SPECIAL MEETING
October 28, 1957
The special meeting of City Council was held Monday, October 28, 1957, at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Hayes, Holpp, Mundy, Tischer, Turner and Zartman. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Lawrence T. Slaght.
MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of October 14 were accepted as read.
REPORTS
Report of Budget Expenditures for September was accepted as read.
Report of the Fire Recorder for September was accepted as read.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Ward read to Council a letter from Marcel Blackburn. Principal of Booker T. Washington School, expressing appreciation for lights installed by the City.
Mr. Ward explained to Council that although the purchase of a car was authorized for his office, it was necessary to purchase and assign a car to the electric meter department because a car in that department was involved in an accident which rendered the car of less value than the cost of repairs.
PARKING LOTS
Martin Berglund and other members of a committee of the Chamber of Commerce appeared before Council to outline its plan for providing free parking on parking lots east of City Hall and at North and New Streets. The Parking Authority has a yearly budget of $9100. The committee pledges to raise and pay the Authority $7100 of this sum and asks the City to pay the balance of $2000. In the discussion the committee expressed its belief that greater amount could be raised in future years and that it would not be necessary to request the City to make annual payments. The merchants would like free parking to begin November 1 of this year. Members of the Parking Authority present were apparently fully aware of the plan and stated that if free parking were begun they planned to put a time limit on parking on some portions of the lot. Members of the Council were concerned about future demands that might be made on the City as a result of any present contribution toward the cost of free parking. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Tischer, Council tabled the matter until later in the meeting. Mr. Zartman and Mr. Hayes voted No.
ZONING
A committee of Council appointed for the purpose had been meeting to consider an ordinance rezoning the City. City Solicitor Hughes while working with the committee and preparing a proposed ordinance, discovered that State Law established a definite procedure to be followed. This law required the appointment of a zoning committee composed of three members who would eventually serve six year terms, not be members of the same political party, and who would recommend zoning changes to Council which could be adopted only after public hearings. More consideration will be given to these requirements.
AUDIT REPORT
Council discussed the audit and the annual report of the City Manager. A special meeting of Council will be held on the subject on Wednesday, October 30, if possible.
CURBING
City Manager Ward presented to Council a list of unpaid accounts for curbing installed by the City and billed to property owners. On motion of Mr. Tischer, seconded by Mr. Carroll, Council directed that curbing accounts receivable be correlated with tax records, especially in transactions where ownership of property is transferred.
LINCOLN PARK - STREET PAVING POLICY
Council discussed the Lincoln Park development and the general policy to be followed in opening and paving new streets. Utilities such as sewer, water, electricity and drainage in developments within the City are installed without cost to developers. Curb, gutter and sidewalk are installed at the expense of the developer or property owner. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Zartman, Dover’s future policy on opening and paving new streets will be that the City will construct, or let all contracts for constructing new street, with the City bearing 1/3 of the cost and assessing 1/3 of the cost to abutting property owners.
WAGES AND HOURS
The committee on wages and hours made the following recommendations to Council: Effective November 1, 1957, the salary of members of the Police Department with the exception of Mr. Oliver and crossing guards should be raised $4.00 per week; the salary of Thomas Tucker, Fire House Custodian should be raised from $67.50 to $70.00 per week; the salary of Lester McClements raised from $100 tp $105 per week; the salary of Thomas Baker raised from $90 tp $95 per week; At the power plant the committee recommended established of three grades of switchboard operators with top wage of $1.75 per hour; two grades of boiler operators with top wage of $1.50 per hour. On motion of Mr. Mundy, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the recommendations were approved.
COUHIG PARKING
Chief Turner reported he had surveyed the lot of Andrew Couhig on S. State Street on which the diner formerly was located which Mr. Couhig wishes to use for parking. He recommends approval of the request provided cars enter and leave without backing. On motion of Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Zartman, the request to use the lot for parking was granted, provided cars do not back in or out. The Chief of Police and City Manager will approve the actual entrance to the lot.
PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS
The Chief of Police recommended that all parking be eliminated on all center islands on The Plaza and on the north side of North Street, from New Street to the railroad. On motion of Mr. Mundy, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the City Solicitor was directed to prepare ordinances covering the recommendations of the Chief. Councilman Zartman voted No.
PARKING LOTS
Council again considered the Parking Authority Lots. On motion of Mr. Tischer, seconded by Mr. Mundy, Council authorized payment to the Parking Authority of $2000 to cover the cost of fill on the lot east of City Hall which the Parking Authority had not expected to pay, provided the merchants raise and pay $7200 to the Parking Authority.
Council adjourned at 10:55 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk