REGULAR MEETING
May 14, 1962
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, May 14, 1962 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Hayes, Hill, Holpp, Hughes, Mowlds, Turner, Walls and Zartman.
The invocation was said by the Rev. E. A. Bean.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of April 23, 1962 were accepted and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
REPORTS
Report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.
Report of Alderman Shockley was accepted as read. Checks in the amounts of $204.00 and $159.50 were remitted to the City. Report of Magistrate Knotts was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $695.30 was remitted to the City. Report of Magistrate Cavanaugh was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $817.00 was remitted to the City.
Report of the Executive Officer, Board of Health, was accepted as read.
Report of the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector was accepted as read.
Report of Cash Receipts, General Fund, was accepted as read.
Budget Report, General Fund, was accepted as read.
Report of Cash receipts and expenditures, Electric Revenue Fund, was accepted as read.
Report of Cash receipts and expenditures, Electric Improvement Fund, was accepted as read.
Electric Operating Report for March was accepted as read.
Report of the City Manager for April was accepted as read.
SIDEWALK PETITION
A petition signed by property owners north of William Street objected to Council requiring the installation of sidewalks stating there is very little foot traffic requiring them and that their installation would mean the removal of a great number of shade trees. On motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Turner, the petition was accepted as accepted and ordered filed.
FIRE MARSHAL
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Turner, the Fire Marshal was authorized to attend the 66th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Philadelphia May 21 thru May 25, 1962.
VOSHELL PROTEST
William Mitten and other residents in the vicinity if South Bradford and Dover Streets appeared before City Council to protest the noises and other nuisances caused by the Voshell Brothers in the operation of a welding shop at S. Governors Avenue and Dover Street. On motion of Mr. Mowlds, seconded by Mr. Walls, the City Solicitor was directed to determine what action the City could take to eliminate the nuisance.
ZONING AMENDMENT
Mayor Carroll announced that the announced public hearing would now begin on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance which would provide that City Council ‘may’ refer proposed amendments to the Planning Commission, rather than ‘shall’ refer proposed amendments to the Planning Commission as now provided in the ordinance. No citizens were present to comment on the proposed change. The Planning Commission had previously stated their opposition tot he change. Council discussed the amendment. Mayor Carroll expressed his belief that no change should be made.
On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by vote of 6 to 2 passed the following ordinance, Messrs Holpp and Turner voting ‘No’.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE XI, SECTION 11.1 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:
The from and after the passage of this ordinance, Section 11.1 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Dover shall be deleted and in lieu thereof shall appear the following:
Section 11.1 Amendments. This ordinance or nay part thereof, may be amended, supplemental or repealed, from time to time, by the City Council on its own motion or on petition, as provided in Chapter 3 of Title 22, Municipalities of the Delaware Code Annotated. Every such proposed amendment may be referred by the City Council to the Planning Commission for a report before a public hearing. The City Council shall not take action on any such amendment referred tot he Planning Commission without a report from the Planning Commission unless the Planning Commission fails to render such a report within sixty days after its next regularly scheduled meeting following such referral.
Passed May 14, 1962.
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
On motion of Mr. Mowlds, seconded by Mr. Hayes the American Legion was authorized to conduct Memorial Day services on the triangle and to hold a parade. Council authorized presentation of a wreath on behalf of the City. Councilman Mowlds will represent the City.
IMPROVEMENTS
City Manager Ward announced that bids were about to be taken for resurfacing certain city streets with a seal coat. He also announced that plans were about complete for improvement of Lynnhaven Drive, Jefferson Terrace, Monroe Terrace, Holly Drive and Oak Drive. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council authorized holding public hearings on June 11 on such of the latter improvements for which costs are to be assessed to property owners.
SHELL RESOLUTION
Mayor Carroll announced he had been contacted by the Mayor of Smyrna and Wilmington asking Council to adopt a resolution approving the erection of a refinery by Shell Oil Company near Smyrna.
On motion of Mr. Mowlds, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, it is to the interest of the local economy as well as that of the State that we encourage new industry to come to Delaware; and
WHEREAS, The Shell Oil Company has expressed confidence in this area to the extent that it is willing to invest millions of dollars in a new refinery; and
WHEREAS, construction of this plant will provide employment for thousands of people and will bring a $24,000,000 payroll impact into this area during that period; and
WHEREAS, when in operation the refinery will provide more then 50 jobs, 80% of which will go to Delawareans; and
WHEREAS, the municipalities in the immediate vicinity of the proposed refinery site are heavily in favor of this construction;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED By The Mayor And Council Of The City Of Dover in Council Met that we endorse this project and offer every assistance to help bring the refinery into reality.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of Council send copies of this resolution to the Governor of Delaware and to the General Assembly.
Passed May 14, 1962.
ANNEXATION STUDY
Councilman Holpp reported that the Utility Committee and the Legislative and Finance Committee had met with a representative of Albright & Friel on several occasions to go over figures complied on the annexation study being made for the City by that firm. They hoped to have more detailed figures and a recommendation for Council in the near future.
SILVER LAKE
Councilman Mowlds, Chairman of the Parks & Playgrounds Committee, discussed problems at Silver Lake beach and the liability of the city in the event of accident. A chain will be put across the beach entrance and signs erected notifying the public to use the facilities at their own risk.
Council adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk
All ordinances, orders and resolutions adopted by City Council at its meeting of May 14, 1962 are hereby approved.
May 16, 1962 Crawford J. Carroll Mayor
City Council, sitting as the LPA for Urban Renewal, went into session at 10 P.M. on Monday, May 14, 1962, with the Mayor and all members of Council present.
A resolution was considered authorizing the filing of an application for Federal Loan and Grant for the Dover Green-West Project, Del-R-2. The resolution would in effect submit Phase I of the plan for federal approval and ask that funds for the project be set aside.
Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Holpp, moved for adoption of the Resolution. Discussion followed at which the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Merchants Association and other citizens asked that the resolution by approved in order that the final plan may be completed and considered. Edward D. Biter and William Hurley spoke against the resolution. The Mayor and members of Council expressed their opinions for and against.
On the question, the resolution was defeated by vote of 3 to 5, Councilmen Holpp, Mowlds and Tuner voting ‘Yes’, Councilmen Hayes, Hill, Hughes, Wall and Zartman voting ‘No’.
Mayor Carroll stated that as the time for submission of the plan had been extended he would continue to work for passage of the resolution and hoped to discuss the subject with each Councilman individually.
Council as the LPA adjourned at 10:45 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk