Mayor and City Council of New Castle
City Council Meeting
Town Hall – 201 Delaware Street - New Castle
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present:
Council President Blest
Councilman Reese
Councilwoman Churchill
Councilwoman Petty
Councilman DiMondi
Others present: Mayor Klingmeyer, Treasurer Janet Carlin,
Police Chief Kevin McDerby,
Council President Blest convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and led
those assembled in the pledge of allegiance.
Approval of Minutes to Date
Council President Blest made an amendment to the December
Minutes and the Minutes were approved as amended. Motion passed unanimously.
Approval of Treasurer’s Report
Janet Carlin stated that the Total Petty Cash on Hand was $290.00,
Total Monthly Deposits were $201,397.83, Total Cash in the Wilmington
Trust Accounts was $305,794.09, Total Certificates of Deposit and
De. Government Investment Pool was $1,285,961.39 and the Total Cash
on Hand was $1,591,755.48. Councilman Reese moved to accept the Treasurer’s
Report as submitted. It was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill. Motion
passed unanimously.
Approval by Date of Director’s Report
Finance/HR Report
Marian C. Delaney was not available for the meeting.
Chief of Police Report
Chief McDerby stated that the new police officer, Mr. Woodson was
in training until February 2006 and would then go on full time duty.
Councilman DiMondi gave a brief overview of the City’s
finances. Taxes collected were at 95% and that basically, all of the
City’s departments were on average (50%) except for the Planning
Commission. Councilman DiMondi stated that the Planning Commission
was extremely over budget. Councilman DiMondi also stated that the
City’s audit was finalized and that the City is in healthy shape.
Councilman Reese stated that the Public Works Department
hauled 232.33 tons of trash for the month of December as compared
to 237.12 tons of trash for December 2004. Councilman Reese felt that
this was due to the recycling program.
Grant Review
Councilman DiMondi spoke of the following grants that had been applied
for:
1. C6 State of Delaware Department of Public Safety–An application
has been submitted by the Public Safety Department requesting funds
in the amount of $7,326.40 from the Emergency Illegal Drug Enforcement
Program.
2. B4 Delaware Emergency Management Agency– The City has requested
reimbursement of $5,000.00 under the Homeland Security Grant Program
for the previous purchase of a Ricoh 240 wide format plotter/copier/scanner.
The grant has been reviewed by DEMA and is in the final stages of
processing for payment.
3. C5 State Aid to Local Law Enforcement–An application has
been submitted for $11,331.13 for the purchase of equipment in the
amount of $4,445.00 to cover 180 hours of overtime for special investigations
and drug enforcement.
4. C1 Delaware Emergency Management Agency–The
City’s application for a grant in the amount of $23,750.00 from
the 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program has been approved for the
purchase of laptops. The remaining funds are being used for the installation
of the laptops into police vehicles.
5. C2 Delaware Emergency Management Agency–The approved grant
from the New Castle Citizen Corps Council, sponsored by the Public
Safety Department, is to include a web page, which is currently in
the design stage. The web site address is www.newcastlepd.us. This
project has been given as a senior project for a Wilmington College
student.
6. C4 State of Delaware Department of Justice–The
Special Law Enforcement Assistance Funds (SLEA) funds were received
and 8 digital cameras and related equipment has been purchased for
$9,439.20.
7. SLEAF Grant - AFIS The automated fingerprint and
identification system has been delivered and installed. The Public
Safety Department is awaiting training from Motorola.
8. B3 State of Delaware Department of Transportation–An agreement
(Agreement #06-P-PROGRAM -11) to transfer $150,00.00 from DelDot to
the City for the 9th St. paving project is on file. Receipt of funds
in the amount of $79,688.47 for the paving of 9th St. from Gray St.
to Washington St. has been received. Invoices in the amount of $46,596.50
are in the process of being submitted to DelDot for reimbursement.
Councilman Reese acknowledged the work that Chief McDerby has done
securing grants and stated that due to the Chief’s diligence,
over $57,000.00 in grants has been secured for the Public Safety Department,
which is money that the City will not need to expend.
Communications
Council President Blest received a letter from the Historical Society
of Delaware inviting Council Members to their workshops for researching
local history.
Council President Blest received a letter from Donna Ramsey of DelTech
that the City will again be utilizing a group of first semester nursing
students for the school’s Community Nursing Program.
Business from the Floor
Ms. Petty Johnson spoke to Council regarding Resolution No. 2006-01
approving a minor subdivision for properties located a t 102 and 104
Buttonwood Avenue. Ms. Petty Johnson asked Council to deny the Resolution
as the properties have already been divided and built on and when
she approached Council regarding her request to subdivide, it was
denied.
Williams Robinett discussed Agenda Item #5, discussion and acceptance
of the lowest bids for a new truck with plow and hydraulic lift. Mr.
Robinett is a Public works employee and felt it was much more important
for the City to purchase a new garbage truck before purchasing a lift.
