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Mayor and City Council of New Castle Roll Call Present: Councilman Reese Not In Attendance: Others present: Treasurer Janet Carlin, City Attorney Hearn, Police Lt. Adam Brams, Finance/HR Manager Marian C. Delaney Councilman Reese convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and led those assembled in the pledge of allegiance. Approval of Committee Reports Councilman Reese called for approval of committee reports. Councilwoman Churchill moved to accept the committee reports as written. Councilman DiMondi voted to accept the minutes. The motion carried. Approval of Treasurer’s Report Treasurer Carlin reported that as of April 30, 2005, petty case totaled $270.00. Cash in Wilmington Trust accounts totaled $465,212.51. Monthly deposits totaled $291,642.51. CDs and Government Investment Pool totaled $160,231.56. Total payables were $301,868.40. Total cash on hand totaled $625,444.07. Councilman Reese moved to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Councilwoman Churchill seconded the motion. Councilman DiMondi voted to accept the treasurer’s report. The report was accepted. Approval of Director’s Reports Finance/HR Finance/Human Resources Manager Marian Delaney reported that revenues collected for April, 2005 were at 98.4% as compared to 87.3% the same time last year. The budget expended was 89.5% as compared to 89.9% the same time last year. Open enrollment for Public Safety department was held on 5/6/05. Open enrollment for Safety training for Public Service and Administrative staff was held on 5/11/05. The safety topic was workers compensation accident reporting. Good Will replaced a fire company paid driver and the City has requested verification of hiring date so the City can proceed with benefit enrollment for the driver.
Public Safety New Castle City Police Lt. Adam Brams introduced the three new seasonal bike patrol officers. The new officers are Benjamin P. Paris, a U of D junior who was formerly with the Rehoboth Beach police, Susan A. Ambridge, also a U of D junior and was also with the Rehoboth Beach Police and Daryl D. Haines, a firefighter, cadet with Troop 6 and has also trained with the New Castle City Police. Communications Richard Schneider presented a report to the Council regarding the DuPont Edgemoor Site and the efforts to clean up the hazardous waste. Mr. Schneider requested that the City pass a resolution cleaning up hazardous waste because hazardous waste from the DuPont site will flow down the Delaware River and will change land usage. Mr. Schneider was willing to answer questions regarding this matter after the meeting. Letter from the Planning Commission requesting a Parking Task Force. It was decided to table this matter until the next Council Meeting when Council President Blest would be present. Letter from the Swedish American Chambers of Commerce in Philadelphia requesting a permit to gather in Battery Park for the “Kids Sailing on the Kalmar Nyckle” event on May 22, 2005. The Kalmar Nyckle will be in New Castle from May 9, 2005 through May 26, 2005 and tours will be free to the public on 2 Saturdays. Petition from Bull Hill Residents regarding their opposition to any present or future alterations to the land directly behind the homes in the block of E. 2nd St. and a Petition from surrounding property owners also opposing any present or future alterations to the land directly behind the homes in the block of E. 2nd St. Council requested that the Trustees find out who actually owns the land. Trustees had a survey performed a number of years ago and there is possibly a Potter’s Field on the land and questioned what the potential archeological problems there could be. Council questioned why they were given the Petitions so late. Councilman DiMondi felt they would not pull the permit that has been issued regarding this matter if the City were to be financially responsible. Council had previously discussed this matter when they received the request for the permit. Council requested input from the Planning Commission, the Historical Society and legal counsel and no one objected. Council therefore granted the permit. Council will take up the matter in an Executive Session. Business from the Floor (Concerning Agenda Items) Questions were brought up regarding the $250,000 line of credit. Charlotte Houben asked if the Charter states that this matter needs to be approved via a referendum. Councilman DiMondi
stated that he had checked with Attorney Hearn and this matter does not need to be approved via a referendum. Mrs. Houben also asked if the City needed collateral for the line of credit. Councilman Reese stated that no collateral was needed since it is payable, if used, in full on 10/31 of every year. Council then decided that discussion regarding this matter would be continued when the resolution comes before the Council. Business from the Mayor Mayor Klingmeyer stated that the Community Development contract needs to be renewed. It is renewed every three years and the City has to sign off on it. There were no objections but this issue would be moved to Unfinished Business since not all of Council was present. Business from the Council President Moved to unfinished business for the next scheduled meeting as Council President Blest was not in attendance. Unfinished Business Additional dates for the Budget workshop are as follows: June 7th, June 9th, June 15th, June 21st because the tax rate must be in place by July 1, 2005 so the City’s tax bills can go out on time. New Business Approval for the appointment of Councilwoman Janet Churchill as Liaison to the Battery Park Commission. Motion was approved by Council. Approval to advertise for a Recreation Coordinator for Summer Program. Councilman Reese asked for comments from the floor. No comments were forthcoming. Council felt that the program should continue and it was approved by Council. Approval of Resolution