REGULAR MEETING
April 11, 1960
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, April 11, 1960, at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Hayes, Holpp, Thompson, Turner and Zartman.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of March 28, 1960 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.
REPORTS
Report of the City Alderman was accepted as read. Checks in the amounts of $471.25 and $55.50 were remitted to the City.
Report of the Acting Alderman was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $1037.60 was remitted to the City.
Report of Fire Marshal Roe was accepted as read.
Report of Budget Expenditures for February was accepted as read.
Report of Cash Receipts for March was accepted as read.
Report of the Executive Officer of the Board of Health, Thomas Baker, was accepted as read.
DAYLIGHT SAVING
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council directed that the offices of the City of Dover open and close one hour earlier from the last Sunday in April until the last Sunday in September.
TAX APPEALS
Council sat to hear tax assessment appeals and to receive the report of the committee of Council on appeals which met at 2 P.M. today.
Mr. Hayes reported for the committee that the following requests had been received for reduction in property assessments.
Kent County Motor Company, Loockerman & New Sts., $76,700
J. C. Ehrlich Realty Co., Loockerman & Bradford Sts., $91,500
Mrs. J. C. Ehrlich, 123 Loockerman St., $33,500
Mrs. J. C. Ehrlich, 125 Loockerman St., $20,500
Frank Gobel, 104 S. Bradford St., $24,100
Mr. Hayes reported that the committee had considered each individual appeal and had found not inequities which would justify reduction of the present assessments. The committee therefor recommended that the assessments on the properties remain as listed above.
On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council approved the recommendation of the committee.
Mayor Haman announced that anyone present wishing to appeal a tax assessment would be heard. No person was present to appeal tax assessments.
TAX RATE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Davis, the tax rate for the 1960 was set at 90¢ per $100 of assessed valuation.
CAR WASH - WATER AND SEWER POLICY
Messrs Biter and Cullen plan to open a car wash at Kings highway & Route 13 and require water, electric and sewer facilities. Electricity will be furnished by Dover if the conditions of the City under which service is furnished are met. Wash water could be disposed of via an existing storm sewer emptying into St. Jones River. They desire to obtain water by drilling a deep well or extending City water desire to obtain water by drilling a deep well or extending City water mains. The present policy of the City prohibits extension of water mains to an area until it is annexed to the City. An ordinance of the City prohibits drilling deep wells within a radius of one mile of the City limits. City Solicitor Buckson advises that it is unlikely that the City can prevent a property owner from obtaining water by one means or the other.
On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council rescinded its former policy of prohibiting extension of water lines beyond present City limits until annexation has been accomplished.
The Utility Committee will establish a policy governing extension of water lines outside City limits.
Council discussed the present policy regarding extension of sewer lines beyond the City limits but deferred any change at this time.
On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Carroll, Council approved the request of Bite Car Wash for electricity providing the requirements of the City are met, and authorized extension of the City water lines to provide water at the cost of the applicant and to the specifications of the City as approved by the City Manager, and authorized dumping car wash waste into St. Jones River providing the detergent contained therein is not in such concentrated form as to provide a hazard to power plant boiler operation and providing the authorization may be rescinded by the City Manager if at any future time the detergent proves to be a hazard. Use of the Storm sewer for emptying waste into the St. Jones River is contingent on proper State Agency approval.
BUSINESS IN RESIDENTIAL SECTION
Virginia McTyer desires to open a beauty shop at 858 forest Street, a residential section. Council directed that the request be advertised for hearing at its meeting of April 25.
TRUCK AND CAR BIDS
Bids were received for purchase of a truck chassis with trade-in of an old truck chassis from Townsend Brothers, Holden & Mundy, and Bolan Motors. Low bid was received from Townsend Brothers. Council authorized purchase of the truck chassis from the low bidder at the net price of $1949.81.
Bids were received for purchase of a police car with trade-in of an old car, from Townsend Brothers, Holden & Mundy, and Bolan Motors. Low bid was received from Townsend Brothers. Council authorized purchase of the police car from the low bidder at the net price of $991.94.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.
