REGULAR MEETING
March 1, 1926
Reading of the minutes of last meeting was dispensed with on motion of messrs. LeFevre and Clements.
Members present: President Woodford, Messrs. LeFevre, Downes, Keith, Clements, Burton, Frear, Clark, and Hinkle.
William Butz, request for water
The request of Mr. Butz for a new water main to his property on Lincoln Street west of the Delaware Rail Road, was not granted because of the lack of fund. Mr. Butz, however, was promised a newline as soon as the new budget was made up.
Hauling sinders on Hazel Road
The request of Mr. James Henry Hazel to have the town haul sinders from the rail road station to Hazel Road in Hyland Park was granted upon motion of Messrs. Keith and LeFevre.
Solicitors Report
The following report of solicitor after being read by the clerk was accepted by council acting upon motion of Messrs. Clements and LeFevre ordered entered in the minutes and filed.
Ordinance amending Chapter #6 ei “Concerning the Electric Light, Water works, the distribution of water and establishing rates
An Ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Revised Ordinances of The Town of Dover entitled an Ordinance “Concerning the Electric Light, Water Works, the Distribution of Water and Establishing Rates.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF DOVER IN REGULAR SESSION MET THIS FIRST DAY OF MARCH, A.D. 1926, AS FOLLOWS:
That Section 1 Chapter 6 of the Revised Ordinances of the Town of Dover “Concerning the Electric Light, Water Works, the Distribution of Water and Establishing Rates” be amended as follows:
By striking our Section 1 of said Chapter 6 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“Section 1. That on the first Monday in February, or on some subsequent date in February duly designated by Council for that purpose, in each and every year, there shall by elected by the Town Council, a committee of three of its members to be entitled the “Light and Water Committee” who shall have charge of and exercise a general superintendence over the electric light and water works of The Town of Dover, to whose directed by Ordinance or resolution of Council, and Council shall have power to fill any vacancies which may at any time occur in said Light and Water Committee. The Light and Water Committee already appointed shall serve for the balance of the present term.”
That said Chapter 6 be further amended by striking but all of Section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“Section 2. The Collector of Taxes shall be Ex-officio Superintendent of the Light and Water Works of The Town and the person elected to such office, shall, in addition to his duties as Collector of Taxes, be required to perform the following other duties:
He shall have charge of the engine house, boilers, engines, pumps, machinery, wells, supplies, transmission lines, meters and all matters and things in connection with the sale and distribution of electric current and water; he is also empowered by and with the consent and approval of Council and the Light and Water Committee to employ and discharge such laborers and assistants as may be necessary to operate the electric light and water plant, and to fix their salaries, and he shall have immediate supervision and charge of such employees, and they shall at all times, while in the employ of the Town, be subject to his orders.
He shall pay to the Town Treasurer all moneys received by him, on the Friday next after the receipt of same, and also on the last secular day of the month shall furnish the Treasurer with a statement for what purposes said moneys were received and shall make an annual report to the Light and Water Committee on the first day of the month of January of all the operations, transaction and business connected with the light and water works for the preceding year to January 1st, and shall conform to the ordinances and resolution of Council and the orders and directions of the Light and Water Committee.
He shall make, on the first of each month, a detailed, itemized report to Council and to the Light and Water Committee, of the proceedings of the Department for the preceding month, showing all moneys received by him, from whom received and for what purpose; the amount of water pumped, the amount of fuel and other supplies consumed, the material purchased or used and for what purpose, and all work done or necessary to be done, the names of the employees and the salaries of each.
The Light and Water Committee shall semi-annually in each and every year, on the first Tuesday of January and the first Tuesday of July, or any convenient date thereafter, however, than the fifteenth days of January and July in each and every year, make a thorough and complete examination of all the books and accounts of the superintendent, and of the light and water rents and rates, and shall submit such report to the meeting of the Town Council next following such examination.
Sinders for South Dover Heights
Mr. Harry W. Johnson appeared before Council on behalf of the citizens of South Dover Heights for sinders to be placed on Pine Street. Mr. Clements chairman of the street committee promised Mr. Johnson that he would secure five (5) car loads of sinders the residents of South Dover to do the hauling which was agreeable to all parties concerned.
Council also promised Mr. Johnson water on Pine Street as soon as funds were available.
Curb an gutter lines for South Dover.
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Hinkle authorized the street committee to secure the services of a competent engineer to run the curb and gutter lines in South Dover.
Aldermans Report
The Aldermans report for the month of February showed three arrests and fines collected amounting to $13.50, check for same being turned over to Treas. this report was accepted on motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Keith.
Supt. Report
The following report of the Supt. after being read by the clerk was accepted on motion of LeFevre and Downes enter in the minutes and filed.
1923 Taxes $30.04, 1924 tax $203.15 1925 tax $102.38
Electric Light bills $4,343.43
Total is $4,679.00
New Rates
Council action upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Hinkle voted unanimously to adopt the new rates as presented by Mr. L.D. Shank, Supt., effective March 1st, 1926.
LIGHTING RATE
First 50 K.W. .12¢
Next 250 K.W. .10¢
Over 300 K.W. .08¢
COOKING RATE
Extra meter with a minimum charge of $2.50 per month.
Over 50 K.W. .05¢ per K.W.
POWER RATE
First 1000 K.W. .05¢
Next 1000 K.W. .04¢
Over 2000 K.W. .03¢
A customer using as much as 5000 K.W. per month will receive the entire at .03¢ per K.W.
