City Council of the Mayor and Council of New Castle

Regular Council Meeting
Town Hall – 201 Delaware Street – New Castle
Tuesday – February 10, 2009 – 7 p.m.

Agenda

Roll Call
Approval of Minutes by Date: January 13 – Approved
Approval of Treasurer’s Report – Approved
Report from the City Administrator
Approval of Staff Reports – Approved
Grant Review
Communications
Business from the Floor (concerning agenda items only)
Business from the Mayor
Business from the Council President

Council President Blest asked that Chief McDerby address two issues:

Chief McDerby recounted the recent heroic actions of New Castle City Police Officer Robert Elliott Singleton, who responded under mutual aid to a fire call in the Jefferson Farms subdivision. Officer Singleton entered the burning house and was the chief force behind extricating a grandmother from the building, in a team effort with other emergency responders.

In a separate matter, Chief McDerby spoke about the untimely passing of New Castle resident and community activist Mr. Richard Evans. Mr. Evans was jogging on the pedestrian path in Battery Park on Sunday and collapsed. Mr. Evans’ community involvement included membership in the City’s Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) program.

Unfinished Business

1. Discussion to set a date for a second public hearing to consider amendments to Chapter 74 of the City Code entitled, “Tree Commission”, and the addition of a new Section to the City Code entitled, “Street Tree Ordinance”. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/5/09) – Public Hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24 at the Town Hall

   
   

2. Motion, Discussion and Vote on Resolution No. 2009-3, authorizing the Mayor to sign the “Certificate of Ownership” section of plans prepared for the Trustees of the New Castle Commons, for property at 401 South Street, which proposes to construct an addition to the Good Will Fire Company. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/5/09) – Approved

   
   

3. Discussion and review of the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update, including the remaining steps in the process, which also includes Public Hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/15/09) – Public Hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24 at the Town Hall

New Business

1. Motion, Discussion and Vote on a Resolution to Appoint an Absentee Ballot Clerk for the City Election to be held on April 18. (Council President Blest – posted: 2/2/09) – Approved appointment of Francis “Bud” Waraksa

   
   

2. Motion, Discussion and Vote on a Resolution approving a Vendor Permit for, “Dogs Gone Wild”, for the location of the Wharf area adjacent to Battery Park. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/15/09) – Approved

   
   

3. Motion, Discussion and Vote on a Resolution to Confirm the Mayor’s selection of a Planning Commission member, Florence Smith, to fulfill the unexpired term of Mr. Bernard Pinkett, term ending April 2011. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/29/09) – Approved

   
   

4. Discussion of items to be requested by the City for funding from the Trustees of the New Castle Commons. (Council President Blest – posted: 1/29/09) – Approved all items requested by Department Heads to be included on comprehensive City requested

   
   

5. Motion, Discussion and Vote on Resolution No. 2009-4, approving a new personnel policy to allow employees to donate sick time to one another in situations where an employee has a catastrophic illness or injury. (Councilperson Churchill – posted: 1/5/09) – Approved

   
   

6. Motion, Discussion and Vote on Resolution No. 2009-5, amending Resolution No. 2007-14, approved by the City Council on July 10, 2007, approving transfer to the Trustees of the New Castle Commons the Banks Building on the Wharf at the end of Delaware Street. (Councilperson Reese – posted: 2/3/09) – Tabled

   
   

7. Motion, Discussion and Vote on Resolution No. 2009-6, approving a budget transfer for the Police Department. (Councilperson Churchill – posted: 2/4/09) – Approved

   
   

8. Discussion of Verizon Cable Franchise negotiations. (Council President Blest – posted: 2/4/09) – City Council members to review information from City’s Special Counsel Dan Cohen and to decided on response in final round of negotiations with Verizon

   
   

9. Comments from the floor.

   
   

10. Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.

Next Regular Meeting Date: March 10, 2009

Note: This agenda as listed may not be considered in sequence and is subject to addition and deletion of items, including executive sessions.