City Council of the Mayor and Council of New Castle

Present:

Councilperson Donald Reese
Councilperson Janet Churchill
Councilperson John Gaworski, Jr.

Absent:

Council President William Blest
Councilperson Teel Petty

Also Present:

City Treasurer Janet Carlin, City Solicitor Roger Akin, City Administrator Cathryn Thomas, Lt. Adam Brams, Building Official Jeffrey Bergstrom

Approval of Minutes by Date

A motion was made Councilperson Churchill to accept the July 8 and August 12 Minutes as presented. It was seconded by Councilperson Gaworski and passed unanimously.

Approval of Treasurer’s Report

Janet Carlin reported that there was $400.00 in petty cash, $1,772,434.61 total deposits for the month, $498,845.33 in the Wilmington Trust Accounts, $1,816,737.97 in the Certificates of Deposit and Delaware Government Investment Pool and $2,315,583.30 total cash on hand. A motion was made by Councilperson Churchill to accept the report as presented and it was seconded by Councilperson Gaworski and passed unanimously.

Approval of City Administrator’s Report

Ms. Thomas stated that her report to Council was in their packets and invited Council and the public to a meeting for the Planning Commission for September 16 at 7 p.m. at the New Castle Middle School regarding the proposed updates to the Comprehensive Plan.

Approval of Staff Reports

Lt. Adam Brams stated that the Police report was in Council’s package. Lt. Brams also spoke of pending items the Police are working on. Further, Lt. Brams reported that the interviews for officers are finished and the Police have some candidates for consideration. Mr. Bergstrom stated that the Public Works report was also in Council’s packet.

Grant Review

Mrs. Churchill gave the grant information for the month of August. Monies received were $658.30 for the Salle Grant and $1,205.96 for the Law Enforcement Technology Grant. Expenditures for the month were $864.00 to Kercher Engineering and $99,645.06 to Stripe-A-Lot for MSAF, $78,609.20 to Stripe-A-Lot for Community Transportation, $3,638.00 to CB Joe TV & Appliances for SALLE S-14-08, $2,845.00 to Belfint Lyons & Shuman and $7,316.38 to Wm. Young Co. for Bellanca Hanger.

Communications

A letter was received from URS regarding the meeting on September 16 to discuss the Comprehensive Plan.

A Petition was forwarded to Council regarding a trash can and sign that were removed from the end of Harmony Street. The Petition was read by Councilperson Reese. Ms. Thomas discussed some of the issues raised in the Petition.

Councilperson Reese received a letter from a resident who is requesting a STOP sign at 3^rd and South Streets.

Ms. Thomas received a request for a subdivision for Riveredge Park. The letter was from William Rhodunda, an attorney representing Greggo & Ferrara. Mr. Rhondunda is requesting a special meeting since they are under a time constraint and cannot afford to wait until Council’s October meeting. The subdivision request has been approved by the Planning Commission. A special meeting will be held on September 22 at 5 p.m.

Business from the Floor (concerning agenda items only)

None.

Business from the Mayor

None.

Business from the Council President

None.

Unfinished Business

1. Discussion to Schedule a Public Hearing to consider a request for Rezoning a portion of 300 W. 7^th Street, Parcel No. 21-014.00-396, from IN Industrial to R-3 Residential; and to Amend the Comprehensive Plan concerning the area of the parcel requested for rezoning. A Public Hearing will be held on October 14 at 6:30 p.m., prior to Council’s next regular meeting.

New Business

1. Motion, Discussion and Vote on Resolution No. 2008-28, expressing the support of the City Council, on behalf of the Community of New Castle, to be included as part of a new National Park established by the Federal Government, and in particular urging the National Park Service and the Congress of the United States to establish the base of operations for a new National Park in Delaware in Downtown Historic New Castle. Councilperson Churchill read the Resolution. Councilperson Gaworski made a Motion to accept the Resolution. It was seconded by Councilperson Churchill and passed unanimously.

2. Comments from the floor. Mr. Herb Swanson asked Council about drainage in the vicinity of 9^th and Washington Streets. Mr. Swanson has requested Council look into this matter to decide who actually owns the paper street where the property is located. Ms. Thomas stated that she will follow up with Mr. Bergstrom regarding who put the pipe in across the street relative to the drainage. Ms. Thomas also stated that she would look into Mr. Swanson’s request regarding the opening of a street, paper or otherwise.

Mr. Erv Thatcher, who resides on 7^th Street, spoke on the amount of traffic on 7^th Street and the limited parking spaces on the street. Mr. Thatcher would like to see 7^th Street made one way from South Street to Delaware Street and requested that Council look into this matter.

Ms. Paula Stockton spoke about a house on Buttonwood Ave. that has not been given a number (address) as of yet. Mrs. Stockton’s home is located next to this property and is getting run off water from this property. Mrs. Stockton also spoke about the possible opening of the street from Collins Park into Buttonwood, and presented a petition in opposition to removing the barricade on Howell Drive, which restricts traffic from the Collins Park Subdivision from entering onto Buttonwood Avenue.

Mr. Bill Gatter spoke about the missing trash can and sign at end of Harmony Street. He would like the trash can and sign replaced.

Ms. Sandy Beale also spoke about the missing trash can. She would like to see it replaced.

Mr. John Cochran spoke about Mr. Swanson and his request regarding the paper road by 9^th Street. He also spoke about the trash can and sign and asked why it cannot be located in an alternate spot. The smell from animal waste disposed of in the can is extremely pungent and he cannot use his back yard because of the smell. He asked that it be moved a half block away.

Mr. Joseph DiAngelo suggested that a sign be put up that no animal waste should be permitted in the that particular trash can at the end of Harmony Street.

Mr. Jerome Pinkett spoke about the Howell Dr. situation and reported to Council on some of the issues he has had with the residents of Collins Park.

Mr. Ennio D’Alessandro asked why business licenses were issued to two businesses on 7^th Street where there is no parking, especially since residents have to have two parking spaces per residence. Mr. D’Alessandro would like some police enforcement regarding the traffic on 7^th Street.

Councilperson Reese proposed a public hearing for a STOP sign at 3^rd Street and for making 7th Street one way. The Public Hearings will be held on October 14 at 6 p.m.

3. Executive Session to discuss a matter of pending litigation.

A Motion was made by Councilperson Churchill to adjourn to Executive Session. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Gaworksi and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jill F. DiAngelo
City Clerk