SPECIAL MEETING
May 17, 1954
The special meeting of City Council was held Monday, May 17, 1954, at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Biddle, Helm, Holpp, Mundy, Petty, Smith and Tischer.
SHOTGUN ALLEY
The City Manager reported on a recent survey made of Shotgun Alley and of S. New Street between Bank Lane and Water Street. He exhibited pictures of existing unsanitary conditions. By unanimous vote, Council condemned as unsuitable for human occupancy because of unsanitary conditions all structures on the west side of Shotgun Alley and on the east side of New Street between Bank Lane and Water Street, with the exception of two buildings, a store and a house, owned by B. Haywood and located at Water and New Streets. The City Manager was directed to notify the owners and tenants of the properties concerned, on or about September 1, 1954, to vacate the properties within 30 days.
CITY HOUSING
Council directed that the occupants of City-owned housing on Kings Highway be notified to vacate within ninety days of May 31, 1954, because of the fact that the extension of the housing emergency will terminate June 30, 1955 and the buildings must be moved and the land returned to the owner in its original condition.
Council authorized the City Manager to use Housing Fund monies set aside for slum clearance to move buildings from the Kings Highway land of Noble Warren and set them up on City-owned land at eh Water Street Recreation Center as housing units. Tenants moves from condemned buildings on Shotgun Alley and New Street will be given an opportunity to rent these newly set-up units.
JAY CEE CARNIVAL
The Junior Chamber of Commerce requested permission of City Council to hold a carnival in Dover. Council withheld approval until the location and time of the carnival is known.
PLAQUE AT POWER PLANT
Council authorized erection at the Power Plant by A.C. Wood Associated of a plaque listing the names of the Mayor and Council and commemorating the renovation of the Plant.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Council authorized payment to the Treasurer of the United States of $50.00 as a contribution to the cost of an aerial survey of the State of Delaware.
TREE PRUNING AND REMOVAL
The Friends of Old Dover reported to City Council the estimate of the Barlett Tree Company on the cost of pruning, cabling and removing certain trees within the City. The Friends of Old Dover offered to contribute up to $400 towards the cost of preserving trees on The Green. Council agreed to accept the donation and authorized the City Manager to repair or remove the trees listed at his convenience.
WATER EXTENSION
City Manager Ward discussed with Council requests for extension of water lines on the Bay Road to a proposed development by Gordy and Son, and south Governors Avenue to a development on the Steele Farm proposed by Raymond Book. The Gordy development would consist of 210 houses, the Book extension of the mains in accordance with City of Dover specifications, and left to the City Manager the matter of arranging details of initial cost to developers and the refunding of a portion of such costs from tapping charges made to others who may use the mains.
BOARD OF HEALTH
Mayor Haman appointed to the Board of Health Dr. George R. Spong, Chairman, Dr. E.R. McNinch, Donald K. Harmeson and Leon Davidson. A fifth member will be appointed later.
LEGION MEMORIAL SERVICE
Council authorized the American Legion to hold Memorial Services at the Triangle on Monday, May 31, 1954 at 11:00 A.M.
PIKUS PROPERTY
Council authorized the City Manager to remove with City equipment tree stumps located on the Pikus property on West Street.
BUSINESS LICENSE
City Solicitor Hughes reported to City Council on the preparation of a business license ordinance. He proposed to complete preparation of the ordinance before May 22, 1954 for such action as Council wishes to take.
CITY SOLICITOR BILL
City Solicitor Hughes submitted to Council his quarterly bill in the amount of $395.00. He was directed to turn the bill over to the City Manager’s office for payment.
BICYCLE ORDINANCE
By unanimous vote, Council passed the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REGISTRATION OF BICYCLES IN THE CITY OF DOVER, PROVIDING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF BICYCLES, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF.
Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. The Police Force of The City of Dover is hereby authorized and directed to issue bicycle licenses upon written applications therefor and payment of the proper fees. Said licenses shall be valid and effective from the 1st day of June, 1954, or from the date of issuance thereafter, to and including the 31st day of May, 1955, and thereafter upon issuance or renewal from the 1st day of June of each year, or the date of issuance, to the 31st day of May of the following year. Each such license has been issued upon all the streets, alleys, and public highways, exclusive of the sidewalks thereof, in The City of Dover.
