REGULAR MEETING
March 9, 1959
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, March 9, 1959 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Davis, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Turner and Zartman.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of February 23 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.
REPORTS
Report of Alderman Dempsey was accepted as read. Checks in the amounts of $172.00, $1659.50 and $206.75 were remitted to the City. Report of the Acting Alderman Shockley was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $337.00 was remitted to the City.
Report of the Chief of Police for February was accepted as read.
Report of Cash Receipts thru February was accepted as read.
Report of Budget Expenditures thru January was accepted as read.
TAX LIST AND HEARING
Thomas E. Baker, City Assessor, delivered to City Council, two copies of the tax assessment for the year 1959. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed that the assessment be hung in two public places prior to the fifteenth day of March, together with a notice that a committee of three councilmen will sit Monday, April 13, 1959 at 2:00 P.M. at City Hall, to hear appeals of taxpayers. The committee shall report their findings and recommendations to the full Council who shall sit to make corrections, revisions, or alternations to the assessment Monday, April 13, 1959, at 7:30 P.M. at City Hall. A like notice shall be published in at least one issue of newspaper published in Dover. Mayor Haman appointed to the committee who shall sit for the purpose Councilmen Holpp, Zartman and Turner.
FRYING PAN
The Frying Pan Committee of the Delmarva Chicken Festival requested permission to locate the large frying pan that will be used in the festival at one of four locations on the Dover Plaza from March 10 to June 22. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed the City Manager and Chief of Police to investigate conditions under which the pan will be exhibited and authorized them to approve a site for its display.
REPORT
Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.
SCHOOLEY PROPERTY
City Manager Ward reported he had discussed with officials of the State Highway Department the price they will accept for the Schooley lot at State and Division Streets. The minimum acceptable to them is $4600.00. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council authorized purchase of the Schooley lot under conditions previously stated, for the sum of $4600. Councilmen Holpp and Zartman voted No.
ELECTRIC RATES
Mr. Holpp reported that the Utility Committee recommended that Dover establish an electric rate for home heating comparable to the rate now made available by nearby private utilities. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Turner, Council authorized establishment of such a rate.
The General Service and Industrial Service Schedules contain billing demand clauses setting minimum demand billings at 75% of the highest billing demand during the previous 12 months. The Utility Committee recommended that this charge be reduced to 60%. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council authorized reduction in the minimum to 60% of the highest billing demand determined during the previous 12 months period.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Chamber of Commerce requested Council to appoint a representative to attend its meetings. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Davis, City Manager Ward was appointed to represent Council at Chamber of Commerce meetings.
CHICKEN FESTIVAL FLOAT AND REVIEWING STANDS
The Chamber of Commerce requested the City to enter a float in the chicken Festival Parade. Mr. McSherry, in charge of parade arrangements, requested the City to provide reviewing stands. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council approved the requests. Councilmen Davis, Zartman and Holpp were appointed a committee to approve details.
PARADE DATE
On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council authorized holding the Chicken Festival parade on the streets of Dover on June 27, 1959.
CIVIL DEFENSE APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Haman, Director of Civil Defense, announced the appointment of Thomas E. Baker as Assistant Director of Civil Defense and the appointment of Harold C. Schmittinger as Vice Chairman of the Dover Municipal Civil Defense Council.
RED FEATHER
Mayor Haman appointed Crawford Carroll as representative of the Dover City Council on the United Community Fund.
TORBERT AMBULANCE
William C. Torbert Jr. offered to purchase the City of Dover ambulance and, with one he now possesses, to provide 24 hour ambulance service for the area. Dover’s ambulance was purchased in part with funds donated locally and Council questioned its moral right to sell. More information was desired about the operation of Mr. Torbert’s ambulance service. Mr. Ward will discuss the matter further with Mr. Torbert.
FEDERAL STREET
Federal Street, from Court Street to Water, has recently been closed by a contractor who is erecting the new Health building. The question of who controls the street, recently built by the State Highway Department, was raised. Mr. Buckson advised it was not yet under City control, although his research revealed the State Agency was required by law to file a description of such streets and place them under municipal control.
