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Mayor and City Council of New Castle Roll Call Present: Council President Blest Others present: Mayor Klingmeyer, Treasurer Janet Carlin, Marian C. Delaney, Finance/HR Manager, Police Chief Kevin McDerby, David Athey of URS and Tony DiTomasso and Kevin Broadhurst of Comcast Council President Blest convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and led those assembled in the pledge of allegiance. Approval of Minutes to Date Councilman DiMondi moved to accept the Minutes of the November Council meeting as submitted. It was seconded by Councilman Reese. Motion passed unanimously. Approval of Treasurer’s Report Janet Carlin stated that the Total Petty Cash on Hand was $290.00, Total Monthly Deposits were $205,847.46, and Total Cash in the Wilmington Trust Accounts was $421,101.39, Total Certificates of Deposit and De. Government Investment Pool was $1,331,244.44 and the Total Cash on Hand was $1,752,345.83. Councilman Reese moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted. It was seconded by Councilwoman Churchill. Motion passed unanimously. Approval by Date of Director’s Report Finance/HR Report Grant Review Councilman DiMondi spoke of the following grants that have been applied for: 1. C3 US Smokeless Tobacco Company–An application has been submitted by the Public Safety Department requesting a Polaris Ranger 6 x 6 Utility Vehicle. The application was in response to the U.S. Smokeless Company’s 2006 application for their Polaris Ranger Donation Program. 2. C6 State of Delaware Department of Public Safety–An application has been submitted by the Public Safety Department requesting funds in the amount of $7,326.40 from the Emergency Illegal Drug Enforcement Program. 3. B4 Delaware Emergency Management Agency– The City has requested reimbursement of $5,000.00 under the Homeland Security Grant Program for the previous purchase of a Ricoh 240 wide format plotter/copier/scanner. 4. A1 Save America’s Treasures–A meeting will be held on 12/13/06 at the Public Safety Community Room with DelDot to discuss a request for $300,000.00 grant for the restoration of the Bellanca hanger. Councilman DiMondi spoke on the following grants that Mayor & Council has received:
2. C5 State Aid to Local Law Enforcement–An application has been submitted for $11,331.13 for the purchase of equipment in the amount of $4,445.00 to cover 180 hours of overtime for special investigations and drug enforcement. 3. Delaware Emergency Management Agency–The City’s
application for a grant in the amount of $23,750.00 from the 2005
Homeland Security Grant Program has been approved for the purchase
of laptops. 5. Fiscal Year 2006 Law Enforcement Technology & Education Fund–The Public Safety Department has requested a $4,800.00 reimbursement for line costs for the mobile data terminals. 6. State of Delaware Department of Justice–The application of the Special Law Enforcement Assistance Funds to purchase 8 digital cameras and related equipment has been approved. The City received the check in the amount of $9,439.20 and the equipment was purchased from Taylor Supply Co. 7. State of Delaware Department of Transportation–The City has received $79,688.47 (reimbursement for expended funds) from the Department of Transportation as reimbursement for money expended for the paving of 9th St. from Gray St. to Washington St. 8. Tree Survey–The City was approved for $20,000.00 from DNREC to conduct GPS of street and City park trees. The GPS and software cost is approximately $6,323.87 and the funds are being administered by URS, the City’s engineering firm. To date, the work has been completed and there is approximately $5,000.00 of the grant remaining. 9. State of Delaware Department of Transportation–DE. Department of Transportation has agreed to transfer $28,000.00 to the City for the Buttonwood Drainage Project. The City will reimburse the New Castle County Conservation District up to $28,000.00 for work performed on this project. The New Castle County Conservation District has also obtained $11,000.00 from New Castle County Special Services to help with the project. Once the drawing and plans are completed, the Conservation District will advertise for bids and the project should begin in late 2005 or early 2006. To date, $3,903.58 has been reimbursed. 10. State of Delaware Community Redevelopment Fund–The City has expended $15,374.16 on the Western Gateway Landscape Enhancement Project and has received $6,149.66 Communications None. Business from the Floor Resident Joseph DiAngelo asked about #2 on Council’s agenda, a request from David Sills for a Plus Program waiver to start work on the Charter School. Council President Blest stated that this item was being tabled and, therefore, discussion on this item should also be tabled. Business from the Mayor None. Business from Council President Council President Blest stated that someone in attendance at the last Council meeting felt that Mr. Ciro Moran was not treated fairly at the last meeting. Council President Blest stated that he, along with Chief McDerby, Mayor Klingmeyer and Jeff Bergstrom met with Mr. Moran to address his concerns and felt that the City was helping Mr. Moran with his complaints. Unfinished Business Council President Blest stated that Mr. Glenn Steckmann,
whom the City offered the City Administrator position to, informed
Council that he is declining their offer. Council discussed how to
best handle this situation and Councilwoman Churchill made a Motion
that Council New Business 5. Discussion and Acceptance of Comcast Agreement. Mr. Tony DiTomasso of Comcast gave a short speech regarding the Comcast Agreement. A Motion was made to pass Resolution 2005-30. Councilwoman Churchill seconded the Motion and the Resolution was passed. 1.Discussion and approval to solicit bids for recording
microphone system for Town Hall. Council felt that the City needs
to update their technology and a short discussion ensued. Councilman
Reese made a Motion that the City solicit bids for the new system.
Councilwoman Churchill seconded the Motion and it was passed unanimously. 3. Appointment of Alvin Hopkins to the Housing Board
of Appeals. Council President Blest stated that the ordinance states
that the Chairman of the Appeals Board must be a certified engineer.
Mr. Hopkins is a certified engineer and was willing to be named to
the Board. Councilman Reese made a Motion that Mr. Hopkins be named
to the Board of Appeals. Councilwoman Churchill seconded the Motion
and it was passed unanimously. 6. Motion to create a special City Committee to be known as “The Land Use Sub-Committee”. Councilman Reese made a Motion to accept. Councilman DiMondi seconded the Motion as it was passed unanimously. 7. Discussion and Motion to send Parkway Gravel application for rezoning parcel #021-016.00-003 to the Planning Commission for their recommendation. Councilman Reese made a Motion to accept. Councilwoman Churchill seconded the Motion as it was passed unanimously. 8. Approval to hire a temporary Public Works Department employee to the full time position of Laborer 1A. Currently the department has 2 part time employees and Councilwoman Petty requested that one be hired to the full time position. Councilman DiMondi stated that there can only be one full time employee or two part time employees, therefore, if one of the employees is promoted to full time, the part time employee would have to be let go. Councilwoman Petty agreed to that condition. A vote was taken on the matter. (Reese, Churchill, Petty, DiMondi–yes. Blest–no.) Marian C. Delaney suggested to Council that the temporary worker could be made permanent as of January 1, 2006 with the 2nd temporary worker staying on to assist the Public Works department thru the holiday season. Council accepted the suggestion.
10. Discussion on winterizing the Banks Building. Councilwoman Churchill stated that the Trustees will pay for the heat, fix the doors and windows and that the N.C. Jaycees contributed $500.00 towards the heating expenses. 11. Discussion to accept revised street repairs list. Since there is not enough money to repair Center Point, Council was asked to revise the list of streets in the City to be repaired. Councilwoman Petty requested that Council members submit their lists to her within the next few days. Comments from the Floor Tom Whitehead had comments regarding the Board of Adjustments
and that there are guidelines that the Board must follow. Respectfully submitted,
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