John Houben asked councilman DiMondi to expand/explain his comments
regarding the budgets of the City’s various departments.
Robert Ford, a City Public Works employee, requested that Council
consider a raise for him (Laborer I), as he had been an employee for
3 years and the new full time Laborer I was making the same salary
as him. Mr. Ford also felt that the Public Works Department did not
need a hydraulic lift. Councilwoman Petty stated that she would look
into the wage issue for Mr. Ford.
Business from the Mayor
None.
Unfinished Business
Council President Blest read Ordinance No. 430, An Ordinance Amending
the Code of New Castle by Changing the Requirements of Section 230-1,
230-28 and 230-52 (Historic District Parking Regulations) in its entirety
for the third and final time. A vote was taken by roll call: (Blest–yes,
Reese–yes, Churchill–yes, Petty–yes, DiMondi–yes)
and Council signed the Ordinance. The Ordinance will go to the Mayor
for his signature or, in the alternative, his veto.
New Business
1. Resolution No. 2006-01 approving a minor subdivision
for properties located at 102 and 104 Buttonwood Avenue. Since there
was some discussion as to why the subdivision for the properties was
needed and there were no representatives from either property to explain
the situation to Council, a motion was made by Councilman Reese and
seconded by Councilwoman Churchill to table this matter until a representative
from one of the properties was contacted. (Blest–yes, Reese–yes,
Churchill–yes, Petty–yes, DiMondi–yes). Agenda item
#1 was tabled.
2. Resolution No. 2006-02 approving a minor subdivision
for properties located at
226 East 2nd Street. Carmen Casper spoke on behalf of the resident
of 226 E. 2nd St. requesting the subdivision and a Motion was made
by Councilman Reese and seconded by Councilman DiMondi that the Resolution
is passed. The Resolution was passed unanimously by Council.
3. Approval of Trustees Appropriation List. Council
will write a letter to Henry Gambacorta with Council’s requests
but a footnote will be added to the letter stating that council feels
a stipend should be given to Council as opposed to Council requesting
individual items. A Motion was made by Councilwoman Churchill to send
the letter with the additional footnote and was seconded by Councilman
Reese. Motion passed unanimously that a letter signed by all of Council
would request a stipend from the Trustees as opposed to requesting
financial help with individual items.
4. Discussion on installing stop signs at 10th 7 Clayton Streets.
It was brought up that Resolution 85-10 gives the guidelines for installing
stop signs and that a public hearing should be held to get the residents
opinions on the matter. A public hearing on the matter will be held
on February 14, 2006 at 6:15 p.m.
5. Discussion and acceptance of the lowest bids for the new truck
with plow and hydraulic lift for the garage. Winner of New Jersey
had the lowest bid and a Motion was made by Councilwoman Churchill
that Council accept their bid. Motion was seconded by Councilman Reese
and passed unanimously.
6. Motion to set a Public hearing to amend the Code of New Castle
by changing the requirements of Section 230-18B to permit Private
Clubs and Lodges as special exceptions if approved by the Board of
Adjustment. A public hearing will be held on February 14, 2006 at
6:30 p.m. to get the residents opinion regarding this matter.
7. Bank Resolution in the amount of $75,062.70 to pay Richards Paving,
Inc. for contract #2005-02, “Ninth Street Improvements”.
A Motion was made by Councilman Reese that the Resolution be approved
and seconded by Councilwoman Churchill. The Resolution passed unanimously.
8. Comments from the Floor.
Ms. Dee Duszak asked when the problems with a property
on Gray St. were going to be resolved. It was stated that the house
would be going up for sheriff sale.
Earl Carpenter questioned Item #6, Section 230-18B to permit Private
Clubs and Lodges as special exceptions if approved by the Board of
Adjustment. Mr. Carpenter felt that the public should know about this
item and Council decided that a public meeting would be held.
Bill Simpson thanked Council for getting 9th St. paved
at least to the point where emergency vehicles now had access.
Dr. Padmalingam requested an update on the City Administrator
position.
Dr. Padmalingam felt that since the City had gone without an Administrator
for this length of time perhaps the money/salary should be used on
a full time City Planner instead and City Council collectively should
act as the City Administrator.
Senator Dori Connor was in attendance and spoke about
the new building projects along Rt. 9. She asked Council to give serious
attention to negotiating with the various builders and should have
in writing from the builders items such as who is responsible for
maintaining the roads in front of the properties, who is responsible
for installing red lights at the properties if necessary, etc. These
types of items need to be addressed and put in writing when negotiating
with builders in the City, as the City should not bear the monetary
responsibility for these types of items.
Councilwoman Petty addressed the issue of Howell Drive
and the need for the road to be closed. Councilwoman Petty was informed
that DelDot will not close the road because it would close off access
to Collins Park. Councilwoman Petty felt the road causes safety hazards
and should be closed.
9. Motion for Executive Session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
A Motion was made for Council to proceed to Executive Session and
the council meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill F. DiAngelo,
City Clerk
