REGULAR MEETING

September 11, 1950

The regular meeting of City Council was held on Monday, September 11, 1950 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Storey presiding. Members present were Councilmen Behen, Carroll, Culver, Lofland, Mikell, Petty, Smith and Wilson.

MINUTES

Minutes of the last regular meeting were accepted as read.

REPORTS

Report of the City Manager was accepted as read.

Report of the Chief of Police for August 1950 was accepted as read.

Report of the City Alderman for August 1950 was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $1143.35 was remitted to the City.

BUSINESS IN RESIDENTIAL AREA

PHILIP VINCEY

Council denied the request of Mr. Philip Vincey to establish a business on the east side of Governors Avenue between Reed Street and Division Street.

JOHN SAXTON

Council approved the request of Mr. John Saxton to establish an automobile repair shop on the north side of Water Street between State Street and Governors Avenue.

MRS. LACY RUDIC

Council denied the request of Mrs. Lacy Rudic to establish a beauty shop at 221 N. State Street.

STREET REPAIRS

A petition was received from residents of Washington Street requesting the City to blacktop the street. Residents of Smith Street between Pennsylvania and American Avenues also requested the resurfacing of that street. Action was deferred.

ORDINANCE - SURFACING STREETS

Council directed the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance stating that property owners will not be required to pay for surfacing streets but that curbing must be installed by property owners before streets are surfaced.

GASOLINE TANK

Council granted permission to the Drucker Furniture Company to install a gasoline tank on its warehouse property near Shotgun Alley.

M. HAYES WILSON BUILDING

Council accepted from Mr. M. Hayes Wilson a deed to an 18' right of way on the western boundary of City Hall property. Council approved the issuance of a building permit to Mr. Wilson for the erection of a building to house a self service market, adjacent to the right of way.

PROPERTY IN MINOR STREET ALLEY

Mrs. Julia Milbourne requested the City to pay rent for land on which City-owned electric poles are located in the Minor Street alley. City Manager Agner and Councilmen Wilson and Carroll were named as a committee to negotiate purchase of the land in question, in lieu of paying rent.

HIGH SCHOOL SEWER

City Manager Agner informed Council that Dr. Halderman has agreed that the school will pay one-half the cost of a sewer line to extend from Maple Lane to Kent Avenue. Mr. Agner will make all arrangements.

TRAILERS

The City Solicitor was directed to prepare an ordinance forbidding parking of trailers for use as residences within the City limits.

TOURIST HOMES

Council directed that all tourist homes within the City be notified to obtain required permits, and where such are located in residential sections of the City without prior permission of Council, to advertise in local papers and apply to Council for permits to carry on business.

RED STAR BUS LINE

The Delaware Public Service Commission informed Council that the Red Star Motor Coaches, Inc. will probably request permission to discontinue September 30, 1950 an express bus run now being operated between Dover and Wilmington because it cannot be operated profitably. Council directed that the letter be acknowledged with the hope that the bus can continue to be operated, although the Company is not expected to continue operating the run at a loss.

FOREST AND DIVISION STREET TRAFFIC CONTROL

Council discussed the question of installing a traffic light and other methods of controlling traffic at the Booker T. Washington School.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD GATES

The City Clerk was directed to write the Pennsylvania Railroad insisting that their employees operate crossing gates properly and that trains comply with speed laws when passing gates. Crossing have been blocked for periods of twenty-five minutes or more. Council insists on corrective action within fifteen days.

REPAIRS TO TURBINE

Council authorized the City Manager to repair the turbine and clean boilers while the Plant is closed down.

PURCHASE OF CRANE

Council authorized the purchase of a truck crane at a cost of $15,000 and directed that the old crane be advertised for sale.

PURCHASE OF COAL

The City Manager was authorized to purchase coal as he sees fit.

REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS

Council will hold a special meeting Monday, September 25, 1950 to consider new real estate assessments.

WAGES

Council approved a 7½% wage increase for all employees of the City with the exception of all foremen, police and fire department employees.

POWER PLANT EMPLOYEES

Council approved the action of the City Manager in the recent dispute with power plant employees and authorized the City Manager to rehire such former employees as he desired.

RESOLUTION

By unanimous vote of all councilmen present the following resolution was adopted:

A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ANTICIPATION OF CURRENT REVENUE OF THE CITY OF DOVER BY BORROWING THE SUM OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Whereas the City of Dover has found it necessary to purchase various items of new equipment at large expense in order to provide the necessary services for the citizens of the City of Dover; and

Whereas the City of Dover has found it necessary to rebuild and improve the entire street-lighting system of the City;

NOW THEREFORE Be It Resolved By The Council of The City of Dover in Council Met (Three-fourths of all the members thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. That on or after the adoption and approval of this resolution the City of Dover shall borrow the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, or such part thereof as shall prove to be necessary, for the purchase of new equipment for the City and for the rebuilding and improvement of the street-lighting system, the said sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, or such part thereof as shall be borrowed, to be repaid from current revenue received thereafter in accordance with Section 50 of the Charter of the said City of Dover.

Section 2. The Mayor of the City of Dover is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow said sum of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars from such Bank, Trust Company, or other lender and upon such terms, interest, and conditions as he shall deem advisable and in the best interest of the City of Dover, and to execute in the name of the City of Dover such bond or note as shall be required, whereupon the faith and credit of the City of Dover shall be pledged for the payment thereof.

Adopted this 11^th day of September A.D. 1950.

ATTEST:                                                                                                        

            Clerk of Council                                                         Mayor

LATEX USE OF DUMP

It was directed that the International Latex Corporation be forbidden to use the City Dump.

INCINERATOR ORDINANCE

The City Solicitor was directed to amend the City Ordinance to require that the fire marshall approve requests for use of incinerators or for burning within the City limits.

RAILROAD AVENUE RIGHT OF WAY

City Manager Agner and Councilmen Wilson and Lofland were appointed a committee to confer with Diamond Ice and Coal Company for a street right of way west of the railroad to Hazletville Road.

HOTEL RICHARDSON

Council discussed the existence of fire and safety hazards at the Hotel Richardson.

Council adjourned at 10:50 P.M.

City Clerk