Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting
A meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on Monday, September 12, 2005 at Warner Elementary School. Twenty-two persons were present at the start of the meeting, and another ten joined while the meeting was in progress.
1. Due to some school renovations, the meeting was held in Warner School Cafeteria.
2. President Meg Hudson called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
3. Meg welcomed everyone after the summer.
4. Councilman Norm Griffiths, District 2, gave a report. The details of the report follow:
a. Council works through summer.
b. Some bond issues were considered.
c. Public safety committee will consider two municipal ordinances:
i. The first would close convenience stores between Midnight and 6 AM
ii. The second would close specific stores at the discretion of the Director of Public Safety
d. A municipal ordinance has passed that will permit the city to purchase the residence at 800 West 22nd street. This property has been in disrepair. The city will rehabilitate the property with an eye to resell it.
e. A “Second Chance Job Fair” will be held on Wednesday, September 21 from 10 AM until 3 PM at the Shipyard Shops. Applicants will need a current resume and should dress to impress.
f. Fines have been increased for individuals who pull up a car, change oil and pour the oil into the sewer. Violators should be reported to the police or the Department of Licenses and Inspections.
g. An open meeting will be held on September 22 from 11:30AM to 1:30 PM in the Carvel Office Building to discuss Dart bus routes and service.
h. A federal law will permit three free credit reports per year. A 1-800 number is available from Meg Hudson. These reports will not give your credit score, but they will tell you if someone is using your credit card identification.
i. The city received a $15 million grant from the county.
i. Two governments can and should work together.
ii. Discussions are proceeding on coordination of economic development opportunities between city and county. There can be savings on combined legal representation and vehicle leases.
iii. Government processes can be streamlined.
iv. Subcommittees have been formed to continue these discussions.
v. The county owns and/or operates three golf courses.
j. Question: Does money remain for scholarships through City Council? Answer: It is too late to request scholarship funds for this fiscal year. The best time to make application is the May/June timeframe. By the way, the student must show proof of course registration before a check is issued.
k. Question: Why has there been little progress with getting curb cut outs on street corners?
Answer: Please provide any information or diagrams of corner, which need curb, cut outs, and the info will be moved up the chain of government.
5. John Rago, Assistant to the Mayor for Communications, spoke to the group.
a. John is local. He lives on Baynard Blvd.
b. The resolution of the property at 800 West 22nd Street will take some time.
i. The City will take control, but the courts will allow disposal of the property after a fair price has been determined. The principle of eminent domain is called into play. The owner has been referred for some social services. The City has not heard from her attorney, yet. Expect some bickering about the “fair” price. The preference for the eventual use of the property is for a single occupancy.
ii. City has twenty-four months to settle on use of the property.
c. Code enforcement in the city - The City is planning for more immediate enforcement of codes with a citation being issued similar to traffic violation ticketing. The policy is correct it or be fined. If the fine is not paid it will be increased.
d. The City is gaining new residents. There is a possibility of Blue Cross being situated in the City as a new business.
e. The Mayor’s Office is building up a core of mentors for young people. For more information, call 576-2100.
f. Some dramatic changes will be seen in the way police officers carry out their tasks. The new program is known as the Yale project. It will add new social services components to police work.
g. Crime numbers are good for first eight months of the calendar year.
i. Inform us of any suspicious activity.
ii. The police and the Mayor’s Office will work together on anything submitted.
iii. Call to report crime at 576-2109 (direct number). Use the email address jrago@ci.wilmington.de.us
iv. Mayor’s office thanks County Executive Coons for streamlining the cost of government.
v. Question: (Tom Baker) I have noticed a commercial vehicle on 19th street parked near your house. It is a wide landscaping vehicle, and it does not follow the two-hour parking limit.
Answer: I do not believe there is a violation.
vi. Question: (Tom Baker) How long will it take to resolve the issue with the property at 800 W 22nd street?
Answer: Eminent domain is not an immediate procedure. It may take six months or more.
6. Chris Coons spoke to the group.
a. He mentioned that he and his family live only a block away from Warner School.
b. The old DMV site on Bancroft Parkway will become the Woodlawn library. Right now it is only a hole in the ground. When finished, it will provide a significant number of computers for the community to use. There will be wireless connectivity. The Microsoft Office suite of applications will be available.
c. Labor negotiations regarding the support of public safety are taking place in the county.
d. The county gave $10 million to riverfront. These funds will go toward the Peterson Wildlife refuge, and a children’s museum. This is money well spent for green space and childhood development.
e. The County is sending thirty-six police cars packed with water, supplies, trouser, boots to the police in New Orleans. The intent to help the police force, rather than provide general relief.
f. The County will be providing emergency response training without cost to participants. We will be prepare our citizens in the event of a medical emergency.
g. Question: What is the status of the path through Brandywine Park and Alapocas Run?
Answer: The path is blocked by the condominium. Maureen Bowser is the local expert on the issue.
