REGULAR MEETING
April 12, 1954
The regular meeting of City Council was held Monday, April 12, 1954, at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Biddle, Davis, Helm, Holpp, Mundy, Petty, Smith and Tischer.
MINUTES
Minutes of the last regular and special meetings were accepted as read.
REPORTS
Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.
Report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.
Report of the City Alderman was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $1474.20 was remitted to the City.
Report of the Robbins Hose Company Fire Recorder for February and March 1954 was accepted as read.
EASTOVER HILLS
The Hearing Committee reported that Paul Scotton, David King and Robert Williams, from Eastover Hills, has discussed with that committee the possibility of incorporating that area within the limits of Dover. They are interested in surfaced streets. Council tabled the matter until the City Manager could investigate the matter with Mr. Scotton.
LUTHERAN CHURCH ALLEY
The Lutheran Church requested the City to abandon a portion of an alley between Pine and Lotus Streets west of Park Avenue in return for a dedicated alley that would provide an outlet on Pine Street. The abandoned alley would be used to enlarge the church structure. The matter was tabled until the City Manger could get further details.
BAPTIST CHURCH SIGNS
The Baptist Church requested permission to erect direction signs at State & Division Street and at Governors Avenue and Division Street. The request was tabled until the City Manager obtained details regarding the possibility of directional signs for other churches as well.
HOLLAND FURNACE COMPANY
The request of the Holland Furnace Company to open a business at 219 N. Governors Avenue was rejected by Council because a petition signed by more than 50% of the property owners in the area objected to the request.
PARKING SPACE FOR DOCTORS
Council approved granting one parking space to Dr. James R. McNinch before his office at 154 S. Bradford Street.
Council approved granting one parking space to Dr. Robert R. Layton Jr. in the last space with yellow curb on North Street east of his State Street office.
BUDGET
Council discussed a tentative budget for the year 1954-1955 and the need for additional funds to carry out planned improvement projects.
TAX RATE
Council set the tax rate for the year 1954 at $1.25 per $100 of assessed valuation. Councilman Holpp voted No.
TAX APPEALS
Council approved the recommendations of the committee of Council which sat to hear tax appeals, which were as follows:
Burton Building Lot, assessment to remain at $10,000.
Gulf Oil Corp., assessment to remain at $48,750.
Triffilis Bottling Plant, assessment to remain at $7,000.
Winfield & Ruth Schwarts, assessment reduced from $4650 to $3900.
Morris Simon assessments reduced as follows:
Sherie’s, reduced from $30,000 to $21,000
Fishman’s, reduced from $28,000 to $26,000
Simon’s Dept. Store, reduced from $28,000 to $22,000.
SACKARACKIN AVENUE ALLEYS
A petition signed by 23 property owners requested Council to abandon all alleys in the King’s Highway Villa development which is comprised by Sackarackin Avenue.
By unanimous vote, Council passed the following resolution:
A RESOLUTION PROPOSING THE VACATING OF CERTAIN ALLEYS NEAR SACKARACKIN AVENUE IN THE CITY OF DOVER.
Be It Resolved By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:
Section 1. The Council of the City of Dover favors the vacating and abandoning of the following alleys in a development known as King’s Highway Villa in the City of Dover as dedicated to the use of the public by the filing on September 18, 1911, of a plot of said development in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Kent County in the Deed Record Book C, Volume 10, Page 482:
All that certain 10 foot alley lying north of Sackarackin Avenue and extending from the easterly line of State Street on said plot in an easterly direction to lands marked on said plot “Woodland Meadow”.
All that certain 10 foot alley extending north from Sackarackin Avenue to the aforementioned 10 foot alley adjoining Lots 1, 2, and 3 on the west and Lot No. 10 on the east;
All that certain 10 foot alley lying north from Sackarackin Avenue and extending from the easterly line of State Street, shown on said plot as King’s Highway, to the 20 foot street east of Lot No. 33;
All that certain 10 foot alley extending south from Sackarackin Avenue to the aforesaid 10 foot alley, adjoining Lots No. 4, 5, and 6 on the west and Lot No. 7 on the east;
All certain 20 foot street or alley extending in a southeasterly direction from Sackarackin Avenue, east of Lot No. 33 and running through lands marked “Park” and “Woodland Meadow” on the aforesaid plot.
Section 2. The Council of the City of Dover will sit at the City Hall to hear objections to vacating the said streets and alleys and to award just and reasonable compensation to anyone who will be deprived of property thereby on the 10th day of May, A.D. 1954, at 7:30 P.M.
Passed April 12, 1954.
Approved:
Clerk of Council Mayor
DARLING CONDEMNATION
By unanimous vote, Council condemned as unsafe and unused chicken house located on an alley in the rear of a dwelling at 864 S. State Street, owned by Mr. C.C. Darling. The building was ordered torn and removed. Mr. Darling lives with a nephew, Mr. Gooden M. Darling, on a farm near Willow Grove.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Council directed that City offices be opened one hour earlier and closed one hour earlier from the last Sunday in April until the last Sunday in September.
FRAME PARKING ON THE GREEN
Council authorized the granting of parking space for thirty days to Mrs. T.C. Frame on The Green.
BUSINESS LICENSE
Council directed the City Solicitor to prepare for its consideration an ordinance providing for business licenses and requiring fees including percentages of 1/100% or flat rates where applicable.
EMPLOYEE PLANNING COMMITTEE
City Manager Ward discussed the request of Charles Fountain to open a used car lot at New Street and Bank Lane, a residential section, and the general problem of zoning the City. Mr. Tischer discussed the desirability of controlling the design of future structures to be erected at various entrances to the Green. These matters were referred to a committee of City Employees, including the City Manager, City Solicitor, City Clerk, Building Inspector, Fire Marshall, Mr. Reeves and Mr. Anderson, or study and recommendation to Council.
NEW EMPLOYEE
Mr. Ward reported that he had employed Mr. Roy Reeves to be in charge of general City construction.
TEMPORARY PERMIT
Mr. Ward was authorized to issue a temporary permit to an airman who desired to solicit orders within the City for household wares.
McKEE WATER LINE
Mr. Ward reported that four property holders on McKee Road, north of the Coty Plant desired to obtain City water by extending the water line which now supplies the Coty Plant. Council granted permission, provided a 6" line, or larger, is extended according to City specifications at the expense of the property holders.
Council adjourned at 12:25 A.M.
F. Neylan
City Clerk