Coal consumed 188 tons 320 Cwt.
Total K.W. Hours generated 124770
Total K.W. Hours on street lights 7040
“ K.W. “ ” City Pumps 19700
Lbs. coal consumed per KWH 2.4
(allowing 30 tons for air compressor)
If the Council does not feel that at some near date, there will be some definite improvement in the water supply, I advise that we purchase compressor. The later suggestion would give us some chance to work on the compressors, as the present, any work to be done on the compressor, means shut down of the water supply.
I would also like to be authorized to give a Cooking Rate, of five cents per K.W. hour, with a minimum of $2.50 per month.
In order that we can build up our day load, and to give our customers the advantage of using more electric appliances in their homes, it seems advisable to cut off our present .15¢ rate, making the high point good profit, and this will build up our load, which is what we need most to enable us to generate more economically. To further help this part along, it might be desirable as well as profitable, for the Town to help finance the sales of these appliance, and also house wiring. I believe the increase in revenue from this business would more than pay the town, and yet there need be no loss in this financing business.
Attached hereto, is a suggestive rate schedule for your consideration, which works out to a much better advantage than the present schedule.
Revision of Water Rates
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Downes authorized the Light & Water Committee with the aid of the Supt. to revise and next regular meeting.
Annual report of Fire Chief
The following report afer being read by the clerk was accepted on motion of Messrs. LeFevre & Downes ordered, entered in the minutes and filed.
Dover, Del. March 1, 1926
To the Honorable Mayor & Town Council:
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit to your honorable body my annual report of the Dover Volunteer Fire Department, together with such information and recommendations necessary for its efficiency.
During the year ending December 31, 1925, the Department responded to 55 Alarms, of which 29 were in Dover and 26 out of Dover.
The apparatus of this Department consists of one Ahrons-Fox pumping unit with 800 gallons capacity; one Seagraves pumping unit with 350 gallons capacity; and one Seagraves service truck carrying 217 feet of ladders.
At the present time we have 2200 feet of 2½” hose. I would recommend the purchase of 1000 feet of 2½” good grade fire hose.
In conclusion, I desire to thank His Honor, Mayor Woodford, and the members of the Town Council for the courtesies extended, and their efforts in behalf of the Fire Department. I also extend thanks to the members of the Fire Department and the Police Department for their prompt response to all alarms, their excellent discipline and the courtesy they have extended to me.
Very respectfully yours,
CHIEF OF DOVER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Robbins Hose Company Annual Election
The following members of the Robbins Hose Co., were appointed by President Woodford as judges to hold the annual election of that body on Monday evening March 15, 1926.
John C. Hayes
Thomas Holston
William Pyle
Purchase of hose., for Robbins Hose Co.,
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. Keith & Downes authorized the Pres. & Sec. of Council to execute such contracts as are necessary for the purchase of 500 feet of hose from the Fabric Fire Hose Co., and 500 feet of hose from the Eureka Fire Hose Company.
Election of City Solicitor
Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Downes Mr. James M. Satterfield was unanimously elected by Council, as City Solicitor for the year 1926.
Mr. Satterfields salary for the year was fixed at $200.00. This action was taken by the motion of Messrs. Downes & Burton.
Town Constables, salary fixed, and elected
Mr. E.I. Lane for the office of Chief of Police was placed in nomination by Messrs. Burton & Downes. There being no other nominees Mr. Lane was unanimously elected. The salary of the Chief of Police upon motion of Messrs. Downes & Burton was fixed at 28.00 per week.
Mr. Arthur Dickerson was nominated by Messrs. Keith & Downes, for the position of night patrolman. There being no other nominees Mr. Dickerson was unanimously elected.
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. Burton & LeFevre fixed the salary at $25.00 per week.
Street Supervisor
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. Burton & Clark unanimously elected Mr. Wilson Cummins as street supervisor. Mr. Cummins salary was fixed by council at 28.00 per week.
Upon motion of Messrs. Clements & Downes Mr. Thomas W. Killen was elected Special Officer at a salary of 16.00 per week.
Constables without pay
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre and Keith elected the following persons to act as constable without pay for the year of 1926.
William Robinson
Scott Forbes
James Godwin
Blain Story
Bond for L.D. Shank and W.A. Green
Council acting upon motion of Messrs. LeFevre & Downes authorized Pres. Woodford to secure bond for Mr. L.D. Shank and Mr. W.A. Green.
Extension of Ornamental Street Lights
On motion of Messrs. LeFevre & Downes council authorized the ornamental Street Lighting Committee to extend the new street lighting system south on State Street from the intersection of Loockerman to The Dover Green.
Treas. Report
The following report of the Treas. after being read by the clerk was accepted by the council by Burton & Downes.
General Fund Overdraft
Water Fund Overdraft
Light Fund Balance
Spec. Fund Balance
Total Balance in Treas.
$ 14,340.93
9,780.89
12,20.42
13,821.20
$ 24,121.82
26,071.62
$ 1,949.80
Committee on Accounts
The clerk was instructed to draw orders necessary for the payment of the following bills:
Water Fund
General Fund
Light Fund
Spec. Fund
Total
$ 199.60
170.79
3,389.80
1,850.53
$ 5,610.72
Adjournment
There being no further business Council adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
Signed:
W. A. Green
Clerk