REGULAR MEETING
July 11, 1960
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, July 11, 1960 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Thompson, Turner and Zartman.
Minutes of the meeting of June 27, 1960 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.
REPORTS
Report of Alderman Dempsey was accepted as read. Checks totaling$512.50 were remitted to the City. Report of the Acting Alderman Shockley was accepted as read. Checks totaling $1,305.50 were remitted to the City.
Report of the Fire Marshall and Building Inspector was accepted as read.
Report of the Fire Recorder was accepted as read.
Report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.
Report of Budget Expenditures through May was accepted as read.
Report of Cash Receipts for June was accepted as read.
Council was informed that the report of the Board of Health which was to have been presented at this meeting was unavoidably delayed and would be ready for the next meeting of Council.
PLANNING
Mr. Fromm asked Bob Bogen, Resident Planner, to review for the Council a recently completed report entitled “Survey and Analysis Report, 1960 Development Plan, Part One.” The purpose of this report is to sum up the background material collected to date by the planning consultants for the City of Dover planning and urban renewal projects. It was pointed out that this report is simply a collection of information and that part two of this report will contain definite conclusions and recommendations based in the preliminary report as well as certain other information to be collected in the future.
MUNICIPAL PARKING
Mr. Thompson outlined to Council a plan to take immediate action toward solving the parking problem in the City. It was emphasized that this plan solving the parking problem, but may not be the ultimate solution. The eight steps of the proposal are as follows: 1) That all parking meters along the streets be 5¢ meters and that these spaces be limited to one-hour parking, 2) that certain changes be made at the Plaza to speed up the flow of traffic at this busy corner, 3) that signs be erected directing drivers to the existing parking lots, 4) that the lease and agreement with the Dover Parking Authority be broken and that the responsibility of the City Hall and New Street parking lots be assumed by the City, 5) that these parking lots be made free parking lots, 6) that a committee of 2 Councilmen, 2 merchants, and 2 downtown property owners be appointed to work with the Parking Authority to create more parking, 7) that the City Council will provide funds up to $10,000 a year for municipal parking until a final solution is reached, and 8) that the City business license fees be increased to bring in the additional revenue in order that the funds may be available for improvements to the municipal parking system.
Mr. Berglund, representing the Downtown Business Men’s Association, presented a list of merchants who are willing to support the program proposed by Mr. Thompson. On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council directed that a meeting between the Dover Parking Authority, members of the Council and interested merchants and property owners be held before the next meeting of Council for the purpose of bringing back to Council recommendations for a solution to Dover’s parking problem. The committee of Council appointed for this purpose includes Mr. Zartman, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Hayes.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Report of the City Manager was accepted as presented.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
City Manager Ward presented to Council the plans for the proposed addition to the sewage treatment plant. Mr. Ward stated that he felt that one small change in the plans would be advisable in order to leave room for future additions if they should be necessary. Since this addition has already been approved by Council, no further action was necessary.
PROJECT 10 BIDS
City Engineer A. W. Joseph read the bids received for project 10, Street Improvements. The bids were broken down into a base bid and two alternates. They are as follows:
Company Base Bid Alternate 1 Alternate 2 Total Bid
Edgell Construction Co. $45,340.50 $ 9,608.55 $10,477.25 $65,426.30
Delaware Roads 50,024.75 10,247.50 11,695.50 71,967.75
George & Lynch 58,203.75 11,562.00 13,244.00 83,010.25
The deadline for the completion of the project is October 15, 1960. On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Davis, the contract was awarded tot he low bidder, Edgell Construction Co., for $65,426.30.
WIDENING OF THE PLAZA
City Manager Ward presented to Council plans for the widening of the Plaza in order to speed up the flow of traffic at this location. He stated that a tentative cost of $8,719 would be required to make the changes according to the plans presented, and an addition $500 for a sign directing motorists to the municipal parking lots. On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City Manager was authorized to inform the State Highway Department of Council’s approval of the plans and request the department to go ahead with the proposed improvements.
INCREASING RADIUS AT SW CORNER OF NORTH & STATES STS.
A 7 Ft. radius now exists at the Southwest corner of North and State Sts. And it is difficult for vehicles, especially tractor-trailers to turn the corner without either driving over the curb or swinging too far into the street. A proposal has been made to increase the radius at this corner to 12 ft. The plans include the moving of a light standard and a catch basin. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the City Manager was authorized to proceed with the plans to increase the radius at the SW corner of North and State Sts. to 12 ft.
CONDENSER BIDS
Mr. Harvey Colgin pf the Kuljian Corporation attended the meeting to read the bids for condensers, circulating pumps, condensate pumps, and air ejectors for the proposed new power plant. He noted that eleven invitations to bid were sent out, but only eight of the eleven firms actually bid on the items. The bids received were as follows:
Ingersoll Rand $220,000.00
Maryland Shipbuilding &
Drydock Co. 232,500.00
Westinghouse 243,680.00
Elliott Co. 270,720.00
Yuba 272,780.00
C. H. Wheeler 300,000.00
Allis-Chalmers 307,000.00
Condenser Service & Equipment 307,792.00
Mr. Colgin stated that the Kuljian Corporation recommended that the Council accept the low bid of $220,000 submitted by the Ingersoll Rand Co., since that company is known to be reputable and also since their products are manufactured within a few hundred miles of Dover and there would be no great service problem. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council awarded the contract for the condensers, circulating pumps, condensate pumps and air ejectors to the Ingersoll Rand Co. for $220,000.00, this price including delivery and erection.
STREET SWEEPING
Mr. Carroll called attention to the existing situation in which “No Parking” signs are placed in order that the streets may be swept at certain hours. The “No Parking” signs are generally respected, but the streets have not been swept at the designated times. Council was informed that a new driver had been hired for the sweeper and that the street sweeping would be back on schedule in the near future. Council recommended closer cooperation between the streets and Police departments for the enforcement of the “No Parking” signs and increased efficiency of the street sweeping.
BOATS ON SILVER LAKE DURING FUNERALS AT LAKESIDE CEMETERY
Mr. Davis requested that some action be taken, in the form of an ordinance if necessary, to stop boats on Silver Lake when funerals are in progress at Lakeside cemetery. It was pointed out that in the past a flag had been displayed at the cemetery as a signal to the boats that a funeral was in progress. Council directed Chief Turner to study the matter and to make arrangements to have wither the Police or someone at the lake notified when there is to be a funeral and then direct the boat owners to wait until the funeral us over to run their boats.
LIGHTS IN SILVER LAKE BRIDGE
Mr. Thompson asked if arrangements could be made to put the lights on Silver Lake Bridge into operation again. They have been out of order for some time and several people have asked him if the City could have them fixed. According to the agreement with the State Highway Department, who built the bridge, the City is liable for any maintenance necessary of the lights. The plans of the original layout of the lighting system have been lost and if the underground line cannot be located the only way to restore the lighting will be to start from the beginning and rewire the entire bridge. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City manager was directed to contact the State Highway Department to discuss the matter and to determine approximate costs of restoring the lighting on the Silver Lake Bridge. Mr. Thompson then requested that the St. Jones River Bridge at the East end of Pine Street be included in his motion, seconded by Mr. Zartman.
CIVIL DEFENSE SIREN
Mayor Haman read letters from Harold Schmittinger, Vice-chairman of the Dover Municipal Civil Defense Council, and the Federal Sign and Signal Corp. concerning the proposed air raid warning sirens. Mr. Schmittinger’s letter urged the City to decide on the type and size of siren needed and to purchase and have it installed. The letter from the Federal Sign and Signal Corp. described the siren which they feel is most closely suited to our needs, and further recommended that two sirens be purchased and one placed at each end of town. The possibility of checking with the Air Base about the size and type of siren used there and its performance was discussed.
HEAT AND AIR*CONDITIONING
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Turner, the City Manager would be authorized to award the contract for heating and air-conditioning City Hall to the low bidder. A roll call vote was asked for, the results as follows: Councilmen Carroll, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp and Thompson voted “No;” Councilmen Davis, Turner and Zartman voted “Yes.” The vote being five to three against awarding the contract tot he low bidder, the motion was defeated. On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Thompson, the contract would be awarded to the local bidder, Dover Appliance and Refrigeration Co. A roll call vote was asked for, the results being as follows: Councilmen Carroll, Fromm, Hayes, and Thompson voted “Yes;” Councilmen Davis, Holpp, Turner and Zartman voted “No.” The vote being a tie, Mayor Haman was required to vote. After consideration he voted “No” on the grounds that he heating system would not be installed in time for use until late fall, some tine after it would be needed.
BUILDING CONDEMNATION
Fire Marshal and Building Inspector Jack T. Roe brought to Council’s attention a building on Division Street between Queen and Kirkwood Streets which is in very poor condition and should be torn down. It is a lodge building and is being used for teen-age dances. Mr. Roe had met with owners of the building who informed him that they did not intend to repair the building. Council decided that the Building Inspector should proceed with the necessary arrangements to have the building torn down.
Council adjourned at 11:20 P.M.
D. M. Rowell
Acting City Clerk
All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of July 11, 1960 are hereby approved.
July 13, 1960 W. Edward Haman
Mayor