REGULAR MEETING

March 14, 1960

The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, March 14, 1960 at 7:30 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 February 22, 1960 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.

REPORTS

Report of the Chief of Police for February was accepted as read.

Report of Alderman was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $2993.30 was remitted to the City.

Report of the Acting City Alderman Shockley was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $875.00 was remitted to the City.

Report of the Fire Marshall was accepted as read.

Report of Cash Receipts for February and Budget Expenditures for January was accepted as read.

DOVER CENTRAL SCHOOL

The Fire Marshal’s report contained a copy of the result of an electrical inspection of the Old Main building of the Dover Central School which revealed the existence of serious fire hazards. A letter from the Fire Marshal to the School Board included other recommendations for the correction of fire hazards. A reply from the School Superintendent to the inspection report and the Fire Marshal’s letter indicated that repairs and corrections were being made tot eh electric panel in the East Dover School and to the vent fan in the attic of the Central Main Building. The letter pleaded inability to make other corrections because of lack to renovate the high school building if and when funds are made available. Council felt that the electrical inspector and Fire Marshal’s reports revealed existing hazards too serious to leave uncorrected for an indefinite period of time. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Fromm, Council requested the Dover School Board to take immediate action to correct existing hazards under penalty of the City discontinuing electrical service to protect life and property. The full cooperation of the City will be provided and a reasonable scheduling of work needed to make corrections will be approved. The Fire Marshal will report back in thirty days on progress made.

On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Thompson, the City Manager was authorized to install a fire hydrant in the rear of the Dover Central School and bill the school with the understanding that payment will be made when funds are available.

On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the sum of $100 was appropriated to the Fire Marshal’s office to pay costs of any electrical inspections required by the Fire Marshal and for whcih payment is required and not otherwise made.

TAX ASSESSMENT AND APPEAL

Thomas E. Baker, City Assessor, delivered to City Council two copies of the tax assessment for the year 1960. Council directed that copies of the assessment be hung in two public places together with a notice that a committee of three Councilmen will sit Monday, April 11, 1960 at 2:00 P.M. at City Hall, to hear appeals of tax payers. The committee shall report their findings and recommendations tot he full Council who shall sit to make corrections, revisions, or alterations tot eh assessment Monday, April 11, 1960, at 7:30 P.M. at City Hall. A like notice shall be published in at least one issue of a newspaper published in Dover. Mayor Haman appointed to the committee who shall sit for the purpose Councilmen Holpp, Tuner, and Hayes.

CITY MANAGER REPORT

Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.

POWER PLANT BIDS

Representatives of The Kuljian Corporation, Mr. Healy, Mr. Corl, and Mr. Colgin, appeared before Council to announce that firm bids had been received and evaluated for two 16,500 KW turbo-generators. The results are as follows:

                                                                                          Bid              Evaluated Bid

Westinghouse Corporation                                         $1,451,400                  $1,463,560

General Electric Corp.                                                 1,493,000                   1,505,070

Elliot Company                                                           1,579,300       1,672,650

Allis Chalmers                                                             1,918,000                   1,918,000

