REGULAR MEETING

                                                                                                                        October 13, 1947

The Regular Meeting of City Council was held on Monday, October 13^th. The meeting was called to order at 7:50 P.M., with Vice-Mayor presiding. Mayor Woodford arrived shortly after the meeting was in session and took the chair. members present were: Mrs. Frear, Messrs. Keith, Hartnett, Mikell, Wright, Carson, and Vane.

Minutes

The minutes of the last regular meeting and two special meetings were read by the Acting City Clerk and were approved as read.

City Manager’s Report

Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Vane, the City Manager’s report was accepted as read.

Chief of Police’s Report

Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Carson, the report of the Chief of Police was accepted as read.

Alderman’s Report

The Alderman’s Report for the month of August was presented, with a report of fines collected amounting to $417.75.

The Alderman’s report for the month of September was presented, with a report of fines collected amounting to $1,033.55. Checks for the two amounts respectively were turned over to the City Manager. Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Vane, these reports were accepted as read.

Salary for Mr. McGinnis

Mr. Dempsey, President of the Robbins Hose Company, requested the payment of the salary of Mr. Herman McGinnis, acting in the capacity of custodian of the fire house during the two weeks’ vacation time of the regular custodians, be paid in the amount of $35.00 per week in addition to his regular pension salary of $21.00 per week. This matter was brought before City Council for their disposition. Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Wright, this matter was referred to Mr. Brown, City Manager for his disposition.

Auditor’s Report

The report of the audit made by Mack & Company for the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, was presented to Council by City Manager Brown. Upon motion of Mr. Hartnett, seconded by Mr. Keith, this report was approved and the City Manager was authorized to have it published in the local newspapers, as is the yearly custom.

Upon motion of Mr. Hartnett, seconded by Mr. Carson, the Recreation Account in the amount of $159.00 was ordered transferred to the General Fund Account as of June 30, 1946. This action was taken at the request of Mack & Company who stated that they could find no authorization for this action which had taken place.

Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Frear, the City Treasurer was directed to reconcile the payroll Account, a duty which he heretofore did not perform.

Vacations

Upon motion of Mr. Vane, seconded by Mr. Hartnett, Council voted to discontinue the practice established during he war years of allowing employees to take vacation pay in lieu of taking time off. This regulation is to become effective January 1, 1948.

Parking Meters

Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Frear, the City Manager was authorized to enter into a contract for the placing of parking meters on both sides of Loockerman Street between State Street and Queen Street. This contract is to be formulated on the basis that the company receiving the contract will install the meters, and will be paid for these meters at the rate of seventy-five percent (75%) of the receipt (the City to retain the other twenty-five percent (25%)), until the cost of the meters has been liquidated.

Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mrs. Frear, the City Manager was authorized to enter into a contract for the placing of parking meters on both sides of Loockerman Street between State Street and Queen Street. This contract is to be formulated on the basis that the company receiving the contract will install the meters, and will be paid for these meters at the rate of seventy-five percent (75%) of the receipt (the City to retain the other twenty-five percent (25%)), until the cost of the meters has been liquidated.

Christmas Lighting

Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Keith, it was decided to install Christmas lights and decorations on the streets of Dover, the same as was done last year. City Manager Brown was instructed to get prices on laurel roping.

Beauty Shop On North Bradford Street

Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Vane, Mrs. Louise Hughes’ request for a beauty shop at her home at 223 North Bradford Street was granted. This request had been published in two issues of the local papers, according to the City Charter, and no complaints were received by Council.

Permission for State College to use Ball Park for Football Game

Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Carson, the State College for Colored Students was granted permission to use the Dover Ball park for a football game to be held on Saturday, November 8, 1947.

Trees

Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Hartnett, the City Manager was authorized to contract for the removal of six (6) trees in the City which are in bad condition, in order to determine an average cost of removal per tree.

Request for No Parking Space

The Delaware News Company requested no parking space in front of their business place on South New Street. Council decided not to grant this permit.

Electric Line Extension on Salisbury Rd.

A request for an electric line extension of about nine-tenths of a mile on the Salisbury Road was presented by Mr. Brown. He stated that there were ten potential customers along this line, and the approximate cost of running the extension would be $4,250.00. This matter was deferred until a later date.

Contracts with Delaware Power & Light Company and International Latex Corporation

No action was taken on these contracts. The matter for deferred for a special meeting at a later date.

Robbins Hose Company Request for Set of Tires

A request was presented by Mr. Brown from the Robbins Hose Co. for a new set of tires and tubes for their fire truck #5, at a cost of $150.00. This matter was referred to the City Manager for disposition.

Fill Along Tar Ditch

A request was approved by City Council to use clean trash to fill in along the south side of the interceptor sewer which runs along Tar Ditch, this fill to be started just east of State Street.

Acting City Clerk for Month of October

Upon motion of Mr. Hartnett, seconded by Mrs. Frear, Miss Ruth Scotton was appointed Acting City Clerk for the month of October, the rate of her pay for that month to e that of City Clerk.

City Manager Appointed

Upon motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Hartnett, Mr. Charles C. Brown, Acting City Manager was appointed City Manager at the rate of $5,000.00 per year. Mr. Brown did not accept this appointment. Upon motion of Mr. Carson, seconded by Mr. Hartnett, thismotion was rescinded.

Upon motion of Mr. Mikell, seconded by Mr. Hartnett, Mr. Brown was appointed City Manager at the rate of $5,000.00 per year for a six months’ probation period, retroactive to August 22, 1947, at which time he took office as Acting City Manager, with the understanding that if his services are satisfactory to Council at the end of the six months, his salary will then be increased to $6,000.00 per year.

Council adjourned at 10:15 P.M.

Singed:           Ruth Scotton

                        Acting City Clerk