SPECIAL MEETING

April 27, 1959

The special meeting of City Council was held Monday, April 27, 1959, at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Haman presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs Carroll, Fromm, Hayes, Holpp, Mundy and Turner.

The invocation was said by Rev. Robert Duke.

MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting of April 13 and April 23 were accepted as read and bore the written approval of Mayor Haman.

CURB DEPRESSIONS

Salome D. Edgeworth requested permission to depress the curb at 34 S. State Street for a driveway entrance. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Hayes, the request was denied.

Carlton Walls requested permission to depress the curb on Division Street east of Governors Avenue for an entrance to a parking lot. On motion of Mr. Holpp, seconded by Mr. Mundy, the request was denied.

BUSINESS AND SIGN

Service Realty Company had requested approval of the erection of a sign 36"x55" on a house at S. State and Elm Terrace in which Andrew Foltz proposed to open an insurance office. The area is residential and on the approach to Dover Green. The Planning Commission had considered the matter and recommended rejection of the request. On motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Holpp, the request was denied.

LETTERS

A letter from the Friends of Old Dover expressed approval of the action of Council in providing and retaining park area on the lot of the former Schooley property and on a present City-owned lot on Division Street.

A letter from the Dover Knights of Columbia forwarded to Council a copy of a resolution to the Library Commission requesting that a referendum election be held for the purpose of providing funds to erect a modern library and pledging support. Mr. Ward will acknowledge the letter.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Utility Committee will be held Friday, May 1, 1959 at 7:30 P.M.

ORDINANCE

On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Holpp, Council be unanimous vote adopted the following ordinance:

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE PARKING OF CERTAIN VEHICLES ON THE EASTERLY SIDE OF STATE STREET IN THE CITY OF DOVER.

Section 1. No person, firm or corporation shall park, allow or cause to be parked any vehicle, whether motor driven or otherwise of any kind, nature or description whatsoever upon that section of State Street beginning approximately 60 feet south of the southeasterly curb intersection of North Street and State Street within the City of Dover and running thence southerly a distance of approximately 46 feet, which space formerly comprised the first two metered parking areas on the easterly side of State Street immediately south of the intersection with State Street and North Street, which places are presently marked with appropriate signs.

Section 2. The provisions of Section 1 above shall not apply to the parking of vehicles by duly authorized peace officers of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof, when such a peace officer shall park in the aforementioned space, pursuant to official business.

Section 3. Whoever shall violate the provisions of Section 2 above shall be fined not more than $10.00 and/or be imprisoned for not more than 10 days.

Passed April 27, 1959

SEWAGE PROBLEMS

Council discussed sewage problems of Dover and surrounding and received reports from Dr. Joel Kaplovsky, Delaware Water Pollution Commission, and from Alfred A. Estrada, Engineer of Albright & Friel, Inc., Consulting Engineers. Also present were Donald K. Harmeson and Leon Davidson of the State Board of Health and Dr. Maynard H. Mires, Kent County Health Officer. Mr. Estrada was assisted by Mr. Keen. Dr. Kaplovsky spoke on a recent study made of the St. Jones River and excessive proportion of solids found in the effluent from the Dover Sewage Treatment Plant. Much of the overloading at the plant could be corrected by controlling by ordinance the volume and concentration of sewage which Dover allows to enter its sewers. Lack of such control would mean the expenditure of large sums for enlargement of the sewage plant. The flow of aw sewage into St. Jones River by way of Tar Ditch had been eliminated, but the addition of a primary settling tank will still be required to handle the present and some additional load. Mr. Estrada spoke to council on the study made by Albright & Friel of Dover’s sewage problems and presented a map illustration of Dover’s sewer system with drainage areas and future needs. The estimated cost of the primary settling tank is $30,400. He concurred in the need for control of sewage permitted to enter the system and observed that Dover needed to be tough in this respect. He presented a study of sewer rates developed form depreciation, interest on investment, and operation costs. Dr. Mires spoke on the need for extension of sewer facilities to the Edgehill shopping area. Sewer requirements of the Rodney Village shopping center was also discussed together with methods of controlling sewer extensions in housing developments so that Dover might effectively limit the load which enters its sewer system. Following full discussion, on motion of Mr. Fromm, seconded by Mr. Hayes, Council referred the following items to the Utility Committee for study and recommendation:

Preparation of an ordinance on control of industrial wastes which will be permitted to enter Dover’s sewer system;

The construction of a primary settling tank, with the possible use of Federal funds;

Sewer Rates.

DIVISION AND FOREST STREETS

Councilman Hayes brought to the attention of Council the agreement between Dover and the State Highway Department on the reconstruction of Division and Forest Streets and the recent news article which indicated the Department was about to terminate the construction contract leaving a portion of Forest Street and the Loockerman Street intersection unfinished. He asked whether the City had the right under its agreement to require the Highway Department to complete the entire project. The present delay has been caused by a dispute with M. A. Hartnett Inc. over right-of-way and property lines, on which a court decision has not yet been reached. Mr. Fromm observed that the rights of all citizens of Dover were involved and thought that Council should take some direct action in the matter. On motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Carroll, Council directed the City Solicitor to write a letter to the State Highway Department requesting that they complete the entire project involving Forest and Division Street; and further directed the City Solicitor to intercede of behalf of the City of Dover in the civil trial involving the State Highway Department and M. A. Hartnett.

Council adjourned at 11:55 P.M.

F. Neylan

City Clerk

All ordinances, resolutions and orders adopted by City Council at its meeting of April 27, 1959 are hereby approved.

                                                                                                                                                            

April 29, 1959                                                                                     W. Edward Haman

                                                                                                                            Mayor