Council was requested to authorize issuing of a letter of intent to purchase from the low bidder, Westinghouse Corporation. A sample letter was read and its meaning explained to Council as expressing the intent of the City of Dover to purchase the equipment if revenue bonds were purchased when offered and money was made available. The prices quoted in the bids would hold good until approximately July 1. Mr. Fromm objected to issuing a letter of intent because he was not satisfied that negotiations with Delaware Power & Light Company had eliminated the consideration of purchasing all power. Mayor Haman stated that he believed the recent election had been an expression of the desire of the citizens of Dover to build a new power plant. Mr. Thompson stated that at its last meeting Council had requested The Kuljian Corporation to prepare a report comparing the latest offer of the power company to submit the report before a vote was held on the letter of intent. He further pointed out that in reply to a direct question the power company had said it was their best offer, although they had put no price on purchase of the present power plant. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Holpp, Council directed the Kuljian representative to submit the report. Mr. Fromm voted No, stating he felt more time was needed to study such a report and that the Utility Committee should first receive the report and make its recommendation to Council. Mr. Corl submitted the report of the comparison from graphs and charts which had been prepared, although copies had not yet been made. The latest information complied by themselves and by the engineer employed by the investment bankers was used. The original power study was based on a calendar year and the operation of a new plant beginning in 1960. A new plant could not be put into operation if begun now, until 1962, and a better load factor would reduce generating costs. Labor costs were revised, charges for standby costs of the present plant were found to be high and interest charges on plant value in excess of present debt was eliminated. Mr. Corl stated that generating costs would exceed purchased power costs for a shorter period than originally anticipated and than would continue below even the latest offer for purchased power. Mr. Thompson then pointed out that he and Mr. Carroll, members of the Utility Committee, together with Mr. Ward, had spent an entire day in Philadelphia going over the figures with the Kuljian Corporation and that they were aware of the advantage of building a new generating plant. He had asked for the report at his time because its preparation has been a request of Council and the time element involved in new plant construction permitted no further delay. On motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed that Dover proceed to build the new power plant in accordance with the recommendations of The Kuljian Corporation, and that a letter of intent be issued to the low bidder, Westinghouse Corporation, for the purchase of two 16,500 KW turbo-generators. Mr. Fromm voted No.

HOUSING PROBLEM

A delegation from the Dover Ministerial Association, Messrs Slaght, Duke, Williams and Ming requested assistance of City Council in locating housing for families who are being displaced from a site on which will be erected Buchanan’s Firestone shop. The families were notified to vacate on or before March 19. Mr. Ming stated that efforts to relocate the families have been unsuccessful. Council was asked to take such action as it could to provide housing, public or otherwise. Mr. Ming also stated that the houses to be removed has been offered to the present occupants without charge by Mr. Buchanan, but that if the houses were movable and the means to move them were available, no site had been found on which to relocate them. Mr. Ward pointed to the possibility of acquiring land between Vine and Clarence streets. Council felt that the problem was one for referral to the Dover Housing Authority which it hopes will become active. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the problem was referred to the Dover Housing Authority and such citizens’ committee as may be formed while the City will stand ready to offer such services and assistance as it has available.

SEWER BIDS

Bids have been received on Project #9, installation of sanitary sewer west of Westview Terrace and north of Wyoming Avenue from Delaware Roads, Inc., Edgell Construction Corporation, George & Lynch, and W. Robert Painter, Inc. The low bid of $4893 was received from the latter firm. On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council awarded te contract for Project #9 to W. Robert Painter Inc. for the price of $4893.

AIR CONDITIONING

Estimates have been obtained on three separate plans for air conditioning City hall. All plans included installation of a new oil fired boiler for heating. The estimate for all room units was $16,000, for water-cooled package air conditioning, $20,500, and for central heating and air conditioning, $19,000. Plans 2 and 3 included erection of a cooling tower on the garage in the rear. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council directed the City Manager to have plans prepared and to obtain bids on central heating and air conditioning.

LIBRARY

Council noted that it had offered the Richardson site to the Dover Library Commission for erection of a new library on January 12, 1959 with a provision that construction should begin within fourteen months. This period has passed. On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council directed that a letter be written to the Library Commission requesting information of what action they plan. A referendum has approved a bond issue to finance the library construction.

ANNEXED AREA

On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Council directed that a letter be sent to property owners in the area recently annexed south of Wyoming Avenue welcoming them as citizens of Dover and outlining the services rendered by the City, the election district to which they belong, and naming the Mayor and members of Council.

BUILDING INSPECTOR

The Wages and Hours Committee, Mr. Hayes, Chairman, recommended that Thomas E. Baker be relieved of his duties as Building Inspector and that the duties be assigned to Jack Roe, with a salary increase of $11.00 per week. Upon motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the recommendation was approved, effective upon receipt of notification from the Clerk that Mr. Baker’s registration has been received.

SALARY INCREASE

The Wages and Hours Committee recommended that the salaries of the City Manager and Cit Clerk be increased $20.00 per week. Upon motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Fromm the recommendation was approved.

Council adjourned at 12:30 P.M.

F. Neylan

City Clerk

All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of March 14, 1960 are hereby approved.

                                                                                                                                                            

March 17, 1960                                                                                   W. Edward Haman

                                                                                                                            Mayor