buckson stated that if this noise was termed a public nuisance, the City Council has the authority to take action against such noises. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed the City Solicitor and the Chief of Police to contact the signers of this letter and determine the extent of this annoyance and recommend to Council the action they feel should be taken.
TABLES FOR REPORTERS
Mr. Hughes stated at this time that he felt it was not necessary for the news media attending these meetings to have nothing to write on, such as tables or desks, where were authorized to be placed in the Council room for the reporters some 9 months ago. Mr. Neylan stated that he would see that this was taken care of as soon as possible.
Council adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
Jay R. Dougherty
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of November 14, 1966 are hereby approved.
Crawford J. Carroll
Mayor
November 15, 1966