REGULAR MEETING
December 13, 1965
The Regular Meeting of City Council was held Monday, December 13, 1965 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs. Biggs, Harris, Hayes, Holpp, Hughes, Massey, Smith and Walls.
The invocation was said by the Rev. John C. Roock of St. Johns Lutheran Church.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of November 22, 1965 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
REPORTS
Report of the Chief of Police was accepted.
Report of Alderman Cavanaugh was accepted. Checks in the amounts of $677.10, $149.00 and $116.50 were remitted to the City. Report of Magistrate Knotts was accepted. A check in the amount of $711.00 was remitted to the City.
Report of the Fire Marshal & Building Inspector was accepted.
Report of Cash Receipts, General Fund, was accepted.
Budget Report, General Fund, was accepted.
Report of Cash, Revenue Fund, Electric, was accepted.
Cash Report, Electric Improvement Fund, was accepted.
Report of the City Manager was accepted.
SAFETY COMMITTEE
Councilman Walls submitted a written report of a meeting of the Safety Advisory Committee which was held December 6. Council accepted the report.
DOCTORS PARKING
The Safety Advisory Committee recommended that parking spaces reserved in front of Doctors’ offices be removed because most emergency cases are now treated at the hospital. Council believed some notice should be given. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Walls. Council directed that letters be written to all doctors concerned asking their opinion as to the need for the reserved space.
PARKING METER SIGNS
The Safety Committee recommended that insurance companies be permitted to install a sign on each parking meter reading ‘Remove Keys From Car’ with no advertising at no expense to the City. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the recommendation was approved.
STOP SIGN ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ERECTION OF STOP SIGNS ON VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DOVER.
WHEREAS, Title 21, Delaware Code, Section 505, vests in the local authorities the right to install signs notifying the drivers of motor vehicles to come to a full stop; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department of the City of Dover has deemed it necessary and advisable to install such stop signs at the intersections of certain hereinafter named streets,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN COUNCIL MET:
1. No vehicle shall enter onto any of the following described streets without first coming to a full stop, now shall any individual operate a motor vehicle so as to enter into any of the following named streets without first coming to a full stop:
WHITEOAK FARM
On Garfield Drive before entering Nimitz Road
On Garfield Drive before entering Frear Drive
On McArthur Drive before entering Garfield Drive
On Bradley Road before entering Garfield Drive
On Eisenhower Drive before entering Garfield Drive
MAYFAIR
On Alder Road before entering Kesselring Avenue going east and going west.
2. The Police Department of the City of Dover, pursuant to Title 21, Delaware Cost, Section 505, is hereby authorized and empowered to install the necessary stop signs at the locations and intersections mentioned in paragraph 1, above.
3. Any violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall result in prosecution under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and any fines and/or imprisonment shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the Delaware Code.
Passed December 13, 1965
PARKS COMMITTEE
Councilman Walls submitted a written report of a meeting of the Parks, Playgrounds & Tree Committee, held December 6, 1965. Council accepted the report.
FIRE CHIEFS
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council elected the following fire Chiefs of the Robbins Hose Company for the year 1966:
Chief William James
Deputy Chief Robert Quillen
1st Asst. Chief Wilson Comegys
2nd Asst. Chief William Rhodes
3rd Asst. Chief Leroy Dear Sr.
ZONING HEARING
A public hearing was duly advertised for this date on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover which would change the minimum livable floor area requirements in one family residences. Mayor Carroll declared the hearing opened. No one appeared to speak for or against the proposed amendment. The Planning Commission has recommended approved. The members of Council do not believe the minimum requirements in the R-8 zone should be reduced as proposed.
