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CITY COUNCIL OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF NEW CASTLE
Present: Council President William Blest Others Present: Cathryn Thomas, Frank DiSabatino, Janet Carlin, James Harker, Esq., Mayor Klingmeyer Council President Blest brought the meeting to order at 6:48 p.m. and lead those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Reese explained why the meeting was being held and what Council hoped to accomplish. The residents of 14th St. would like access to 14th St. in both directions but only for local traffic, i.e., those residents who live on the street. Councilman Reese also explained that he felt it was better to have actual STOP signs at 10th and Young Sts. because it seems that now everyone thinks they have the right of way. Councilman DiMondi stated that this was originally his agenda item and asked why it was left off the agenda. City Administrator Thomas explained that it was inadvertently left off the agenda. CITY COUNCIL OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF NEW CASTLE Present: Council President William Blest Others Present: Mayor John Klingmeyer, James Harker, Esquire, City Administrator Cathryn Thomas, Frank DiSabatino and Janet Carlin. APPROVAL OF MINUTES TO DATE A Motion was presented by Councilwoman Churchill to accept the Minutes to Date. Councilman DiMondi objected to the Minutes of Council’s March 13, 2007, Item #6. Councilman DiMondi stated that he did not make the statement in question and that he objected to having it in the Minutes. Councilman DiMondi requested a verbatim transcription of that portion of the meeting which we will be forwarded to him. Council President Blest objected to the Minutes of the March 13, 2007 meeting, Item 4, in that Mr. Esdale did apply for a vendor’s license but that he did not obtain one last year. The Motion to accept the Minutes to Date presented except for Items 4 and 6 was again made by Councilwoman Churchill and was seconded by Councilman Reese. Minutes to Date were accepted as presented. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT City Treasurer Janet Carlin was unable to stay at the meeting so City Administrator Thomas read the Treasurer’s Report. Mrs. Thomas stated that there was $679,502.53 total cash in the Wilmington Trust Accounts, $1,096,843.81 in the Certificates of Deposit and De. Government Investment Pool, $679,502.53 in Total Checking and Savings Accounts and $1,776,346.34 Total Cash on Hand. A Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented was brought by Councilman Reese. The Motion was seconded by Council President Blest. Treasurer’s Report was accepted as presented. REPORT FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR Mrs. Thomas stated that her report was in Council’s packet and reminded the residents to vote and explained that absentee voting is allowed and how to go about obtaining the absentee ballots. Council President Blest also added that the Buttonwood Drainage Project was finally moving forward. APPROVAL OF STAFF REPORTS Frank DiSabatino stated that he had nothing to offer other than his report was in Council’s packet. Councilman DiMondi stated that he received the City’s audit yesterday and that overall, all of the departments are in line. Councilman DiMondi stated that the audit should be made an agenda item and that the audit would be available on disc. GRANT REVIEW B-1 State of Delaware Department of Transportation–An agreement to transfer $28,000.00 from DelDot to the City for the Buttonwood drainage project is on file. The Conservation District has completed the drawings and plans and has advertised the project for construction. The contact was tentatively awarded to EPB Associates, in the amount of $184,140.00. B-2 DelDot Agreement #06-P-PROG-70–The City has requested and it has been approved by DelDot to amend the initial agreement to add Municipal Blvd. To the list of specified streets, thereby allowing the City to invoice DelDot for the remaining available balance of $33,437.00. The City invoiced DelDot for the paving and received reimbursement of $33,437.00 and a check in that amount was received in March. B-9 State of Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation–The City has received $1,200.00 under this program. The funds are to be used for the maintenance of public trails and greenways to be used by October, 2007. C-5 State Aid to Local Law Enforcement– The Public Safety Department has submitted an application in the amount of $11,182.16, and it has been approved. The money is to be used for items such as taser guns, shotguns, a motorcycle box and related items. COMMUNICATIONS Councilwoman Churchill received a letter from Verizon stating that they have replaced the lines around New Castle and that the low lying lines belong to Comcast and a letter from the Trustees regarding the Banks Bldg. President Blest received correspondence from Frank Calio, State Election Commissioner regarding the documents needed to run the City elections, correspondence from Kathy Reager regarding the Battery Park beach clean up, a request from a resident that Muslim holidays should be included on the City’s calendar and a letter from Enoch Carter asking if the City would be interested in buying his property located at 43 Holcomb Lane. