REGULAR MEETING
July 27, 1964
The Regular Meeting of City Council was held Monday, July 27, 1964 at 7:30 P.M. with Vice Mayor Hayes presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs. Biggs, Harris, Holpp, Hughes, Massey, Smith and Walls.
The invocation was said by the Rev. William Spence, retired Methodist minister.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of July 13, 1964 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES
The City Treasurer reported that funds available to the General Fund would not be sufficient for operation of the City and requested permission to borrow amounts not to exceed $200,000 to be repaid from anticipated current revenue. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following resolution:
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND TREASURER TO UNDERTAKE TEMPORARY BORROWING AS PROVIDED IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER.
WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Dover authorized and empowers the Council of the City of Dover to anticipate current revenue by borrowing such sum as shall be needed, not to exceed 1% of the total taxable assessment, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to borrow temporary funds for the current operating requirements of the City of Dover
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER:
1. That from and after the adoption of this resolution, the Mayor and Treasurer of the City of Dover shall be empowered and authorized to execute under the seal of the City of Dover any and all instruments, documents, or other evidences of indebtedness as required for the borrowing on a temporary basis of a sum not to exceed $200,000.
2. The Mayor and Treasurer of the City of Dover shall be empowered to obtain said funds upon such terms and from local lending institutions as in their best judgment they deem necessary and proper.
3. Any and all amounts borrowed pursuant to this resolution shall be repaid out of current revenue received hereafter.
Adopted July 27, 1964.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council accepted the report of the Wages & Hours Committee submitted by Councilman Hughes who reported a meeting being scheduled for August 3, 1964.
Council accepted the report of the Building, Housing and Plumbing Code Committee submitted by Councilman Hughes which recommended the adoption of a Plumbing Code modeled after that of New castle County.
On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed the City Solicitor to prepare for the next meeting the necessary ordinance to provide for adoption of the proposed plumbing code.
CURB HEARINGS
Council is considering an improvement program including the construction or reconstruction of streets which involve the installation of curb and charging the cost thereof to adjoining property owners. A list of streets proposed for improvement was submitted to Council. Public Hearings are required prior to assessing costs of curb and gutter to property owners. A series of hearing will be held until all streets have been considered. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council directed that a resolution be prepared providing for curb and gutter hearings on August 27, 1964 for Lincoln Street from Forest to Cherry; Railroad Avenue from Division to Forest Street, Kings Highway Southwest, Ridgely Street and Reed Street.
HEATING BIDS
Bids were received and opened this date for installation of heating and air conditioning in City Hall. Dover Appliance & Refrigeration Inc. submitted a base bid of $17,950, Forney’s Engineering Service submitted a base bid of $18,270. Both bids contained alternate proposals for portions of the work. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Walls, the City Manager was directed to evaluate each bid and recommend to Council at its next meeting which one to accept.
PROJECT 25
Bids were obtained this date from Burger Construction Corp., Edgell Construction Corp., Delaware Roads, Inc. and George & Lynch on Project 25, improvement to Clarence, Minima and Slaughter Streets, Park Drive, Division & Forest Street triangle, and storm sewer in Lincoln Park, etc. Low bidder was Delaware Road, Inc., $96,205. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Walls, council authorized award of the contract to the low bidder, Delaware Roads, Inc.
PROJECTOR
Councilman Harris discussed the need for a projector and other paraphernalia for use at meetings of Council to illustrate subjects under discussion. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Massey, the City Engineer was directed to obtain cost of a projector, sectional maps, etc. and report the same to Council.
DANGEROUS BUILDING HEARINGS
Public hearings had been set for this date on structures declared dangerous buildings at 752 - 754 Slaughter Street, owner Estate of Joseph Ravy, and 748 Slaughter Street, owner Estate of Wayman Brown.
Vice Mayor Hayes declared the hearing in the Joseph Ravy case opened. Building Inspector Roe described the condition of the existing structures which at the present time were vacant. A letter was received from Attorney N. Maxson Terry stating that his client Alfred R. Downs was negotiating for purchase of the property and that the attorney for the estate, Ernest Keith, was out of town until August 4. He asked Council to defer action. Mr. Roe told Council that Mr. Downs informed him he intended to tear the structures down after purchase. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council deferred action for a period of 30 days.
Vice Mayor Hayes declared the hearing in the Wayman Brown case opened. No one appeared at the hearing. Building Inspector Roe informed Council that the property was now the possession of the State Welfare Home and that officials there whom he had contacted had no objection to the building being demolished as a dangerous structure and the property sold to reimburse the City for the cost thereof. The building at 748 Slaughter Street is vacant and unfit for further habitation. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council found the building to be a dangerous building and directed that it be demolished. The Building Inspector will obtain bids for the job and see that the cost of demolition becomes a lien against the property.
Irving Garton informed Council that he was repairing a number of substandard buildings for a client but that some time would be required as renovations are being made only after occupants of the buildings find new quarters.
TRUCK BIDS
Bids were received this date for a chassis for a new garbage truck from three firms, Bolan Motors, $7265.24, Kent County Motor Co. $7400, C.F. Schwartz Motor Co., $7164.61. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council authorized purchase of the truck chassis from the low bidder, C.F. Schwartz Motor Co., at $7164.61.
Bids were received this date for a 3/4 ton Pickup truck from Holden & Mundy, $193.73, Kent County Motor Co., $1844, C.F. Schwartz Motor Co., $1687.71, and Townsend Bros., $1959. On motion of Mr. Walls, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council authorized purchase of the pickup truck from the low bidder, C.F. Schwartz Motor Co., at $1687.71.
SEWAGE TREATMENT
Councilman Hughes noted that a newspaper article quoted John Bryson of the State Water Pollution Commission on the subject of odor from sewage in the St. Jones River caused by waste from the new General Foods plant and implying that the City had been misinformed as to the waste load from that plant. He thought this was untrue. Councilman Harris remarked that he lived near the stream and that the odor was no more unusual than that during past years during periods of low rainfall. Jack Woods stated that Bryson’s remarks were taken out of context, that he had met with Bryson and representatives of General Foods, and that tests were scheduled to determine what the waste load was. Treatment facilities of the City now under construction would correct a situation for which the secondary treatment plant had been recommended. General Foods personnel have cooperated fully with City officials.
TABLE
A member of Council suggested that the press be provided with a table.
Council adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of July 27, 1964 are hereby approved.
Crawford J. Carroll
Mayor
July 29, 1964
July 24, 1964
The City Council of the City of Dover
Dover
Delaware
Gentlemen:
Mr. Alfred R. Downs, of Dover, Delaware, has requested me to write you concerning a lot of double house, located on Slaughter Street in Dover, Kent County, Delaware, now owned by the estate of Joseph Ravy.
We are negotiating to but this property and we wish you would hold up any action until we can get in touch with Ernest Keith, attorney for the estate, who is out of town, we understand, until about August 4.
Sincerely,
N. Maxson Terry
NMT/srn