REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of Council was held on July 22, 1985 at 7:30 p.m. with Mayor Carroll presiding. Members present were Messrs. Richter, Ambruso, Boaman, Bulley, Christiansen, Witt, Weyandt and Shevock.
The invocation was given by the Reverend J.H. Williams, Council Chaplain.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Boaman requested additional agenda items for an executive session to discuss personnel matters and an item concerning the City Auditor.
Mayor Carroll requested three additional items under correspondence related to Storer Cable Television progress report, Kent County Levy Court joint meeting, and an informational letter from the National League of Cities.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 8, 1985
The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 8, 1985 were unanimously approved by motion of Mr. Witt, seconded by Mr. Weyandt and bore the written approval of Mayor Carroll.
PROCLAMATION - SOCIAL SECURITY - 50TH ANNIVERSARY MONTH
Mayor Carroll issued the following Proclamation:
WHEREAS, for fifty years, Social Security has provided essential income and services to the people of this country, the State of Delaware, Kent County, and the City of Dover; and
WHEREAS, Social Security has grown and changed to meet the changing needs of our population. It continues to work as an integral part of our society by paying benefits to retired and disabled workers, and their families and survivors, by insuring younger workers against the risks of death and disability, and by providing services that foster independence for our citizens; and
WHEREAS, this program must continue in order to assure the income security of our citizens in the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CRAWFORD J. CARROLL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF AUGUST 1985 AS
"SOCIAL SECURITY 50TH ANNIVERSARY MONTH"
in the City of Dover and urge our government to reaffirm its support for this essential legislation, which is the cornerstone of our national commitment to the old and young alike.
PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 1985
Mayor Carroll issued the following Proclamation:
WHEREAS, the National Town Watch Association is sponsoring a special, coast-to-coast community crime prevention project on the evening of August 13, 1985 called "National Night Out"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dover plays an essential role assisting the Dover Police Department through it's cooperative crime prevention efforts in the City of Dover and is supporting "National Night Out" locally; and
WHEREAS, it is important that all citizens in the City of Dover be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and the positive impact that their participation can have on reducing crime in our neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, "National Night Out" provides an opportunity for the City of Dover to join together with hundreds of other communities across the country in cooperative crime prevention efforts; and
WHEREAS, neighborhood spirit and cooperation is the theme of the "National Night Out" project and is also the key ingredient in helping the Dover Police Department to fight crime.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CRAWFORD J. CARROLL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE, do hereby call upon all of the citizens of the City of Dover to join the National Town Watch Association in supporting and participating in "National Night Out" on August 13th.
FURTHER, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT I, CRAWFORD J. CARROLL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DOVER, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, August 13, 1985 as "NATIONAL NIGHT OUT" in the City of Dover.
RESOLUTION - RALPH H. BOYER
By motion of Mr. Christiansen, seconded by Mr. Witt, Council unanimously adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Ralph H. Boyer was elected mascot by the Members of the Robbins Hose Company in 1929 at age 15, and he became a probationary member in 1935 and a life member in 1936; and
WHEREAS, Ralph H. Boyer served as Fire Chief of the Robbins Hose Company from 1949 until 1953, and was elected President in 1962 and held that office until 1964; and
WHEREAS, Ralph H. Boyer has dedicated a major part of his life toward fire prevention, not only with the Robbins Hose Company, but has also served as Fire Chief of the Dover Air Force Base; State Fire Commissioner for the State of Delaware; past President of the Kent County Fire Chiefs Association; and President Emeritus of the Delaware Volunteer Firemens Association; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Dover wish to recognize these outstanding volunteer services that Ralph H. Boyer has contributed to the Robbins Hose Company and the Dover community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER IN COUNCIL MET:
1. The City of Dover hereby extend their deep appreciation to Ralph H. Boyer for his 56 years of dedicated service in the Robbins Hose Company.
2. The Mayor and Council of the City of Dover direct the City Clerk to make this Resolution a part of the permanent records of the City of Dover.
ADOPTED: July 22, 1985
REZONING - PUBLIC HEARING - PROPERTY LOCATED ON SOUTHEAST CORNER OF RIVER EXTENDED, AGNES WILLEY ESTATE - (APPLICATION WITHDRAWN)
A public hearing, set for this date, to rezone property located on the southeast corner of River Road Extended, owned by the Agnes Willey Estate, was withdrawn by the applicant. The present zoning is R-10 and the proposed zoning was C-4.
Correspondence from the State Department of Transportation noted that River Road Extended is a private road from which development would have no access.
MONTHLY REPORTS - JUNE
Questioned by Mr. Weyandt, Mr. Bartolotta reported that the ID fans for unit #3 turbine were sent to Philadelphia for repairs. It is expected that the motors will be returned to the Power Plant later this week.
During start-up of turbine #3 which has been undergoing maintenance, tightness in the packing seals was discovered and a vibration developed. Therefore, the unit was shut down. After adjustments to the turbine, it is expected that the unit will be put back on the line on July 23, 1985 at a 50% load. After installation of the repaired ID fans, the load on unit #3 will be increased.
Mr. Witt noted the possibility of a surplus in the 1984/85 fiscal year budget and moved that this matter be referred to the Legislative and Finance Committee for discussion on a concept that the surplus will be credited to the Contingency Fund. The amount of the surplus will be subject to the results of the final audit report and uncollectible receivables. The motion was seconded by Mr. Weyandt and unanimously carried.
Questioned by Mr. Weyandt, Mr. Bartolotta advised that the Sewer Department budget was over by approximately $30,000. This is due to expenses that were incurred for tappings and repairs of the sewer lines. Only $6,000 was budgeted for sewer taps and $17,000 was expended. This was mainly due to new development and is recovered through miscellaneous billings in the Water and Sewer accounts.
There was an overage of approximately $18,000 in the line item, Sewer System Supplies, which was due to unexpected repairs to a manhole on Route #8 and a sewer line break on the Konschak property. Concerning unaccounted-for water consumption, Mr. Weyandt suggested that the matter be referred to the Utility Committee for review in an attempt to correct the system losses.
By motion of Mr. Witt, seconded by Mr. Weyandt, the following reports for the month of June were unanimously approved:
Chief of Police Report
Building Inspector and Fire Marshal Report
City Alderman Report
City Manager Report
J.P. Court #7 Report
General Fund, Cash Receipts Report
General Fund, Budget Report
Water/Sewer Fund, Revenue Report
Water/Sewer Fund, Budget Report
Inter-Governmental Service Fund, Revenue & Budget Report
Electric Revenue Fund, Revenue Report
Electric Revenue Fund, Budget Report
Improvement and Extension Fund, Cash Receipts & Budget Report
Municipal Street Aid Fund, Cash Receipts & Budget Report
Parking Fund Cash Receipts 6 Budget Report
Police Grants Cash Receipts & Budget Report
LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Legislative and Finance Committee met on July 10, 1985 at 7:30 p.m. with Chairman Boaman presiding.
Insurance Update - Amendment to 1985/86 Fiscal Year Budget
Mr. Boaman reported that a number of departments have requested copies of the 1985/86 budget but this cannot be accomplished until amendments have been approved in the Workmen's Compensation accounts.
Relating to a necessary amendment to the electric budget, Mr. Boaman explained that $1,500 is budgeted annually in the Mayor and Council budget to cover electric energy use by the Little League. Metering of the Little League fields has been modified and since modification, it was found that electric usage far exceeds the $1,500. This year's budget reflects a sum of $3,000 for electric energy.
The committee recommended that the energy use of the Little League fields be charged as an appropriation from the Electric Department which involves an amendment to the electric budget. In addition, the committee recommended that the $3,000 shown in the Mayor and Council budget for 1985/86 fiscal year be deleted.