Section 2. The Police Force shall provide license cards and metallic license plates shall be numbered in numerical order, beginning with the number 1, and one of each shall be issued to each licensee. The Police Force shall keep a record of the date and number of each license issued, the name of the licensee, and the frame number of the bicycle for which issued.
Section 3. The fee for the issuance of a bicycle license shall be Twenty-Five Cents ($.25) and for each renewal thereof Ten Cents ($.10). Licenses may be transferred, and the fee for the registration of a transfer shall be Twenty-Five Cents ($.25).
Section 4. On and after June 1, 1954, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle propelled wholly or in part by muscular power upon any of the streets, alleys, or public highways in The City of Dover unless a bicycle license plate issued therewith shall be attached to the frame thereof in a plainly visible position.
Section 5. All persons engaged in the business of buying second hand bicycles are hereby required to make daily report to the Police Force, giving the name and address of the person form whom each bicycle is purchased, the frame number thereof, and the number of the metallic license plate found thereon, if any. All persons engaged in the business of selling new or second-hand bicycles are hereby required to make a daily report to the Police Force, giving a list of all sales made by such dealers, which list shall include the name and address of each person to whom sold, the kind of bicycle sold, together with a description and frame number thereof, and the number of the metallic license plate attached thereto, if any.
Section 6. It shall be the duty of every person who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle, to report such sale or transfer by returning to the Police Force the registration card issued to such person as licensee thereof, together with the name and address of the person to whom said bicycle was sold or transferred, and such report shall be made within five days of the date of said sale or transfer. It shall be the duty of the purchaser or transferee of such bicycle to apply for a transfer of registration therefor within five days of said sale or transfer.
Section 7. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame licensed pursuant to this ordinance. It shall also be unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license plate or registration card during the time in which such license plate or registration card is operative, provided, however, that nothing in this ordinance shall prohibit the Police Force from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which said number is illegilbe or insufficient for identification purposes.
Section 8. Any person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this Ordinance shall be fined not less than One Dollar ($1.00) nor more than Ten Dollars ($10.00). In addition to the penalty here in above set forth, the Police Force of The City of Dover or any of the members thereof may impound any bicycle operated in violation of Section 4 and retain possession thereof until a license is obtained by the owner of such bicycle.
Section 9. From and after the passage and approval of this Ordinance it shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts:
(a.) To ride a bicycle not properly equipped with brakes and a signaling device, such as a bell or horn. Sirens shall be unlawful.
(b.) To ride a bicycle on a public street form one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise unless equipped with a white light in front which will clearly illuminate an object 50 feet away and a red light or red reflector on the rear which may be clearly discernible from a distance of 50 feet.
(c.) To ride a bicycle which is carrying more than one person, commonly called towing.
(d.) To be a passenger on a bicycle unless actually riding the bicycle and in control of same.
(e.) To ride a bicycle on a public street in such a manner as to endanger himself or anyone else.
(f.) To ride a bicycle on a sidewalk within the limits of The City of Dover.
(g.) To ride on the left of the center line of any street whether or not such street is marked with a center line.
(h.) To leave bicycle unattended on a sidewalk in such a manner as to impede foot traffic.
(i.) To fail to come to a complete stop at a red light and remain stopped until said light turns green.
(j.) To fail to stop at a stop sign before proceeding into the protected street.
(k.) To fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians at all intersections.
(l.) To ride side by side with another bicycle on a public street.
(m.) To turn from a straight line or stop without giving a hand signal, as follows: left hand lowered to stop; left hand straight for left turn; and right hand held out straight for right turn.
(n.) To use the bicycle of another person without first obtaining permission from the owner.
(o.) To overtake and pass any other vehicle on the right side of said vehicle. All overtaking and passing must be on the left.
(p.) To fail to report to the Police Force any accident which shall result in personal injury or damage to property.
(q.) To ride a bicycle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs.
Section 10. Amy person convicted of a violation of any provision of subsections (a) to (p) of Section 9 of this ordinance shall be fined not less than One Dollar ($1.00) nor more than Ten Dollars ($10.00).
Any person convicted of a violation of subsection (q) of Section 9 of this Ordinance shall be fined not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) or upon more than thirty (30) days.
Passed May 17, 1954.
Approved:
                  Clerk of Council                                                                            Mayor
Council adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk