Dover, Delaware, August 6th, 1923.
The regular monthly meeting of Town Council was called to order by the President. The following members were present: Messrs. Burton, Keith, Clements, Bice, Hancock and President Hopkins.
The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Clerk and there being no corrections same were approved as read.
Alderman’s Report: The Alderman’s report for July showed ten arrests and fines collected amounted to $45.00, check for same being turned over to the Treasurer. Approved on motion of Messrs. Clements and Keith.
Engineer’s Report: The following report of the Chief Engineer was read by the Clerk and on motion of Messrs. Burton and Downes same was accepted and ordered entered in the Minutes and filed:
July 31, 1923.
Commercial Light 52,290. K. W.
Street “ 5,520 K. W.
Cylinder Oil Used 80 Gals.
Engine Oil “ 65 “
Cup Grease 7 Lbs.
Waste 14 “
Coal used 2168 T. 750 Lbs.
“ on Hand 2,058 T. 1040 “
Signed: A. L. Kichline
Chief Engineer.
Superintendent’s Report: Upon motion of Messrs. Burton and Clements the following report of the Superintendent, after being read by the Clerk, was accepted ordered entered in the Minutes and filed:
July 31, 1923
Amt. rec’d. Water Rents $ 2,805.95
“ “ Light 4,647.73
Sundries 13.50
1922 Taxes 4.73
1923 “ 255.46
Total Rec’d and paid Treas. $ 7,728.37
Treasurer’s Report:
GENERAL FUND
Receipts
July 2nd: Balance $ 5,805.74
Cash E. F. Wood 34.20
J. C. Hopkins, Sewer Fee 15.00
W. T. Staats, use of roller 500.00
W. D. Burton, 1922 Tax 4.73
“ “ “ 1923 “ 255.46
$6,615.13
2.
Disbursements
Order No. 67 50.00
68 3.30
69 2.50
70 5.00
71 1.70
72 55.72
73 8.15
74 75.25
75 24.62
76 3.75
77 5.17
78 853.37
$1,088.53
August 6th. Balance $5,526.60
LIGHT & WATER
Receipts
July 2nd: Balance $1,245.86
Cash. P. B. & W. R. R. Co. .02
W. D. Burton, Supt. 7,468.18
$8,714.06
Disbursements
Coupons, Farmers Bank 750.00
Order No. 73 Atl. Ref. Co. 188.28
74 Campbell, Peacock & K 2,626.90
75 Jenkin Bros. 20.68
76 E. W. Humphrey 27.91
77 Jas. B. Bice Co. 143.41
78 Dover Garage Co. 15.33
79 Dover L. & M. Co. 15.30
80 Dover Mach. Works 342.50
81 Fooks Auto Co. 4.75
82 Stewart Bros. 6.00
83 W. S. Haman, Treas. 3,566.00
$7,707.24
August 6th: Balance $1,006.82
The above report of the Treasurer was accepted by Council, acting on motion of Messrs. Downes and Clements, and same ordered entered in the Minutes and filed.
Committee on Accounts: The following bills were presented to the Committee for payment, audited by them, found correct, and on motion of Messrs. Clements and Burton Council voted to instruct the Clerk to draw the orders necessary for their payment.
3.
General Fund
Order No. 78 W. S. Haman, Treas. $853.37
79 F. N. Buckingham .50
80 Del. Republican 13.10
81 Headley Good Roads Co. 224.77
82 H. W. Horsey 175.00
83 Dover Index Pub. Co. 4.00
$1,270.74
Light and Water
Order No. 83 W. S. Haman, Treas. $3,566.00
84 Atlantic Ref. Co. 95.58
85 Campbell, Peacock & Kin. 1,704.34
86 Roberts Elect. Sup. Co. 41.67
87 Donohoe & Son 1.25
88 Dover Garage Co. 1.96
89 Dover Lum. & Mill. Co. 11.73
90 A. C. Hopkins 4.48
91 E. W. Humphreys 193.40
92 E. L. Jones Co. 281.90
93 Stewart Bros. 8.95
$5,911.26
Total Approved Bills $7,182.00
Finance Committee: No Report
Ordinance Committee: No Report
Street Committee: Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Bice, the following letter from I. Paul Jones, Secretary of State Highway Department, after being read by the Clerk, was accepted, ordered entered in the Minutes and filed:
July 25, 1923.
“The Resolution adopted by the Town Council on July 2nd was presented to the State Highway Department today at its Meeting, and I am glad to advise that favorable action was taken relative to extending the concrete road on the north and south sides of Dover to the Bithulithic pavement.”
Signed: I. Paul Jones.
Council, after discussion, left matter of Jennie Boone’s sunken scales on Queen Street with Street Committee.
Council, acting upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Bice, granted permission to J. H. Farlow to install gasoline tank in front of his place of business on Loockerman Street, provided Town Ordinance is complied with.
Tree Committee: (con’t) 4.
Tree Committee: Jos. P. Moore came before Council and requested that pavements and curbs be placed in front of properties, located on Mary Street between Bradford Street and Governor’s Avenue, belonging to Eugene Raughley and Jas. H. Wheatley.
Edw. Clements came before Council and requested that pavement and curb be placed in front of property, located on Pennsylvania Avenue between Division and Fulton Streets, belonging to Mrs. Lavinia C. K. Roscoe.
Upon motion of Messrs. Downes and Hancock the Clerk was instructed to send notices regarding pavements and curbs to each of the four above named property owners.
No action was taken in regard to Mr. Wm. Hurley’s request that refuse from the gas plant not be allowed to flow through open ditch which overflows on his land in rainy weather.
Tree Committee: Dover School Board requested that Engineer Kichline and his men be permitted to trim the young trees on the new school grounds. Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Burton this permission was granted and Engineer Kichline instructed to proceed with this work.
Sewer Committee: No Report
Water and Light Committee: Chairman Bice requested that rate for hauling (by Reynolds Reed) of present lot of coal coming in be changed from 65¢ to 75¢, making an increase of 10¢ per net ton. Upon motion of Messrs. Burton and Downes, this request was granted.
Resignation of Clerk: Harold W. Horsey tendered resignation as Clerk of Town Council. Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Clements resignation was accepted and regrets noted.
Application For Position as Clerk: Applications of W. A. Green, G. C. Shorb and Branch Messick for position as Clerk were read. Upon motion of Messrs. Keith and Hancock all application were received and nominations made in regular order. By unanimous vote W. A. Green was elected Clerk, was duly sworn by President Hopkins, and assumed duties of office.
Fire and Police Committee: Council opened meeting to all citizens who wished to testify in regard to the Lane-Pruitt case.
John Wilson testified that he did not see the first of the affair, but that he did see Lane taking Pruitt to an automobile, that Pruitt refused to get in the car and started to walk away from Lane, that Lane, catching hold of Pruitt, hit him (Pruitt) twice with his “billy”, and struck him a third time after he had fallen on W. J. Massey’s steps. Wilson also stated that after Lane had placed Pruitt in a car Pruitt made the remark, “You have treated me dirty, and I intend to make you pay for this.”
Wilson was corroborated in his testimony by Edger James, John Faulkner, Jr., all of whom witnessed the affair.
Upon motion of Messrs. Bice and Hancock Chief of Police Lane was relieved of duty until Council could make an investigation and call special session to hear both sides.
5.
Fire and Police Committee: (con’t)
Upon motion of Messrs. Burton and Downes a special meeting was called for Thursday, 8 P. M., and the Clerk was instructed to notify Mr. Pruitt to be present.
Adjournment: There being no further business, Council on motion duly made and seconded voted to adjourn.
Signed: W. A. Green
Clerk.