POLICE SCHOOL
On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Turner, Council authorized paying the expenses of one policeman to attend the Police Community Relations Course at Michigan State University, estimate $100.
DOG ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council by unanimous vote adopted the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE KEEPING OF DOGS WITHIN THE CITY OF DOVER, AUTHORIZING THE IMPOUNDING AND DESTRUCTION OF DOGS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. The ordinance regulating the keeping of dogs within the City of Dover, authorizing the impounding and destruction of dogs, and providing penalties for violations, passed April 23, 1956, as amended by an Ordinance passed April 23, 1956, be and the same is hereby further amended by adding at the end of Section 6 thereof a new section to be known as Section 7, as follows:
Section 7. Whoever being the owner, custodian or possessor of any dog or dogs within the limits of the City of Dover shall obtain a license for such dog or dogs pursuant to Chapter 17, Section 1701, Delaware Code Annotated, and any such owner, custodian or possessor who shall fail to comply with the aforementioned provision of the Laws of Delaware shall be fined not less than Five ($5.00) Dollars nor more than Fifty ($50.00) Dollars for each offense and failing to pay such fine and costs shall be imprisoned not more than ten (10) days. The provisions of this Ordinance may be enforced by any member of the Dover Police Department or by any persons designated to act as dog catchers pursuant to this ordinance. This ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 A.M. on the 1st day of May, 1960.
Passed April 11, 1960.
BOILER BIDS
E. J. Healy and H. L. Colgin, representatives of The Kuljian Corporation appeared before Council to present bids and evaluated bids which had been received for furnishing and erecting two boilers in the proposed new power plant. Bids were as follows:
Bids Evaluated
Wickes Boiler Co. $1,245,000 1,494,900
“ (alternate) 1,375,365 1,557,354
B & W 1,377,000 1,716,522
“ (Cyclone) 1,552,190 1,765,758
Foster-Wheeler 1,460,730 1,807,599
Riley 1,642,593 1,888,581
“ (Turbo) 1,658,081 1,813,997
Combustion Engineering 1,543,294 1,823,763
Erie 1,657,051 2,203,621
The original estimate of the cost of this equipment was $1,460,730. (Hand written notation “1489400") The Kuljian Corporation recommended acceptance of the alternate bid of the Wickes Boiler Co., $1,375,365.
Members of Council stated they needed more time to consider the bids and the bidders. The Utility Committee will give them further study. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council will meet Monday, April 18 to hear the recommendation of the Utility Committee on which bid to accept.
ARMED FORCES DAY
Mayor Haman announced that May 21 would be armed forces day and that the Dover Air Force Base had offered to parade in Dover on that day. The Mayor was authorized to inform the Base that a parade would be approved but that the City did not have personnel to organize a parade.
DOVER DAY
Dover Days will be observed May 7 and 8. Members of Council and their wives have been invited to receive guests in the old State House at 1:30 P.M. on May 8. Councilmen were asked to inform the City Clerk whether or not they will be present for the occasion.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Thompson, the City Solicitor was directed to amend the Fire Department ordinance to provide for a Chief of the Fire Department, a Deputy Chief, and 3 Assistant Chiefs, in place of a Chief Engineer and 2 Assistant Engineers presently provided.
DAFB POWER
City Manager Ward outlined to Council discussions which have been held with the Dover Air Force Base on the possibility of the City providing additional substation capacity to serve Air Base requirements west of the dual highway with combined billing. Estimated cost of the project is $35,000. The present load would be divided with the Base continuing to take a portion of its load at 22,000 volts, and the separated portion at being delivered at 12,480 volts. Billing would be metered separately but combined, with revenue to the City being realized from elimination of the 5% discount on energy delivered at the lower voltage and additional substation credits. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Davis, the City Manager was authorized to purchase and install the substation equipment if the negotiation is successfully concluded.
DUMPING ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the City Solicitor was directed to prepare an ordinance prohibiting dumping at the end of Washington Street.
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 11, 1960 are hereby approved.
April 14, 1960 W. Edward Haman,
Mayor