REGULAR MEETING
September 23, 1963
The Regular Meeting of City Council was held Monday, September 23, 1963 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs. Biggs, Harris, Hayes, Hill, Holpp, Hughes, Smith and Walls.
The invocation was said by Mr. Amos V. Pepper.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of September 9, 1963 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of the meeting of the committee of Parks, Playgrounds and Trees held September 11, 1963, was presented by Chairman Walls, and accepted.
Report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Committee held September 11, 1963 was presented by Chairman Hill, and accepted.
Report of the meeting of the committee on Wages, Hours, Legislative and Finance held September 16, 1963 was presented by Chairman Hayes, and accepted.
INSURANCE LIST
The Finance Committee recommended that Lester Thompson be added to the list of Insurance brokers sharing in Dover insurance commissions. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed that Lester Thompson and John Davis be added to the list of insurance brokers sharing Dover commissions.
BLUE CROSS
The Finance Committee recommended that the City of Dover pay Blue Cross premiums of pensioned former employees. On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council authorized payment by the City of Blue Cross premiums for retired former City employees.
ORDINANCES
Council directed that the City Solicitor prepare the following ordinances which are recommendations, or modified recommendations of various committees.
An ordinance prohibiting occupancy by other than the operator of any vehicle loading or unloading or parking on or about any boating ramp within the City of Dover.
An ordinance prohibiting parking on the south side of Dover Street between Governors Avenue and Bradford Street.
An ordinance prohibiting parking on the north side of Loockerman Street for a distance of 60' east from the driveway into the City parking lot.
An ordinance prohibiting parking on the north side of Water Street for a distance eliminating one parking space east of S. New Street, and providing for a truck loading zone on the east side of S. New Street, north of Water Street.
BANK OF DELAWARE DRIVEWAY
Mr. T. Crawley Davis Jr., Secretary and Resident Counsel of the Bank of Delaware exhibited to Council plans for enlarging the Bank at Kings Highway and The Plaza and requested permission of Council to alter the Plaza to provide for a driveway immediately west of the former A & P building. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council authorized the Bank of Delaware to alter the Plaza to provide for the driveway in accordance with the plan exhibited.
CHAMBER BANNER
The Chamber of Commerce requested permission to erect a banner across Loockerman Street advertising the home and trade show being held in the Armory October 4 and 5. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Smith, the request was granted.
AIR BASE LETTER
A letter from Colonel Lloyd R. Humphreys, Base Commander, acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Mayor and Council requesting that Choptank Aviation Company of Cambridge, Maryland be permitted to use Base facilities for operation of an airline service. The request was forwarded through channels to the Department of the Air Force in Washington, D.C. for their consideration.
CONTRACT NO. 13
Bids were opened today for Contract #13, construction of sewage pumping station at Walker Road, enlargement of pumping station at Wyoming Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue Interceptor Sewer and force main and southeast interceptor. Bids were received from four contractors with low bid being received from W.B. Mitten & Sons, Inc., whose total price was $118,922.00. On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council authorized award of the contract to the low bidder, W.B. Mitten & Sons, Inc., at $118,922.00, subject to approval by the Federal authorities and Albright & Friel, engineers.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
City Engineer Joseph reported on progress of construction projects all of which show satisfactory progress. City Manager Ward reported he had received a letter from Albright & Friel which indicated that contract for the secondary sewage treatment plant could be awarded by December 15, 1963, with work begun about January 1 and completed by the end of December, 1964.
ROSS STREET
Council discussed the construction of Ross Street between Fairview Avenue and Pear Street. East of Fairview Avenue, Ross Street is a 60' right of way. West of Fairview Avenue the approved development plan of Frank Robino provided a 50' right of way which made an offset of 10' in the north curb line and paved street surface, which in the 60' street is 38' and in the 50' street 28'. The offset was noticed when the developer began setting forms for the north curb line in the 50' right of way. Alternate plans were proposed to cut down the amount of offset. One plan provided for 38' of paved street surface with 6' on either side for curb and sidewalk. Apparently the developer will agree to provide 38' of paved surface rather than 38' if the City will pay the added cost of approximately $3500. A motion to approve this plan did not carry. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed that the street be improved with 38' of paved surface between curb lines, with 6' on either side for curb, sidewalk, etc., and that the improvements be done at no cost to the City of Dover. Messrs. Holpp and Hughes voted ‘No’.
GAS LINE
A proposed agreement between the City and Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co. for installation of a gas line in Hazlettville Road was considered by City Council. It was decided that additions should be made to the agreement to provide that the Gas Company obtain a City permit to open streets, that streets be repaired in accordance with City requirements and that a sketch of the proposed line be included in the agreement.
BULLOCK OIL TANK
City Manager Ward reported that Arlington Bullock was unable to find space to install a fuel oil storage tank in the rear of his property at New Street and Loockerman and that he again asks Council to install a storage tank beneath the sidewalk. The City Manager and Fire Marshal inspected the property and recommend approval of the request. On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Walls, Council approved the request of Mr. Bullock to install a fuel oil tank beneath the sidewalk.
WESLEY DRIVEWAY
Wesley College requested permission to depress the curb for a driveway at the northeast corner of its campus at State and Cecil Streets. On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hughes, the request was approved.
WARREN ANNEXATION
A letter from Mrs. Noble Warren petitioned Council to annex her property of approximately 200' x 300' on Kings Highway to the City of Dover. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed the City Manager to determine whether any other property owners in the area desired annexation before provisions for a referendum election are set up.
SCHOOL LAND
The Dover School Board offers to the City a parcel of land 50' x 50' in the southeast corner of the East Dover School property as the location for a well for the price of $10.00, provided the City refunds a water tapping fee of $446.20, does not erect a water tank on the site, and fences the property. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Harris, Council accepted the offer.
FIRE MARSHAL CONVENTION
On motion of Mr. Biggs, seconded by Mr. Hughes, Council approved attendance by Fire Marshal Roe at a Fire Marshal’s convention to be held in Memphis, Tennessee October 28 thru 31, 1963, at a cost of not more than $200.
Council adjourned at 10:10 P.M.
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of September 23, 1963 are hereby approved.
Crawford J. Carroll
Mayor
September 24, 1963