On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE IV SECTION 4.11 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DOVER
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER IN COUNCIL MET:
1. Section 4.11 of Article IV of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover entitled ‘Bulk and Parking Regulations for one family residences, R-20, R-15, R-10, R-8, R-7', shall be amended by deleting the minimum livable floor area requirements and inserting in lieu thereof minimum requirements as follows
FOR DWELLINGS IN:
Minimum Required R-20 R-15 R-10 R-8 R-7
Livable Floor Area
/DU (sq. ft.)... 1,500 1,200 1,200 1,200 900
Passed December 13, 1965
UTILITY COMMITTEE
A written report of a meeting of the Utility Committee held December 3 was submitted by Councilman Holpp and accepted by Council.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
The Dover School District has constructed a new high school north of Walker Road and has constructed a street leading to the school and has installed sewer and water lines and street lighting. They have asked the City to take over operation and maintenance of the street, utility lines and street lighting in certain areas. The Utility Committee recommends that the City accept the street, together with the utilities and street lighting, northward from Walker Road to the northern line of the extension of Woodcrest Drive; and woodcrest Drive westward to the property line of the Dover School District; that the City provide street sweeping and snow plowing on the balance of the school drive to and including the loop in front of the new school at no cost to the school; and that the City provide maintenance of street lights located on school property charging the school for energy and the cost of maintenance; and that the terms be contained in a one-year agreement, renewable from year to year. Councilman Holpp, seconded by Councilman Biggs, moved that the recommendation be approved. Councilman Biggs, Harris, Holpp and Hughes voted ‘Yes’, Councilman Hayes, Massey, Smith and Walls voted ‘No’. Mayor Carroll voted ‘Yes’ and the motion was approved by vote of 5 to 4.
RATE STUDY
On motion of Mr. Massey, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council directed the City Manager and his staff to prepare a study of a new rate to be applied to electric heating for presentation to Council in January. City Manager Ward noted that a rate study would be influenced by any decision in the case of the City of Dover now before the Federal Power Commission in which the City is applying for reduced rates for power purchased from DP&L.
PLUMBING CODE APPEAL
The Bituminous Pipe Institute appealed to City Council from a decision of the Appeals Committee of the Dover Code upholding the code provisions excluding the use of bituminous fibre pipe. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed that a public hearing on the appeal be held December 27, 1965 at 8 P.M.
INCORPORATE DOVER-LAMIA ASSN.
A letter from John P. Davis, Chairman of the Dover-Lamia Sister City Association, requested that the City of Dover bear the cost of incorporating the Dover-Lamia Sister City Association under Code 170, Section 501C3. All operations of the association are now carried on at the personal expense of the members. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council approved the request that the City bear the cost of incorporating the association.
HARTNETT CURB
A letter from Margaret C. Hartnett requested permission of City Council to depress the curb at the entrance to the garage of her residence being constructed at Bradford and Ross Streets. On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Walls, the request was approved.
HEALTH ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Massey, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1, CHAPTER 13, ENTITLED “SANITATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH”.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council of The City of Dover in Council met, that from and after the passage of this Ordinance Section 1 shall be amended by striking therefrom the following:
“and shall have power to appoint an Executive Officer who shall have power to call on any Police Officer of the City to execute the orders of the Board”
and there shall be a new Section added, to be known as “Section 1a,” which shall read as follows:
“The Council of the City of Dover shall appoint an Executive Officer to serve the Board of Health for the City of Dover, said Executive Officer to be known as Health Inspector, who shall have power to call on any Police Officer of the City to execute the orders of the Board or such other orders as the Health Inspector may issue is carrying out other duties imposed upon him by the Council.”
In addition to the Health Inspector, the Council may authorize the appointment of such assistants as it deems necessary, and the said Assistants shall perform such duties and have such power as assigned by the Health Inspector.
Wherever the term “Executive Officer” appears in any Ordinance heretofore enacted, pertaining to the general supervision of the health of the City and of the enforcement of the Ordinance enacted for the preservation thereof, said term shall be construed to mean “Health Inspector.”
The amendment to Section 1, as stated above, shall apply only to said Section and shall in no way affect subsequent Sections of said Ordinance or the enforcement thereof.
Passed December 13, 1965
HEALTH INSPECTOR
On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council appointed Jack Roe as Health Inspector as provided in the amended ordinance.
Council adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of December 13, 1965 are hereby approved.
Crawford J. Carroll
Mayor
December 14, 1965