REGULAR MEETING
April 10, 1961
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, April 10, 1961 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Fromm Hayes, Holpp, Thompson, Turner and Zartman.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of March 27, 1961 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.
REPORTS
Report of the Chief of Police for March was accepted as read.
Report of Alderman Shockley for March was accepted as read. Checks in the amounts of $976.35 and $69.00 were remitted to the City.
Report of the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector for March was accepted as read.
Report of Cash Receipts, General Fund, for March was accepted as read.
Report of General Fund Budget for February was accepted as read.
Report of Electric Revenue Fund Cash Receipts and Expenditures for March was accepted as read. Report of Electric Improvement Fund Cash Receipts and Expenditures for March was accepted as read.
Electric Department Operating Report for February was accepted as read.
CONDEMNED PROPERTIES
Fire Marshal and Building Inspector Jack Roe informed Council that he had notified David Hardcastle to repair or put in safe condition or tear down a property at 30 S. Kirkwood Street, and notified George H. Hevalow to put in safe condition or tear down a property at 32 S. Kirkwood Street. The 30 day period contained in the notice had passed without action being taken. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed that the owners of the above properties be notified in writing that a hearing will be held at the Council meeting beginning at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, April 24, 1961 to determine whether the above are dangerous buildings and determine whether they should be repaired, vacated or demolished.
KONSCHAK FENCE
Fred Kugler appeared before City Council with a petition signed by property owners in southwest Dover requesting Council to direct Gus Konschak to remove barbed wire from a fence constructed by him to keep trespassers from his farm. The petition states that the barbed wire is a hazard and Mr. Kugler cited the recent case of a child whose clothing became caught in the wire and dangled bodily from the fence. Mr. Koschak erected the fence to prevent damage to his crops and property and injury to trespassers, particularly children. He has removed strands of barbed wire from the lower fence but insists that the strand at the top shall remain. In the opinion of the Solicitor, the City has no authority to forbid the use of barbed wire in the construction of a fence. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Fromm, the Solicitor was directed to write Mr. Konschak telling him of the petition received, of the concern of Council of the danger of barbed wire to children, of the possible liability of Konschak because of injury from the wire, and Council’s discussion of the matter. Mr. Zartman voted ‘No’.
TAX APPEALS
Mayor Haman declared that the Council would hear tax assessment appeals and the reported of the committee of Council which sat to hear appeals at 2 P.M. today.
No one was present to make a tax appeal.
The committee reported that the Texas Company requested a reduction in the appraised value of its bulk plant from $26,000 to $15,000. The committee recommended that the assessment remain as it is. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council approved the recommendation of the committee.
Wilton & Mildred Virdin requested that the assessment on their property at 1058 S. Bradford St. be reduced from $6200 to $5100 which would be 60% of the purchase price $8500. The committee recommended that the reduction be made. The point was made that the property was assessed on a standard by which all properties are equally assessed and that assessment changes should not be based on selling price alone. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Carroll, that the request be approved, Councilmen Carroll, Hayes and Holpp voted ‘Yes’, Councilmen Davis, Fromm, Thompson, Turner and Zartman voted ‘No’.
Winfield Shwarz requested that the assessment on their property on Lynnhaven Drive be reduced from $11,200 on the basis that nearby properties are not assessed equally. The property is located in a newly annexed area which is in litigation and City Assessor Baker stated that the County assessment had been used. The committee recommended that the assessment remain. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council approved the recommendation of the committee. Mr. Thompson did not vote.
The committee stated their belief that Council should in the future consider the employment of professional appraisers to assess newly annexed areas. Council discussed of problems of assessment and the desirability of a periodic general reassessment.
HOUSING AUTHORITY AGREEMENT
Details of a proposed Cooperation Agreement between the City of Dover and the Dover Housing Authority were explained to City Council by Peter DeVita, Attorney for the Public Housing Authority and his associate, Mr. Paul Meng. Messrs Spencer and Twilley of the Housing Authority were also present to answer questions of Council.
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Turner, read in full and considered:
RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE AND THE DOVER HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WHEREAS, the Dover Housing Authority (herein called the “Local Authority”) proposes to develop a certain low-rent public housing project in the City of Dover, Delaware, with the financial assistance of the Public Housing Administration; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the Local Authority enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the City of Dover, Delaware, covering approximately 125 units of low-rent public housing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE, AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the Cooperation Agreement hereto attached and made a part hereof, is hereby approved and accepted, and the proper officer of the City of Dover, Delaware, is hereby authorized and directed to execute said Agreement on behalf of the City of Dover, Delaware, in as many counterparts as may be required. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to impress the official seal of the City of Dover, Delaware thereon and to attest the same.
2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
Councilman Turner moved that the foregoing resolution be adopted as introduced and read, which motion was seconded by Councilman Thompson. On roll call the vote was as follows: Councilmen Carroll, Davis, Fromm, Holpp, Thompson, Turner and Zartman, Yes; Councilman Hayes, No.
Mayor Haman declared the motion carried and said resolution adopted.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN BROCHURES
Richard May, of Raymond & May Planning Consultants, exhibited to City Council a form of the brochure proposed for distribution to citizens of the area to inform them of the details of the proposed Development Plan. Mr. May explained that the cost of preparing and printing 5000 copies of the brochure in New York would be $4200, of which approximately $2000 is the cost of preparation. A local firm quoted a price of approximately $4200 for the printing job alone. Councilman Zartman objected to certain particulars of the proposed plan. Councilman Fromm stated that it was the intention of the Planning Commission to distribute brochures to the general public and hold public hearings prior to adoption of a development plan. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Turner, Council authorized the Planning Commission to purchase 5000 brochures at a cost of $4200. Councilmen Hayes and Zartman voted No.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council authorized daylight saving time to begin in Dover at 2 A.M., April 30, 1961. Time of its termination will be decided later.
TAX RATE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the tax rate for the year 1961 was set at 90¢ per 4100 of assessed valuation.
TREE REMOVAL
On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the City Manager was directed to obtain bids for the removal of trees at Minor and Bradford Streets.
Council adjourned at 11:30 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk
All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of April 10, 1961 are hereby approved.
April 12, 1961 W. Edward Haman
Mayor