REGULAR MEETING

April 13, 1959

The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, April 13, 1959 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Turner and Zartman.

MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of March 23 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.

REPORTS

Report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.

Report of Alderman Dempsey for March was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $1075.15 was remitted to the City. Report of the Acting Alderman Shockley was accepted as read. Checks in the amounts of $8.00 and $366.00 were remitted to the City.

Report of Cash Receipts for March was accepted as read.

Report of Budget Expenditures for February was accepted as read.

TAX APPEALS

Council sat to hear tax appeals and to receive the report of the committee of Council on appeals which met at 2 P.M. today. No appeals were received by the committee, nor were any persons present to appeal tax assessments.

TAX RATE

On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the tax rate for 1959 was set at 9¢ per $100 of assessed valuation.

RESERVED PARKING SPACES

On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Carroll, the City Solicitor was directed to prepare an ordinance designating two parking spaces on the east side of State Street, south of North Street, as reserve space for use of the Magistrate’s office only.

POLICE SCHOOL

On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council authorized payment of necessary expense and sending Police Sergeant Jack Roe to the course of instruction recommended by the NCCJ at the East Lansing, Michigan from May 24 to 29, 1959.

ROBINO AGREEMENT

On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council approved extension of an agreement with Frank Robino’s Sherwood Builders to include unit prices and terms of payment for utilities to be constructed in the Janeka tract.

ANNEXATION PETITION

A petition was received from property owners between Wyoming Avenue and Puncheon Run, and New Burton Road and Governors Avenue requesting that the area be annexed to Dover. The petition was signed by sixteen property owners including Robert Pippin, Robert Reed, Olga and William Konschak, and Pippin Property owners (Walter Ellis, et al) represented by Attorney Donald E. Funk. Council explained that Dover was preparing to introduce a bill in the Legislature which would provide for such annexation. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council directed that the petition be made a part of these minutes.

BAKER REPORT

Thomas E. Baker reported to Council on substandard housing within the limits of Dover which he had posted and ordered renovated or demolished, a total of 9 or 10. He will report regularly on such actions and the results obtained. He asked whether the Dover Housing Authority might not be of some help in correcting housing conditions. He recommended that Council ban by ordinance the use of portable gasoline and kerosene stoves.

ORDINANCE

On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council directed the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance prohibiting the use of portable, non-vented kerosene and gasoline cooking and heating units.

HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Dover Planning Commission will invite the members of the Dover housing Authority to one of its meetings to discuss Dover’s Housing problems.

CITY HOUSING

City Manager Ward reported to Council that all units of City-owned housing located on Water Street were now vacant. The units on Mary Street will be vacated by June 30. He asked Council to state how they wished to dispose of them. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City Manage was authorized to dispose of the buildings by whatever means he found to be most advantageous to Dover.

CITY MANAGER REPORT

Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

Mr. Holpp reported that the Utility Committee was studying an offer made by Delaware Power & Light Co. officials on April 3 but had no result to report at present.

LEGISLATION

City Solicitor Buckson reported he had received no report on legislation as yet from Mr. Lester Washburn, New York attorney, in spite of repeated efforts. Mr. Washburn has been ill.

AUDITOR

On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, William Manter was appointed to audit City of Dover accounts for the fiscal year 1958-1959, with the directive that the report of audit be completed by September 14, 1959.

KEITH REQUEST FOR CITY LAND

Ernest Keith asked whether Dover would sell him a piece of the Plaza plot between his house and the sidewalk so that he could enlarge his building. Council declined to sell, and noted that portions of improvements already made by Mr. Keith and by Wesley Church were located on City-owned land. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City Solicitor was directed to notify both parties that they now occupied City land, although the City had no present objection.

BUSINESS AND SIGN

Mr. Ernest Keith asked Council to approve the erection of a sign 36"x55" on a house at S. State & Elm Terrace, the sale of which he is negotiating with Andrew Foltz, who desires to conduct an insurance business there. The house is in a residential area. The request was referred to the Planning Commission for its recommendation.

OLD DOVER DAYS

The Councilmen and their wives were invited to receive visitors in the old State House, Sunday afternoon, May 3, as part of the old Dover Days observance. The Clerk will determine who will attend.

DAYLIGHT SAVING

Council directed that the City of Dover operate on Daylight Saving Time from the last Sunday in April until the last Sunday in September.

LIBRARY RESOLUTION

A resolution received from the Dover Lions Club endorsed the need for new library facilities. Council directed that receipt of the resolution be acknowledged with thanks.

PONY LEAGUE LIGHTS

With permission of Council, the Dover Pony League has erected a baseball park on land owned by Dover at S. New and Dover Streets. They are now considering the erection of lights at an estimated cost of $5000 to provide for improvement and expansion of their program. They asked whether the City would provide the funds with repayment to be made over a period of years by the Pony League. There are no such funds in the City Budget. City Clerk Neylan, speaking for the Pony League, suggested that as the League had no security to offer a bank, it still could borrow the money with the City endorsing a note and guaranteeing repayment. On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council authorized the proper officials of the City to endorse and guarantee repayment of a loan to the Dover Pony League in an amount not to exceed $5000 for the purpose of installing lights at the baseball park. Time of repayment is not to exceed eight years.

GASOLINE AT SILVER LAKE

A Dover oil distributor asked whether Council would approve delivery and sale of gasoline at the boat launching site at Silver Lake. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council denied the request.

SACKARACKIN AVENUE

Councilman Zartman reported that residents of Sackarackin Avenue requested that the City discontinue sweeping that street at night and remove the signs prohibiting parking on certain nights. On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the request was approved.

Council adjourned at 11:05 P.M.

F. Neylan

City Clerk

All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of April 13, 1959 are hereby approved.

                                                                                                                                                            

April 17, 1959                                                                                     W. Edward Haman

                                                                                                                            Mayor