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Mayor and Council of New Castle Roll Call Present: Council President Blest Others present: Treasurer Janet Carlin, Police Chief Kevin McDerby, Master Sgt. Barnes, City Administrator Cathryn Thomas. James Harker, Esquire, David Athey, Jeff Bergstrom 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 A Motion was presented by Councilman Reese to accept
the Minutes to Date. The Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill.
Minutes to Date were accepted as presented. Janet Carlin stated that the Total Petty Cash on Hand
was $290.00, Total Monthly Deposits were $229,139.05, Total Cash in
the Wilmington Trust Accounts was $310,111.68, Total Certificates
of Deposit and De. Government Investment Pool was $888,733.90 and
the Total Cash on Hand was $1,198,845.58. Councilman Reese moved to
accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted. Approval by Date of Director’s Report Cathryn Thomas stated that the YTD revenues are at 92.9% and that the expenditures are at 77.0% as of March 2006. Councilwoman Churchill moved to accept the Director’s Report as submitted. It was seconded by Councilman Reese. Motion passed unanimously. Grant Review Councilman DiMondi spoke of the following grants that have been applied for: 1. B2 DelDot Agreement #-6-P-PROG-70–The City
has been approved to receive funding from DelDot in the amount of
$54,148.00 for specified paving projects. The City has received funds
in the amount of $5,414.80, which represents 10% of the total funding.
DelDot will give the balance of the project funding to the City once
a contract has been awarded. 3. 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. A check in the amount of $5,000.00 has been received by the City from DEMA and a check in the amount of $5,000.00 has been issued to MCS for reimbursement. 4. B-5 State of Delaware Community Redevelopment Fund–The City has applied for a request for reimbursement of project costs from the State in the amount of $10,322.32. Invoices in the amount of $25,806.58 have been submitted at 40% reimbursement for the purchase of recreational equipment for City parks. 5. C0- SLEAF Grant - AFIS- The City was awarded a grant in the amount of $85,000.00. The automated fingerprint and identification system has been delivered and installed. A check in the amount of $58,465.00 has been paid to Motorola. An additional amount of $840.00 was also expended under this grant. The Public Safety Department is receiving training from Motorola. The City will return the unused funds ($25,695.00).
7. 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 webpage, which is currently in the design stage. The web site address is www.newcastlepd.us. $14,069.67 of the $15,000.00 grant has been used. 8. C-3 US Smokeless Tobacco Company–An Application has been submitted by Public Safety requesting a Polaris Ranger 6x6 Utility Vehicle. The City received a letter from the US Smokeless Tobacco Co. that our request was not selected. 9. 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. The City received a check in the amount of $8,493.34 in January and is expecting receipt of the remaining funds in March. 10. 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. The City has received a check in the amount of $5,494.80 and expects the reaming funds in the upcoming month. An application for additional funds in the amount of $514.95 was submitted in February. This is for overtime enforcement concerning drug investigations. 11. C-7 Federal Government Grant-Bureau of Justice–The
Public Safety Department has applied on-line for reimbursement from
the Federal Government for the purchase of 3 bulletproof vests recently
purchased by the Public Safety Department. An application in the amount
of $1,121.16 has been submitted for the vests, which cost $2,242.31. Councilwoman Petty received a letter from Senator Henry appropriating $25,000.00 to the City. She also received a letter from the Sailing Club thanking the Public Works Department for the beach clean up. Councilman DiMondi forwarded a letter to Richard Keller regarding the 9th St. Paving Project stating the Mr. Keller agreed to indemnify the City with 4 equal installments of $23,000.00 to be paid in successive months beginning March 30, 2006. Business from the Floor Charles Cobb voiced his opinion regarding #5, Unfinished Business, and requested that Council enter into the Agreement with the Trustees and B&E. Tom Simpers spoke of the Riverbend project and stated that he would rather see Riverbend be a residential area as opposed to an industrial area. Joseph DiAngelo stated that he felt the developer held up his end in the Riverbend project and is agreeable to a residential area. Dorsey Fiske requested that council leave the bypass road on the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Evans spoke of his displeasure with Mayor Klingmeyer for vetoing Ordinance 430. Dr. Padmalingam requested that Council clean up the beach at Battery Park and make this an ongoing task. Master Sgt. Barnes was awarded a plaque from City Council commemorating his 15 years of dedicated service to the New Castle City Police Department. Unfinished Business 1. Discussion, Motion and Vote on Ordinance 430 amending the Zoning Code of New Castle by changing the requirements of §§ 230-1, 230-28 and 230-52, concerning the Historic District Parking Regulations and whether or not to override the Mayor’s veto of said proposed Ordinance. After a short discussion, a Motion was made by Councilman DiMondi to table this matter and was seconded by Councilman Reese. (Blest-yes, Reese-yes, Churchill-yes, Petty-yes, DiMondi-yes). The matter was tabled. 