7. State Senator Harris McDowell spoke to the group.
a. He is aware of the need for the connecting trail between Brandywine Park and Alapocas Run. He too relies upon Maureen Bowser for updates.
b. The State legislative session finished on July 1. The legislature stepped up to the plate for the City of Wilmington as a core residential area of the state. In recognition of the lack of long range funding, a task force was formed. The State of Delaware will provide $11 million to $12 million to Wilmington. It is the city’s prerogative to use the money as it deems it appropriate. The Mayor’s Office is to be commended for its perseverance. The Mayor has shown himself to be the mayor of all the people.
c. Do not forget that the city has another library on Market Street, in addition to the new Woodlawn library
d. Warning: Gas prices and heating costs will increase this winter. These increases will hurt the less fortunate. The Federal Energy Bill has increased low income housing assistance; however, the funding has not been provided. There will be an effort to conserve heat in public buildings.
e. For fifteen years, I have worked for the Seed Scholarship Program. It has been signed into law. It specifies that any child with a 2.5 grade point average in public school who has no felony arrest will be given a scholarship to attend Delaware Technical and Community College. This means that the State will pay for two years of college education. It is hoped that this will provide the motivation to continue one’s education. A verifiable statistic is that less than two percent of incarcerated males attended college.
8. Captain Maggitti (Michael) of the Wilmington Police Force serves the second council district. He spoke to the group.
a. His serves as the liaison person with community
b. There was a coordinated effort with city, state and county policing units coming together to provide “Safe Communities” this past summer. A wide area of beefed up enforcement was formed with boundaries Monroe Street, Northeast Blvd, Concord Avenue, 30th Street. The leaders of the Triangle Neighborhood Association were informed of this policing effort. There was some fear that the saturation police patrolling would cause the crime to jump to other parts of the city. This jump did not occur.
c. YALE project – Yale Medical School and the New Haven civic community joined together to help children impacted by the results of crimes and the arrests of parents. The key was immediate intervention with the children at the conclusion of police action.
d. Police statistics for the last six months will be reviewed and report to the Triangle Neighborhood Association at a later meeting.
e. Please report even minor thefts. Deployment of police officers depends upon information provided by the community.
f. A “Man on Bike” has been linked with thefts. We think we know who he is. He fits the description of a known offender.
9. Sgt. Dennis O’Connor of the Wilmington Police Department spoke to the group.
a. Sgt. O’Connor is the supervisor of Officers Heather and Chris, who are assigned to our area.
b. Sgt. O’Connor has twenty-three years in police-community relations. He has served is several police districts.
c. Police should not be doing other people’s jobs. The police are not a uniform services unit. Instead, the police should be outside your front door, doing their job one block at a time on bike or on foot.
d. Heather will return in three weeks. She injured her hand while wrestling with a suspect. Chris is on the scene for now. Sometimes we have to rob Peter to pay Paul in the daily assignment of officers.
e. There will be five new police officers in the fall.
f. Yale project is a holistic approach to handling crime. The aim is to interact with children and help them progress along the way to productive lives. We will not see the proceeds in our life times.
g. Contact information: 463-4216 cell or doconnor@wilmington.state.de.us
10. Tom Baker addressed the group.
a. He serves as a liaison with Captain Maggitti,
b. You might ask, “What good is neighborhood watch?” A case in point involved a girl being hassled. The incident was reported. Others were warned to be cautious.
c. It is important to sign up for neighborhood watch and to record any suspicious activity.
11. Frank Joyce addressed the group.
a. The Phone Tree has been revised.
b. There are thirty blocks in Triangle, each with a block captain.
c. Thanks to Maureen Bowser for first organizing the Phone Tree.
d. There are three coordinators: Frank/Pat Joyce, Marsha Walters and Rita Bevan.
e. The complete list will be placed on the TNA website.
f. How does it work?
i. Meg Hudson, as TNA President, starts phone tree
ii. She decides whether or not the phone tree is necessary.
iii. Howard Sholl and Frank Joyce are backups.
iv. The Phone Tree is to be used in case of emergency. It is not a general information line.
v. The consensus is that it is important to continue the Phone Tree.
g. The TNA Activity Garden is at the corner of Augustine Cutoff and 18th Street
i. Maureen Bowser was in charge.
ii. Autumn fix-up is needed.
iii. Unanswered question: Was a landscaper hired to do the work?
iv. The sunflowers need to be cut down.
v. Mums should be planted.
vi. Pull up the weeds.
vii. Meg will follow up on the details with Loren.
12. Meg’s Hudson gave her President’s Report.
a. One of our neighbors earned first place in the container garden category.
b. Our October 3 meeting will begin at 6:30 AM. The topic will be the “Life and Legacy of Walt Disney”, presented by Frank Joyce.
c. The presentation will precede the business meeting.
d. Beth and Don Copson resigned from the Neighborhood Watch responsibilities, due to family issues. Jim Carey in Briarwood Apartments will take over the responsibilities. Match up in pairs, but strangers should not be teamed up.
e. Parkview Apt – Do not cut through the parking lot.
f. Membership drive going on now. There are two prizes.
g. Concetta has been developing a membership database.
h. Christine Tate has agreed to welcome new neighbors in neighborhood, and will urge them to join TNA.
i. West Need Neighborhood House is considering sending around a truck to collect supplies for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. There will be more information at the October meeting.
j. Upcoming events
i. Progress party, Saturday October 1, three houses
ii. Halloween Parade, Sunday October 31
iii. Scavenger Hunt linked to the opening of the renewed playground in Brandywine Park.
iv. Is there any interest in December Caroling?
v. There will be a leaf pick up in November.
13. Tom Baker – Keep your porch light on over night, as a help with Neighborhood Watch.
14. Pat Joyce made a plea for bigger visible house numbers.
15. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.