SPECIAL MEETING

March 28, 1960

The special meeting of City Council was held Saturday, March 28, 1960, at 2:00 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Thompson, Turner and Zartman.

The invocation was said by the Rev. Leonard Taylor.

MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of March 14, 1960 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.

BUILDING INSPECTOR

The City Clerk reported that the registration of Thomas Baker as Building inspector and member of the Building Commission had been received. On motion of Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Fromm, the resignation was accepted.

TENTATIVE BUDGET

A tentative budget for the year 1960-1961 was submitted for the consideration of City Council, together with an estimate of cash receipts, a debt schedule and a list of Capital expenditures. The budget of the electric department was submitted separately from the general budget. Mr. Fromm suggested that a similar breakdown be submitted for the sewer and water utilities and that the various committees of Council be solicited for their budgetary needs for the coming year. The further suggestion was made that the Legislative and Finance Committee receive and review budgetary requests and recommend the final budget to be adopted by Council.

DOVER HOUSING AUTHORITY

Mr. Turner reported that the Dover Housing Authority consisting of E. A. Spencer, Everett D. Bryan, Morris Simon, L. Lee Layton Jr., Maurice A. Hartnett Jr., and himself had met on March 24 and organized. Mr. Simon was elected Chairman, Mr. Layton, Vice Chairman, and Mr. Spencer, Secretary. No other business was transacted but a second meeting is scheduled for April 7.

Mr. Fromm deplored the fact that no action was yet taken to solve the problem of locating housing for families ordered to move from the site on which will be located the new Buchanan Firestone store. Dr. Slaght, President of the Dover Ministerial Association, was present. Discussion developed in the decision the Dr. Slaght would contact the newly-elected chairman of the Housing Authority in an effort to arrange a meeting with that group this week to consider the problem, and that Dr. Slaght would meet with the City Solicitor to discuss acquiring a site. The Housing Authority, lacking money and staff, will recommend to Council such action as it thinks necessary/ Council is ready to offer such funds and assistance as it has available.

DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION

On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Thompson, the following members were appointed to the Dover Planning Commission for a three-year term beginning March 1, 1960: J. Henry McDonald, David McCue and Mrs. H. V. Holloway.

URBAN RENEWAL FUNDS

City Manager Ward read a telegram received from the HHFA stating that $83,820 had been allotted the City of Dover to be used for planning Dover’s Urban Renewal and Slum Clearance project, designated Green West. The letter of confirmation which was to follow has not yet been received.

Procedure will be to accept the funds upon receipt of formal notice of allotment, to employ a local administrator to oversee and expedite the project and to employ consultants and specialists on various stages of planning. Costs of the above items will be paid from funds allotted. Mr. Fromm urges the employment of the firm of Raymond & May as Urban Renewal Planning Consultants. On his motion, seconded by Mr. Turner, Council unanimously adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Raymond & May Associates are currently preparing a Master Plan for the City of Dover and as such are fully conversant with the problems of the City in regard to matters which may be involved in the planning of an urban renewal project; and

WHEREAS, their familiarity with the City makes Raymond & May Associates the logical consultants to work on urban renewal plans in the City of Dover; and

WHEREAS, the work of Raymond & May Associates has been satisfactorily performed; and

WHEREAS, the firm of Raymond & May Associates is qualified to perform the services involved in the preparation of plans for an urban renewal project as demonstrated by their similar work in numerous other communities in several states;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the firm of Raymond & May Associates is designated as consultants in the preparation of urban renewal plans for the Dover Green West Renewal Project, subject to the execution of a mutually satisfactory agreement.

Passed March 28, 1960.

PLAZA SURVEY

City Manager Ward submitted to the City Solicitor a plot of the Dover Plaza showing lands of the City of Dover in relation to buildings of Wesley Church and Ernest Keith. On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the City Solicitor was directed to write those property owners and include copies of the plots for their inspection and acknowledgment that any improvements erected by them which encroach on City land is permitted to remain only by consent of the City.

REVENUE BOND TRUSTEE

Council discussed the matter of naming a depository, paying agent, and trustee for an electric revenue bond issue. The Legislative & Finance Committee recommended naming the Delaware Trust Company for depository, paying agent and trustee but representatives of Harriman & Ripley, Investment Brokers, believe that a New York bank would be more desirable as trustee. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Carroll, the Mayor was authorized to review the matter with the agents and the banks and to designate the trustee.

CAR WASH

Edward Biter Jr. and his associates desire to open a car wash on King’s Highway near Route 13 and need water, sewer and electric facilities. They asked permission to extend City water lines or drill a well into the City strata, to use the storm sewer which empties into the St. Jones for waste disposal and for City electric service. Present City policy prohibits extension of City water lines until the area to be served is annexed to the City. A City ordinance prohibits drilling a well into the City strata within a one-mile radius of the City. The car wash would make use of a detergent and the result of dumping it into the stream has not yet been determined, particularly its effect when mixed with water used in the power plant boilers. Extension of City electric would be contingent on voltage required and the controls installed on two 40-HP motors which would be intermittently used. The matter was referred to the utility Committee.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

The Utility Committee reported on its recent trip to inspect in operation a B&W Cyclone Boiler and Riley pulverized coal boiler with or which would be suitable for the new power plant. The Kuljian Corporation is redrafting specifications to obtain bids on these boilers.

REO TRUCK

On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City Manager was authorized to sell the old Reo line truck at a price offered of approximately $400.

LADDER TRUCK

On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the City Manager was authorized to obtain bids on a new ladder truck.

MITCHELL LETTER

The City Manager will write a letter to Mr. Robie Mitchell, New York bond attorney, expressing the sympathy of the Mayor and Council on the recent death of his wife.

DOG ORDINANCE

On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Turner, the City Solicitor was directed to prepare an ordinance requiring dogs within the limits of the City to have a State license so that such offenses can be prosecuted in the court of the City Alderman.

BUILDING DEDICATION

Mayor Haman announced that members of Council were invited to attend the dedication ceremonies of the new State Board of health building to be held at 3:30 P.M. April 7, 1960.

DOVER LIBRARY

A letter from George Ehinger, President of the Dover Library Commission, explained that construction of the new Dover Library could not begin until the Board of the Dover Special School District sold the bonds which have been authorized and money was available. He further stated that a ruling of the Attorney General declared that the Commission could not construct a building on the land which the City had offered until a fee simple title is received. The City’s offer included a provision that the land would revert to the City’s ownership if its use for a library site ever ceased. The City’s offer also contained a time limit of fourteen months, expiring March 12, 1960, during which time construction was to begin. Council discussed the matter in detail.

On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr, Carroll, Council extended the time limit of the offer during which construction was to begin an additional six months, and authorized granting a fee simple title with a clause providing that the land be used for a library, but excluding any reversion provision.

REPORTS AND PROCEDURE

Council discussed the possibility of requiring regular monthly reports form committees of Council and other departments of the City and setting one meeting of Council aside for the purpose.

Council adjourned at 11:15 P.M.

F. Neylan

City Clerk

All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of March 28, 1960 are hereby approved.

                                                                                                                                                            

March 31, 1960                                                                                   W. Edward Haman,

                                                                                                                            Mayor