REGULAR MEETING
May 27, 1963
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, May 27, 1963 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Biggs, Harris, Hayes, Hill, Hughes, Smith and Walls.
The Clerk was instructed to write the Dover Ministerial Association requesting they continue the practice of naming a clergyman to say the invocation at each meeting of Council. On request of Mayor Carroll, Dr. Parker of Wesley College, who was present at the meeting, said the invocation.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of May 13, 1963 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
PARKS COMMITTEE
Councilman Walls submitted to Council a written report of the meeting of the Parks, Playgrounds and Tree Committee. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Harris, the report was accepted.
The report recommended that certain amendments be made to the ordinance regulating the use of Silver Lake. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Walls, the City Solicitor was directed to prepare the necessary amendment, with the minimum fine reduced from $50 to $5.
SAFETY COMMITTEE
Councilman Hill submitted to Council a written report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Committee. On motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Biggs, the report was accepted.
WAGES AND HOURS
Councilman Hayes submitted to Council a written report of two meetings of the Wages, Hours, Legislative and Finance Committee. The report contained recommended changes in grades and wage scales of power plant positions and fire department dispatchers and the adoption of an overall personnel policy relating to hours of work, vacation, sick leave, holidays, etc. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Smith, the report was accepted and the recommendations approved.
LOTUS STREET ALLEY
Council again considered the opening of a dedicated alley south of Lotus Street between Orchard Avenue and the dual highway. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council directed that the alley be opened and improved after July 1, 1963.
GORDY & SMITH DEVELOPMENTS
City Manager Ward reported that a meeting had been held between City officials and representatives of proposed developments on U.S. #13 of the J. G. Smith tract and the Gordy tract. The meeting was for the purpose of getting the developers to coordinate their development plans, especially in the matter of streets and sewer. The developers generally agreed to cooperate.
CONTRACT NO. 7
Bids were received from five contractors on sanitary sewer construction in the Edgehill Acre section. Prices ranged from $47,113.90 to $57,969.50. The apparent low bidder is Edgell Construction Co. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Biggs, Council approved award of the contract to the low bidder, Edgell Construction Co., on their bid of $47,113.90.
DP&L LINE
City Manager Ward presented an agreement prepared by the City Solicitor for the location of the second DP&L electric line to the General Foods plant. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, Council authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign the agreement for the City.
COAL PILE
City Manager Ward reported he was investigating the problem of enclosing the coal pile at McKee Run but that the study was not yet complete.
PARKWAY GAS PUMP
Fire Marshal Roe reported that adjoining property owners objected to the installation of a private gas pump by Parkway Delicatessen. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Walls, the request of Parkway Delicatessen to install a gasoline pump was denied.
WESLEY COLLEGE CURB
Wesley College is preparing to construct a second dormitory on North Bradford Street. They requested permission of City Council to indent the curb on the west side of the street where the dormitory will be located, to conform with the curb indentation of the east side of the street. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Harris, the request was approved.
KEITH DRIVEWAY
Building Inspector Roe reported that the Planning Commission had approved the proposed layout of the garden in the rear of the Keith Building with the proposed driveway location one space removed from the present driveway. Permission is now requested from Council to depress the curb on The Plaza for new driveway and to close the old driveway. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, the request was approved, subject to the same terms and conditions in effect for the present driveway.
PARADEE ZONING
W. Charles Paradee petitioned Council to change the zoning from C-1 to C-3 in the area occupied by H&E Machine Co. on Forest Street near Salisbury Road. A public hearing will be required prior to the change.
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Hill, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following resolution:
RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP AND DIRECTING THAT NOTICE OF SAID HEARING BE PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF THE DELAWARE CODE.
WHEREAS, a certain area on the south side of Forest Street at Salisbury Road in the City of Dover is zoned pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover as C-1, and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Dover have been petitioned to change the designated zone from C-1 to C-3, and
WHEREAS, The Delaware Code and the Zoning Ordinance require that a public hearing be held before the Zoning Map or Zoning Ordinance be amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved By The Mayor and Council In Council Met:
1. That a public hearing be held on the 24th day of June, 1963, at City Hall, at 8:30 P.M., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Mao and Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover which would change that area on the south side of Forest Street at Salisbury Road from its presently designated C-1 zone to C-3 Zone.
2. That notice of the public hearing be given in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Code and the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover.
Adopted May 27, 1963.
Council recessed and then reconvened.
LUTHERAN CHURCH
A letter from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church informed Council that they were building a new church on Route #13 just outside the City limits and asked whether City sewer and water would be available to them. Their location is adjacent to the Smith tract on which an annexation referendum is scheduled, and to the Gordy tract, which development also desires City sewer and water and annexation. The Church would not object to annexation. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Smith, the City Engineer was directed to prepare a description of the area for the special meeting of Council on June 4 so that an annexation referendum could be scheduled.
SCHARNBERG
Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Hayes, moved that the action of the City Manager in terminating the services of Lester Scharnberg be approved. Mr. Hughes declared he would vote against the motion because Council had hired the man and should assume the responsibility of discharging him, and that Council had approved granting a hearing to Mr. Scharnberg, which had not yet been done. Mr. Harris stated he felt it was a question of supporting Mr. Scharnberg or the City Manager and he would vote to support the City Manager. Mr. Scharnberg had apparently contacted all Ccouncilmen individually except Mr. Hill, and his story was known, but the consensus was that action on this motion would not rule out a hearing. The motion was approved by vote of 6 to 1, Mr. Hughes voting ‘No’.
Council adjourned at 11:45 P.M.
F. P. Neylan
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of May 27, 1963 are hereby approved.
May 29, 1963 Crawford J. Carroll Mayor