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Lynn Sheridan asked if there were any provisions that, should Council convey ownership to the Trustees, that they will not be able to turn it into a commercial property or personal use property. Councilwoman Churchill stated that if Council is inclined to convey ownership of the building, those types of concerns could be written into the Resolution. Earl Carpenter asked in there were other religious holidays in the City’s calendar and where they in there because the City employees have off on those days. Charlotte Houben asked why the outgoing Council was making appointments to committees and why those appointments are not left up to the incoming Council. BUSINESS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Klingmeyer spoke about the Cingular Towers and asked that Council discuss the matter with MSC since MSC has already had the problem reviewed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Motion on Resolution No. 2007-12, Discussion and Vote to address the directional issues of traffic on 14th St. and 10th & Young Sts. Councilwoman Churchill mad a motion that the Resolution be accepted. It was seconded by Councilman Reese and accepted by all of Council with a few revisions. 2. Third Reading, Motion Discussion and Vote on Ordinance No. 450, adding a section to the New Castle City Code regulating the feeding of wildlife on City and other public property. Councilwoman Churchill read the Ordinance and made a motion that the Ordinance be accepted. It was seconded by Councilman Reese. Councilman DiMondi said he took exception to this Ordinance governing private property. Councilwoman Churchill said she had no problem with that and the motion was passed unanimously.
3. Discussion on a request from Elaine Pataky, the property owner of 603 Center St. to connect to a water service line on a property owned by the City (601 Center St.). Councilman Reese suggested that they allow Ms. Pataky to hook up to the water service line and that the City and Ms. Pataky would split the cost. Councilman DiMondi stated that he th ought Ms. Pataky should only be responsible for 25% of the cost since 601 Center St. can actually be split and sold as 3 properties. James Harker, Esquire stated that the City would need to draw up an agreement between the City and Ms. Pataky. 4. Discussion to schedule a Public Hearing to consider a request from the Trustees to rezone several properties owned by the Trustees. It was determined that a Public Hearing will be set for 5/7/07. 5. Discussion to schedule a Public Hearing to consider a request from Newport Crossings, LLC and/or HDC, Inc. to rezone portions of the Twin Spans Business Park. Shawn Tucker, Esquire gave a short speech stating which portions are to be rezoned and why. It was determined that a Public Hearing will be set for 5/7/07. NEW BUSINESS 1. Motion to appoint a member of the Planning Commission to the Historic Area Commission. The Planning Commission requested that David Byrd be appointed. A Motion to appoint Mr. Byrd was made by Councilwoman Churchill and seconded by Councilman Reese and passed unanimously. 2. Motion on Resolution No. 2007-14, Discussion and Vote to transfer ownership of the Banks Building to the Trustees. After a discussion and hearing from all parties, Council President Blest mad a Motion that Mr. Harker should work with counsel for the Trustees to see what type of arrangement can be worked out. The Motion passed with Councilman DiMondi dissenting stating that he would agree to lease the building but not to sell it. 3. Motion on Resolution No. 2007-14, Discussion and Vote to allow the continued encroachment of improvements to a private property at 908 Clayton St. into the right of way of Clayton St. The Resolution was read and a Motion was made by Councilman Reese. It was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill and passed unanimously. 4. Discussion on the Administrator’s use of outside legal counsel. Councilman DiMondi questioned the City Administrator’s authority to use outside legal counsel. Council President Blest stated that the City has been using this particular attorney for approximately 10 years and she is consulted mainly for labor issues. Mr. Harker is the City solicitor but he is not specialized in labor relations. Councilman DiMondi stated that he felt the cost of using the attorney necessitated some type of authorization or a consensus by Council. 5. Motion on Resolution No. 2007-14, Discussion and Vote to approve a minor subdivision for 2 the Strand and 102 Delaware St. Council President Blest read the Resolution and Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion that the Resolution be accepted. Councilman Reese seconded the Motion and it was passed unanimously. 6. Motion to confirm appointments by the Mayor of the following members of the Planning Commission, all with terms ending April, 2010. George Freebery, Thomas Wilson and James Steele. Councilman Reese made a Motion that the Mayor’s appointments be confirmed and Councilwoman Churchill seconded it. The Motion passed unanimously. A Motion was made by Councilman Reese that the meeting be adjourned. It was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill and the meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted, |
