COUNCIL COMMITTEES

The Council Committees Meeting was held on April 26, 1999 at 7:00 p.m., with Council President Christiansen presiding. Members of Council present were Mr. Lambert, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Leary, Mr. Truitt, Mr. Carey, Mrs. Malone, Mr. Salters, Mr. Weller and Mayor Hutchison.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS

Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.

LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Legislative and Finance Committee met with Chairman Salters presiding. Members present were Councilman Leary, Councilwoman Malone, Mr. Gorman and Mr. Merritt.

Purchase of a Mid-Mount Articulated Boom Mower

Staff solicited bids for a Mid-Mount Articulated Boom Mower to replace the 1986 Terrain King Boom Mower in the Grounds Division. Funding for this purchase is available in the Grounds Division budget. The bids specified a trade-in, removal of the 1986 mower, and installation of the new boom mower on a 1986 Ford Tractor. Bids were received as follows:

                             Company                                              Boom Mower      Trade-In      Net Price

First State Ford New Holland, Inc. (Smyrna, DE)            $25,600            $3,600         $22,000

Rathell Farm Equipment Co., Inc. (Cordova, MD)           $25,649            $3,450         $22,199

Staff recommended awarding the bid to First State Ford New Holland, Inc. for $22,000, with a trade-in of the 1986 Terrain King Boom Mower.

Mr. Salters moved to recommend approval of staff’s recommendation, seconded by Mrs. Malone and unanimously carried.

Mr. Salters moved for adjournment, seconded by Mrs. Malone and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:05 P.M.

UTILITY COMMITTEE

The Utility Committee met with Chairman Lambert presiding. Members present were Councilmen Carey and Weller. Councilmen Salters and Truitt were deputized to serve in the absence of Mr. Farling and Mr. Kramedas.

Evaluation of Bids - FY 1999 Curb Replacement Program (Contract #99-01)

In conjunction with the City’s Capital Investments Plan, bids were solicited for the removal and replacement of approximately 2,900 linear feet of deteriorated curb and 46,890 square feet of miscellaneous concrete work on selected streets. Funding for the project is being provided through the State of Delaware Suburban Street Aid and the City’s Street Department budget. The following areas have been included in the program:

            Greenway at Silver Lake              Yearsley Drive                  Walker Road Sidewalk

            Hampton Drive                             Lost Tree Court                Ross Street

            Stonebrook Place                          Elderwood Square            Simon Circle

            (some additional small areas are also included in the program)

Bids were submitted by four (4) vendors, as follows:

                        Crystal Concrete, Inc. (Wilmington, DE)                   $179,502.00

                        Ralph Cahill & Son, Inc. (Smyrna, DE)                     $238,082.90

                        Davis Concrete, Inc. (Aberdeen, MD)                        $276,897.25

                        Shorts Enterprises, Inc. (Bear, DE)                            $290,212.60

Based on historical performance of the contractors, staff reviewed the two (2) lowest bids. Each year for the past three (3) years, the curb contract has delayed the paving program. Considering past experience, staff recommended awarding two (2) separate contracts for the FY 1999 Curb Replacement Program to Crystal Concrete, Inc. and Ralph Cahill & Son, Inc. The final contract amount of each contract will be based on the amount of work allocated by the Public Works Director to each contractor using their unit price bid. The total combined contract award is not to exceed $238,082.90 unless the bid quantities are altered by the City of Dover.

Responding to Mr. Lambert, Mr. O’Connor confirmed that much of the funding for this project comes from our local legislators, indicating that they have been instrumental in assuring that the City has had funding for the improvements that have been made to our streets, curbs, and sidewalks for the past several years. Mr. Lambert expressed appreciation to Senators Still and Bonini and Representatives Wagner and Stone for the financial support provided to the City towards this program.

In response to Mr. Lambert regarding the use of two (2) separate contracts, Mr. O’Connor explained that the City will primarily use the low bid contractor; however, if it becomes necessary, the City will have the ability to use the second lowest bid contractor. He stated that staff has explained the concept to each of the contractors. Crystal Concrete, Inc. has indicated assurance that the work will be performed within the necessary time frame and Ralph Cahill & Son, Inc. has agreed to assist if necessary.

Considering the State of Delaware’s Walker Road Sidewalk and Bikeway Enhancement Project, Mr. Leary referred to the Walker Road Sidewalk listed for this program and requested clarification. According to the City Planner, DelDOT will be responsible for sidewalk improvements on West Walker Road from Saulsbury Road to Kenton Road as a CIP project to be completed within four (4) years. The City will be responsible for sidewalk improvements between Saulsbury Road and the railroad tracks.

Mr. Carey relayed concern with the four (4) year time frame for DelDOT to complete the sidewalks. Since the City will be making sidewalk improvements between Saulsbury Road and the railroad tracks, he felt that for pedestrian safety purposes, DelDOT should be requested to expedite their portion of the sidewalk improvements.

Mr. O’Connor indicated the possibility of the City completing the sidewalk improvements, explaining that by participating in the Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Study, the City has been authorized to use State funding on these types of projects. Although this study was for the entire City, he stated that the Walker Road Corridor is one of the areas in most need of such improvements.

Mr. Carey moved to recommend approval of staff’s recommendation, seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.

Mrs. Malone advised members of recent concerns relayed by constituents regarding the Round About located on Mifflin Road. She reminded members that it was agreed by DelDOT officials and the residents in the area that a temporary Round About would be installed and if it was deemed successful, then a permanent Round About would be considered which would be more aesthetically pleasing than the temporary structure (Council Meeting of August 26, 1996). Although DelDOT officials and residents have indicated that the Round About is successful, to date, a permanent, more aesthetically pleasing structure has not been installed. Feeling that this project has been abandoned by DelDOT, Mrs. Malone suggested that the City correspond with DelDOT requesting that they take action to install a permanent, more aesthetically pleasing Round About as previously agreed.

Mrs. Malone moved to recommend that a letter be written to Mr. Bruce Littleton of DelDOT, under the signature of the Chairman of the Transportation Review Committee (Mr. Weller) to relay the concerns regarding the Round About located on Mifflin Road. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lambert and unanimously carried.

Mr. Salters moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Weller and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 P.M.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Robin R. Christiansen

                                                                                    Council President

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