No. 2005-08 appointing Jill F. DiAngelo as City Clerk. The Resolution was read by Councilman Reese. The City Clerk will received $2900. per year. The Resolution was approved by Council. Council also thanked Jean Williamson for acting as interim City Clerk. Update on Finance Chairpersons discussion with Financial Institutions on providing the City with a line of credit. Councilman DiMondi wishes to obtain a $250,000 revolving line of credit with Wilmington Trust. Approval of Resolution No. 2005-09 entering into an agreement with Wilmington Trust Company and establishing a line of credit not to exceed $250,000.00 Credit line to be secured by property tax revenues and the extended amounts to be fully reimbursed by October 31st of each year. Councilman DiMondi stated the account can only be accessed by a majority vote of Council and that the line of credit is needed to allow the City to make payroll from June to the end of July. The resolution was read by Councilwoman Churchill and approved by Council, via roll call. Councilperson Churchill – yes Approval of Resolution No. 2005-10 vacating the Capital Reserve Account. Based on the premise that the City was operating under a balanced operating budget which proved to be incorrect. Accounting principals dictate that a surplus or reserve cannot be established until a fiscal audit is completed and that the Capital Reserve Account was funded out of the General Operating Fund by a 60/40 matching State grant reimbursing the City for monies expended in the construction of the Municipal Complex. Council wishes to transfer back the Capital Reserve Account monies to the General Operating Fund for necessary day- to-day operations for the City. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Churchill and seconded by Councilmen Reese and DiMondi. After a lengthy discussion the Resolution was amended to read that the money cannot be used until authorized by the State of Delaware, Office of Comptroller. Comments from the Floor Senator Dori Connor stated that in regards to the Capital Reserve, the money can only be used for capital expenditures, not City operating needs. The money was originally given to the City for the building of the Municipal Complex. The City would now like to reimburse the general operating fund from the Capital Reserve. Senator Connor questioned if that legal and said her understanding of the situation was that the money can only be used for capital expenditures, not day to day operations. If the City’s share of money went to building the Municipal Complex, they could reimburse themselves but, if the City was to seek reimbursement, that money could only be used for capital expenditures. If the money is to be moved, or the Council wishes to vacate the Capital Reserve, they must file an application with the Office of Comptroller for approval. Council decided to seek legal advise from Attorney Hearn. Richard Keller, developer of Deemer Landing, asked if the appropriated money for 9th St. renovations was still in place. Councilman DiMondi stated that the bond money has not been received yet and they are trying to confirm that the money promised by Rep. Mulrooney would be forthcoming. For Ninth Street paving project, Senator Connor obtained $50,000.00 of the money and Rep. Michael Mulrooney pledged $50,000.00. It is unclear if the money from Rep. Mulrooney was actually provided. Earl Carpenter asked what the interest rate on the Line of Credit would be. Councilman DiMondi stated that the interest rate would be whatever the rate is on the day Line of Credit is obtained. Charlotte Houben requested that the Council consider hiring Code Enforcement Officers especially in light of Deemer Landing. She would like to see Code Enforcement Officers inspect any rental properties every time a tenant moves out to ensure that the property is up to Code. Councilman DiMondi stated that would take a consensus and the City would have to implement a Rental Code. Otherwise, the Code Enforcement Officers would have no authority to enforce. Council would entertain such a request. Fred Fitzgerald asked questions regarding the Line of Credit. Mr. Fitzgerald asked why the payment in full was due at 10/31 instead of 7/1, the beginning of the fiscal year. Councilman DiMondi stated that he wants any money owed on the Line of Credit paid in full on 10/31 because that is when the City’s income is at its highest with taxes being due at that time. Councilman DiMondi wants the Line of Credit for insurance purposes only and if any money is used, it is to be paid back in full when the City has the most income. Richard Schneider spoke again about the hazardous waste problem at the DuPont Edgemoor site and urged Council to pass a Resolution regarding this matter. Senator Dori Connor read correspondence she received from DelDot thanking New Castle City residents for their attendance at the meeting held by DelDot. Senator Connor was waiting on a report regarding the elevation of Rt. 9, especially in light of the new proposed development on Rt. 9. Senator Connor also reported that if Council would like, she could have a representative from DNREC speak with Council regarding the oil spillage from a boat on the Delaware River. Earl Carpenter stated that he previously attended a meeting at St. Peter’s regarding the traffic/truck situation in the City of New Castle. Mr. Carpenter questioned why a report has not been forthcoming and what is the delay. Requested that the Council look into the matter and find out what the delay was. Susan Keyser requested Council to re-visit the issue of the building permit at Bull Hill. Al Mueller is a member of Green Delaware and spoke on the need for recycling. Mr. Mueller stated he was against building more incinerators and requested that Council implement some type of recycling program. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Jill F .DiAngelo,
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