SPECIAL MEETING
October 27, 1958
The special meeting of City Council was held Monday, October 27, 1958, at 2:00 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Davis, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Mundy, Turner and Zartman.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of October 13 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.
REPORTS
Report of Budget Expenditures for September was accepted as read.
WASHBURN TALK
Mr. Lester Washburn, of the firm of Reed, Hoyt, Washburn and McCarthy, New York Bond Attorneys, appeared at the invitation of City Council to discuss financial and legislative problems of Dover. He pointed out that authorities could be set up to operate revenue producing agencies, such as water, electric or sewer utilities, with revenues pledged to repay borrowings. The second method is for the City itself to operate all agencies, with the faith and credit of the City pledged to repay borrowings, or revenues of departments or utilities for which borrowing was made pledged, or pledges could be made of both revenues and faith and credit of the City. He believed the second method to be better for he did not especially favor an increase in the number of governmental bodies involved. Utility revenues would be from the same source, but only the City could pledge its general faith and credit. Authorities and agencies who pledge only revenues from projects or utilities for bond redemption usually must pay a higher interest rate for monies borrowed. He stated that bond buyers consider 10% of the appraised value of taxable property as a safe debt limit, but that with sufficient revenues from utilities there is no safe limit on what bond buyers will take. The debt limit of Dover is set at $2,500.000. To secure additional borrowing capacity, Dover should determine its requirements and introduce a bill in the Legislature authorizing the amounts and type of bonds desired. He believed that the Legislature would be more responsive to Dover’s requests of a bill were presented supported by a prepared program and a study showing Dover’s debt paying potential. Me. Washburn answered questions of Council on various legislative and financial matters.
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Turner, Council directed the Utility Committee to prepare n estimate of the cost of power plant expansion and a study of revenue expected as the next step prior to introducing legislation for additional borrowing capacity for Dover.
AUDIT
William Manter, CPA, appeared before Council to answer questions concerning the recently completed report of the City audit. As a result Council took the following action.
On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council directed that quarterly reports be submitted concerning delinquent accounts and action taken to collect, or recommendations for action to be taken to collect or write off such accounts. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Carroll, the City Treasurer was directed to survey the present City Housing accounts and write off such accounts as are uncollectible.
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the City Treasurer was directed to take such legal steps as may be required to collect miscellaneous accounts receivable which are 90 days or more overdue.
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council directed that Dover discontinue renting of City Housing as it becomes vacant, and that all present occupants be notified to vacate on or before July 1, 1959.
On motion of Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. Davis, the matter of Dover installing a cost accounting system was referred to the Finance Committee to study and report its recommendation to Council.
PARKING AUTHORITY APPOINTMENT
On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Lester W. Novinger was reappointed a member of the Dover Parking Authority for a term which expires June 30, 1963.
MAYORS ASSOCIATION MEETING
Mayor Haman read an announcement of a meeting of the Mayor’s Association to be held Sunday, November 2, 1958, 2:30 P.M. at the Dover Hotel. All members of Council were invited to attend.
PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
On motion of Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Mundy, Ralph Tischer was appointed a member of the Dover Planning Commission.
BEAUTY SHOP
Mary Belle Smith requested permission to open a beauty shop at 6 N. Bradford St., a residential section. Council set Monday, November 10, 1958 at 8:00 P.M. as the date for a public hearing on the request.
STATE NEWS AD
The State News is running advertisements of boosters of Dover Air Force Base and asked whether the City would participate by purchasing advertisement. The request was tabled.
ORDINANCEORDINANCE
On motion of Mr. Zartman, seconded by Mr. Davis, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE NAME OF A STREET KNOWN AS KING STREET IN THE CITY OF DOVER TO KINGS HIGHWAY AND EXTENDING SAID STREET.
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. The street in the City of Dover now known as King Street from the intersection of Loockerman Street and State Street to the intersection of said King Street and East Division Street in the City of Dover shall be known as Kings Highway, and the section of East Division Street in the City of Dover from the intersection of said King Street with said East Division Street to the intersection of said East Division Street and the street now known as Kings Highway shall be known as Kings Highway.
Passed October 27, 1958.
On motion of Mr. Mundy, seconded by Mr. Carroll, Council by unanimous vote passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE NAME OF A STREET KNOWN AS WAPLES AVENUE IN THE CITY OF DOVER TO GOODEN AVENUE.
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. The street in the City of Dover now known as Waples Avenue from its intersection with South State Street to its intersection with South Bradford Street shall be known as Gooden Avenue.
Passed October 27, 1958.
Council adjourned at 5:45 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk
All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of October 27, 1958, are hereby approved.
October 28, 1958
W. Edward Haman
Mayor