2. Discussion, Motion and Vote on Ordinance 431 amending the Zoning Code of New Castle by changing the requirements of §§ 230-18B to permit Private Clubs and Lodges as special exceptions in a Residential District (R-3) if approved by the Board of Adjustments. Council President Blest has the first reading of the Ordinance and Councilman DiMondi stated that he wanted a section in the Ordinance specifically dealing with parking spots not being eliminated for building expansion. 3. Riverbend Issues: (a) Motion and Vote on proposed
Ordinance T.B.A., to amend the 2003 Comprehensive Plan Update for
the City of New Castle by removing the suggestion under the Transportation
Plan (goal No.2, Strategy No. 4) to “Create a Route 9 bypass
of the downtown south of Dobbinsville and Washington Park. Council
President Blest has the 1st and 2nd reading of the Ordinance. Councilman
Reese made a Motion to amend the Ordinance and it was seconded by
Councilwoman Churchill. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Resolution No. 2006-08, to consider placing traffic calming signs on 9th St., specifically a Stop Sign on 9th St. intersecting with Gray St. coming from Washington St. and a Local Truck Limit Sign on 9th St. as it intersects with Washington St. The Resolution was amended (3rd line of resolution, the date of the public hearing was changed from March 14, 2006 to April 11, 2006). Council President Blest made a Motion that the Resolution be passed, as amended, and it was seconded by Councilman Reese. The Resolution was unanimously passed, as amended. 5. Motion authorizing City to enter into an agreement with the Trustees of the New Castle Common and Brosius-Eliason Company resolving questions and issues relative to property titles on South St., Penn St. and Third St. Mr. Taylor, attorney for the Trustees, gave a speech regarding the background of this issue. A vote was taken by Council. (DiMondi-no, Petty-no, Blest-yes, Churchill-yes, Reese-yes) and passed. New Business 3. Discussion on request to vend hot dogs, soda, water and soup in the vicinity of Battery Park for the company Almost History, Inc. Wayne Kelley of Almost History requested that Council consider his permit for vending. Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion that a $50.00, one time fee, be imposed and that the days permitting vending be kept as they were. Motion was seconded by Councilman Reese and passed unanimously. 1. Receipt of recommendations from the Land Use Subcommittee and consideration the City Council for referral to the Planning Commission. After a discussion Council agreed that they would agree to send the recommendations to the Planning Committee although they were not necessarily endorsing the recommendation. 2. Discussion on annual request to extend outdoor service hours at the Castilian Club. After a discussion Council agreed that they would not permit the Castilian Club request unless some type of fence, barrier, etc. was put in place along Delaware Street. 4. Consideration to adopt a Policy of the City Council concerning workflow and process for City employees. Councilwoman Petty presented a Work Flow Policy and Process to Council. Councilman Reese made a Motion to adopt the policy and it was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill and passed unanimously. 5. Discussion proposed Ordinance No. 433 amending the Code of New Castle by changing the requirements of §230-28 concerning Historic District Parking Regulations. Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion to send the Ordinance to the Planning Commission and it was seconded by Councilman Reese and passed unanimously. 6. Discussion on the schedule for upcoming budget workshop sessions. Budget meetings will be held on May 2nd, 11th, 16th and 23rd. 7. Discussion and possible motion and vote to seek bids for construction of a records archive storage facility, to be constructed inside the Trolley Barn. A discussion was held regarding getting bids for a new storage facility. Councilman DiMondi stated that he felt this matter should be taken up at the budget meetings. Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion to move forward with getting bids, etc. for the archive facility and it was seconded by Council President Blest. 8. Discussion and possible motion and vote to support
Delaware Police Chiefs and Officers concerning their request to the
Delaware State Legislature for certain provisions to be included in
any State legislation adopted that would broaden the ability of more
persons to carry concealed weapons. 9. Resolution to honor the memory of Joseph Toner. The Resolution was read aloud by Council President Blest and passed, as amended, by Council. 10. Motion for executive session concerning a personnel matter of a particular employee and a strategy session with the City Solicitor regarding collective bargaining matters. Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion for Executive Session and it was seconded by Councilman Reese.
Respectfully Submitted,
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