REGULAR MEETING

December 13, 1950

The regular meeting of City Council was held Wednesday, December 13, 1950 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Storey presiding. Members present were Councilmen Carroll, Culver, Lofland, Mikell, Petty, Smith and Wilson.

MINUTES

Minutes of the last regular and special meetings were accepted as read.

REPORTS

Report of the City Manager for November 1950 was accepted as read.

Report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.

Report of the City Alderman was accepted as read. A check in the amount of $596.90 was remitted to the City. A check was remitted to the City by Magistrate Maurice W. Carrow of Camden in the amount of $40.85 for fines and jail fees collected.

JAMES J. BEHEN SR.

Mayor Storey expressed the sincere regret of City Council and himself at the death of Councilman James J. Behen Sr. The City Solicitor, City Manager, City Clerk and Councilmen Petty, Lofland, Carroll and Lofland were appointed a committee to draft a resolution to the Behen family expressing the sentiments of the Mayor and Council.

BICYCLE ORDINANCE

Messrs George Hess and Charles C. Brown, representing the Advisory Committee of the Dover Council of Education presented to Council a proposed ordinance regulating the use of bicycles within the City of Dover. The ordinance was referred to the City Solicitor for study and report to Council.

BALL PARK EQUIPMENT FOR DOVER ATHLETIC FIELD

Messrs Reed and Ward, representing the Dover Special District School Board, requested City Council to donate to the School Board for use at the new athletic field of the High School, the lights, poles, bleachers and stands now in disuse at the Dover Baseball Park. Council granted the request of the School Board, but required in exchange that the School Board leave the Baseball park in a cleared and clean condition, completely enclosed by the present fence, which fence the School Board shall erect and repair where needed. The Clerk was directed to so notify the School Board.

EXTENSION OF MINIMA STREET

City Manager Agner reported on the cost of extending Minima Street from Hazletville Road to Forest Street as requested by Mrs. Verna G. Davis. Council directed that Mrs. Davis be notified that the street could not be extended because City finances did not warrant the expense in view of other more immediate needs of the City.

ELECTION OF FIRE CHIEFS

City Council elected the following unopposed nominees of the Robbins Hose Company:

                                    Ralph H. Boyer                       Chief Engineer

                                    Samuel F. Heite                      First Assistant

                                    William A. Hayes                   Second Assistant

CITY ASSESSOR

Council appointed Thomas E. Baker City Assessor for the year 1951.

BUILDING INSPECTOR

Council appointed Thomas E. Baker Building Inspector for the year 1951.

ELM TERRACE ALLEY

City Manager Agner reported on the cost of opening an alley on the south side of Elm Terrace as petitioned by residents of that street. Council tabled the petition.

ELECTION COMMITTEE

City Alderman Conrad and Councilmen Wilson and Culver were appointed a committee to conduct the regular municipal election to be held Monday, January 15, 1951.

RESOLUTION

By unanimous vote of all members present, Council adopted the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that all provisions of the Election Laws of the State of Delaware insofar as they are applicable or may be adapted, and all rules and regulations which may lawfully be made thereunder by the Election Officials of the City of Dover and are not inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of the Charter of the City of Dover, are hereby adopted to govern the City election to be held on Monday, January 15, 1951, and

Adopted this 13^th day of December, A.D. 1950.

Clerk

AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER

The City Solicitor was directed to prepare for study, an amendment to the City Charter defining the taxable year.

The City Solicitor was directed to prepare for study a amendment to the Charter authorizing the City to borrow an additional $50,000 in any one year, by the issuance of short term notes payable in one to five years.

ORDINANCE

By unanimous vote of all members present, Council passed the following ordinance.

Be It Ordained By The Council Of The City Of Dover In Council Met:

Section 1. Any resident of the City of Dover who fails to pay the taxes levied by the City of Dover on or before the 31^st day of December of the year in which said taxes are levied shall be regarded as delinquent in the payment of said taxes and shall not be entitled to vote at the regular municipal election which shall be held in the month of January next thereafter.

Approved:                                                                                                       

Clerk

VERA DAVIS FARM * ELECTRIC LINE REBATE

Mrs. Vera Davis requested City Council to rebate a portion of the cost to here of installing an electric line serving buildings on her farm located on the nine-foot road below Pickering Beach and to relocate a pole now situated on the highway near a grove of trees on her farm. Council tabled the request.

ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT ORDINANCE

Council directed the City Manager and City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance regulating customer payments and deposits and the discontinuance of electric service.

CITY TREASURER

Council declared the position of City Treasurer vacant, because of the physical inability of C. Burton Sypherd to serve. Mrs. Isabel Sypherd was elected to fill the unexpired term.

Council adjourned at 10:50 P.M.

City Clerk