POLICE CAR
Bids have been received on purchase of a new police car and trade-in of an old one, from Bolan Motors, Townsend Brothers, holden and Mundy and Delaware Auto Sales. Low net price of $884.85 was received from Delaware Auto Sales. On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council authorized purchase of the new car from the low bidder, Delaware Auto Sales.
GOVERNORS AVENUE AND MINOR STREET
On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council directed the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance prohibiting parking the distance of one parking space north of Minor Street, on the east side of Governors Avenue.
DOG CATCHER MILEAGE
Chief of Police Turner reported he had employed a dog catcher for $1.25 per hour and 9¢ per mile for expense of car operation. A dog trailer is pulled by the car. Present City policy provides mileage at the rate of 7¢ per mile for the first 200 miles, and 6¢ per mile thereafter. Council authorized mileage payment in the case of the dog catcher at the rate of 7¢ per mile for the car and 2¢ per mile for the trailer.
ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE PARKING OF VEHICLES UPON CERTAIN STREETS WITHIN THE CITY OF DOVER
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City of Dover:
Section 1. It shall be unlawful to park or leave standing any vehicle of any kind, nature or description whatsoever upon the hereinafter recited portion of the following streets:
(a) The west side of State Street from Loockerman Street to South Street.
(b) The south side of Water Street between State Street and Governors Avenue.
Section 2. Whosoever shall violate any of the provisions of Section 1 above shall be fined bot less than One Dollar ($1.00) nor more than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00).
Passed March 9, 1959
ORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE DESIGNATED AS BUILDING CODE OF THE CITY OF DOVER DELAWARE 1957, SAID AMENDMENT RELATING TO MEANS OF EGRESS.
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. That Section 13 of the Building Code of the City of Dover, Delaware, 197, relating to means of the egress be and the same Ordinance a new paragraph as follows:
Every room or every building, whether residential or commercial, utilized temporarily or permanently for sleeping quarters, shall contain at least one window of such size and distance from the floor as to provide a clear accessible opening when opened of not less than 24 inches by 24 inches so as to be available as a means of egress in the event of an emergency requiring same.
Passed March 9, 1959
PLANNING COMMISSION
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council confirmed the appointment by Mayor Haman of the following members of the Dover Planning Commission:
H. Gordon Fromm, Chairman E. W. Buchanan, Vice Chairman
Judge William J. Storey Ralph W. Tischer
J. Henry McDonnell Jack Smyth
Francis Turner Crawford J. Carroll
ZONING COMMISSION
On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council confirmed the appointment by Mayor Haman of the following members of the Dover Zoning Commission:
Mr. Alvin L. Leisey Jr., Chairman
Henry K. Roscoe, Jr. William. C. Boyer, Jr.
ANNEXATION
City Solicitor Buckson presented to Council two model bills providing for annexation, one by referendum, the other by petition. He explained to Council an existing State law which prohibits the Legislature from adding territory to municipalities by direct legislation. Council will give further study to the model bills.
PLANNING REQUIREMENTS
Councilman Fromm, Chairman of the Dover Planning Commission, outlined to Council some of the problems and requirements of the Commission. Providing adequate planning is a long time job demanding study of present community conditions and anticipating future requirements. Specials skills are required. These can be obtained by employing a full time staff or by obtaining the services of consultants in the field. The Commission has considered the matter in great detail and has concluded that the employment of professional consultants more readily and at less cost, would provide suitable planning. The cost of such services would be approximately $29,000. Mr. Fromm asked that $5,000 be provided in the present fiscal year, and $12,000 in each of the two succeeding years. Members of Council questioned the need for such a sum for planning within the present City limits. Action was deferred until the next meeting of Council.
Council adjourned at 11:30 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk
All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of March 9, 1959 are hereby approved.
March 11, 1959 W. Edward Haman
Mayor