Mr. Boaman moved that the following budgets be amended by ordinance, seconded by Mr. Shevock and carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
General Fund, Cash Receipts and Budget for 1985/86
By motion of Mr. Boaman, seconded by Mr. Weyandt, Council by unanimous roll call vote adopted the following ordinance:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:
1. The previously adopted amount aggregating Six Million, Five Hundred Seventy Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Six Dollars ($6,570,486) for use by the several departments of the Municipal Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1985 and ending June 30, 1986 is to be amended to be the aggregate of Six Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Four Hundred Ninety Six Dollars ($6,577,496), to be distributed as follows:
Cash Receipts ADOPTED BUDGET REVISED
BUDGET AMEND. BUDGET
Items
Paramedic Fees $ 98,530 $ - - - $ 98,530 Fines and Police Revenue 164,000 - - - 164,000
Franchise Fees 77,740 - - - 77,740
Interest Earnings 241,000 - - - 241,000
Library Revenues 16,400 - - - 16,400
Licenses and Permits Fees 450,000 - - - 450,000
Miscellaneous Service Charges 37,000 - - - 37,000
Parking Fees 5,000 - - - 5,000
Police Extra Duty Fees 29,340 - - - 29,340
Property Taxes 2,545,330 - - - 2,545,330
Recreation Revenue 20,450 - - - 20,450
Revenue Fund Appropriation 2,000,000 - - - 2,000,000
Senior Surrey Fees 15,960 - - - 15,960
Water/Sewer Fund 46,000 - - - 46,000
Beginning Balance 89,570 9,556 96,580
Grants:
Ambulance Related 2,250 - - - 2,250
Municipal Street Aid 301,250 - - - 301,250
Recreation Related 10,000 - - - 10,000
Revenue Sharing 187,250 - - - 187,250
Senior Surrey 97,360 - - - 97,360
Transfer from Contingency Fund 136,056 136,056
Total $6,570,486 $ 9,556 $6,577,496
Budget Summary
Department
Tax Assessor $ 93,910 $ (31) $ 93,879
Fire 236,410 (1,011) 235,399
Community Service - Administration 65,210 (129) 65,081
Library 278,870 1,857 280,727
Paramedic 312,820 (2,941) 309,879
Recreation 85,640 (44) 85,596
Fire Marshal 25,480 (30) 25,450
Health Inspection 29,260 (32) 29,228
Planning Commission 56,530 - - - 56,530
Public Inspections 185,390 (345) 185,045
Police 2,726,010 (33,951) 2,692,059
Streets 666,462 (2,666) 663,796
Sanitation 494,601 (1,831) 492,770
Senior Surrey 168,990 (11099) 167,891
Allocated:
City Clerk/Treasurer 73,630 (65) 73,565
Mayor and Council 27,315 (2,546) 24,769
Grounds 224,608 (1,400) 223,208
City manager 129,059 55,105 184,164
Data Processing 41,260 (23) 41,237
Finance 160,867 (90) 160,777
Public Works - Administration 37,462 (29) 37,433
Building Maintenance 133,567 (729) 132,838
Public Works - Engineering 38,422 (37) 38,385
Central Services 5,747 (43) 5,704
Vehicle Maintenance 123,286 (1,880) 122,406
Debt Service 149,680 - - - 149,680
Total $6,570,486 $ 9,556 $6,577,496
2. The City Manager is hereby authorized without further approval of the City Council to make inter-departmental transfers of up to 10% of the amount hereinafter appropriated to any department.
ADOPTED: JULY 22, 1985
Internal Service Fund, Revenue and Budget for 1985/86
By motion of Mr. Boaman, seconded by Mr. Weyandt, Council by unanimous roll call vote adopted the following ordinance:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL MET:
1. The amounts previously adopted aggregating Two Million, One Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($2,116,000) for the use by the several departments of the Municipal Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1985 and ending June 30, 1986 is to be amended to the aggregate of Two Million, Two Hundred Sixty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Six ($2,264,826), to be distributed as follows:
Revenue ADOPTED BUDGET REVISED
BUDGET AMEND. BUDGET
Items
General Fund $ 995,223 $ 51,809 $1,044,486
Water/Sewer Fund 366,888 23,091 830,514
Electric Revenue Fund 753,889 76,926 389,826
Total $2,116,000 $ 151,826 $2,264,826
Budget Summary
Department
City Clerk/Treasurer $ 86,620 $ (73) $ 86,547