Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting
Monday, December 5, 2005

A meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on Monday, December 5, 2005 at Warner Elementary School in the cafeteria. A summary of the presentations made and the discussions held at the meeting follows:

  1. The meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM by President Meg Hudson.
  2. There were twenty-two persons present at the start of the meeting. Five persons joined after the meeting began.
  3. Susan Mulchahey Chase addressed the group:
    1. She had made a history of Brandywine Park presentation to TNA in the spring 2005.
    2. Her book, Within the Reach of All, An Illustrated History of Brandywine Park, has been published and is on sale now in time for Christmas.
    3. Susan presented some highlights of the book.
    4. Copies were available for purchase during the meeting, and Susan offered to sign copies.
    5. The regular cost of the book is $28. For members of the Friends of Wilmington Parks, the cost is $25.
  4. Frank proposed the purchase of four copies of Ms. Chase’s book. Two copies would be given to Warner Elementary School and two copies to Salesianum School.
    1. Motion passed without objection.
    2. The total outlay from TNA funds was $100.
  5. Captain Maggitti addressed the group:
    1. Real problem has developed recently in the Triangle Neighborhood with car tires being punctured or slashed.
      1. About twenty incidents were reported
      2. Impacted Area: 19th Street to 23rd Street to Baynard Blvd to Harrison Street
      3. Both sidewalk side and street side of tires are targets.
      4. Most recent incident was reported on Sunday on the 500 block of East 22nd Street.
      5. One car mirror was broken off.
      6. Keep your eyes and ears open, and call the police. Be vigilant.
    2. In the area of 20th and Market Streets, there were two armed robberies.
      1. The wearing of heavy coats this time of year allows weapons to be concealed.
      2. There has been an increase in police patrols in this area of the city.
    3. Captains’ responsibilities have been changed by the Chief of Police
      1. Captain Maggitti has been moved to Special Operations now. He is no longer in Human (Community) Relations. His new phone number is 576-3187; however, he has the same email address.
      2. He is a member of the TNA yahoo email group.
    4. Meg Hudson asked if there was any update on the porch thief. No update was available.
    5. Ted urged the Neighborhood Watch be on the look out for tire slasher.
    6. Tom has the neighborhood crime stats for sharing.
    7. Vehicle has been abandon on West 24th street. The ignition has been broken out. It was ticketed a few weeks ago, but it still remains. Captain Maggitti will check on the vehicle. If it is a stolen vehicle, it will be removed promptly.
    8. A broken off knife blade snapped off in a tire, according to Pat Joyce.
  6. Norm Griffiths spoke to the group:
    1. Mayor Baker is hosting a Business and Community Holiday social on Wednesday night, December 7 at a downtown hotel. It would be good to send a representative from TNA.
    2. On Tuesday, December 6, there will be caroling in Rodney Square, starting at 7:00 PM
    3. On Tuesday, December 6, there will be a Public Safety presentation.
    4. On December 9, there will be a tree lighting ceremony in the middle of the day in the lobby of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building.
    5. Ordinance is being formulated to get the next bond issue passed.
      1. $70 million would cover:
        1. Sewer overflow issues,
        2. State mandates for the city
    6. Ordinance is being promoted to require organizers of gatherings of 100 or more persons to provide coverage by security agents or police
      1. Kevin Kelly is the sponsor.
      2. Funerals would be exempt.
      3. The Wilmington Police charge $40 per hour for a police presence.
      4. The issues center around parking, traffic and security
    7. Some businesses let dumpsters overflow.
      1. There is a movement to Increase the fine.
      2. Labels are to be placed on the dumpsters giving name and number to be called to register a complaint.
      3. Private trash collecting companies must be hired to empty these dumpsters.
      4. An amendment to cover house renovation dumpsters will be proposed.
    8. A vehicle registration problem needs to be addressed in cooperation with the state. Some individuals wish to avoid insurance increases by leaving out of state license plates on their cars.
    9. In 1999, the Wilmington Housing Authority borrowed $300,000; all but $75,000 has been repaid. There is a proposal to forgive the remaining debt, in order to allow surveillance camera to be purchased and placed in apartment buildings.
    10. Vacant properties monitoring program has had some success.
      1. There has been a seventeen percent decrease in vacant properties in the city. This accounts to 250 houses.
      2. The city owns some of these vacant properties, due to tax delinquency. The city has been moving these houses off the abandoned properties list.
    11. Bud Freel has submitted a proposal to restrict residential parking stickers to two per individual. Some families have booth parking stickers under the same name. This measure remains in committee, and has not been approved yet.
    12. Saturday, December 31 will be Wilmington’s First Night celebration. The fireworks will begin at 10 PM.
    13. Water Street, down by the train station, will be renamed Rosa Parks Drive in honor of the civil rights leader.
    14. Question from Tom: Has a shorter period of time been proposed for abandoned cars? Answer: The measure remains in committee.
    15. Like handicapped parking permits, which need to be renewed once every year, parking permits need to be renewed annually.
  7. Meg made the following announcements:
    1. Caroling will be held on Friday, December 23 starting at 7 PM. Those interested are to assemble at Warner Elementary School. Sheet music will be provided. Elizabeth Morris (777-3432) will coordinate the event.
    2. Crime stats are available.
  8. General Announcements were made:
    1. Tom Baker: While on Neighborhood Watch, report burnt out lights. A call will be made requesting a replacement of the bulb. The timeframe for lamp replacement may be up to thirty days.
    2. Become members of TNA yahoo group.
      1. 115 members are in the TNA yahoo group, now.
      2. Howard Sholl, as administrator, can add a person, or one can join the yahoo group as an individual.
    3. Frank: Magnetic signs are missing for the Neighborhood Watch. Norm agreed to pay for new ones.
    4. Jim Carey: People are dropping off of Neighborhood Watch.
      1. List is not an active list. It is twenty percent inaccurate.
      2. We need to recruit new people.
    5. Question: 600 TNA newsletters are delivered, and there are only 115 persons in the TNA yahoo group. There are appx 150 member families in the Triangle Neighborhood.
    6. Question: How is the Neighborhood Watch setup? Volunteers need lead time. Some persons are ready to be plugged-in at the absence of an assigned person. Jim Carey can provide a letter of instruction and a list of names.
    7. Suggestion: Increase TNA membership in the spring.
  9. Meg concluded the meeting with additional announcements.
    1. We are looking into another Friday night dance event.
    2. Thought is being given to another Progressive Dinner for April again. Kris Chalfant will coordinate the event.
    3. The January meeting will be held on the second Tuesday, January 9
      1. Others may need to distribute TNA Newsletters during colder weather. Marsha Walters agreed to help.
    4. A speaker is planned for the February 6 meeting. He is Michael Kozikowski, the Recorder of Deeds. .
    5. Meetings help us stay on top of vandalism in the neighborhood.
    6. If Warner School is closed due to the inclement weather, then there will be no TNA meeting. If confused about a cancellation of a meeting, call Meg’s home phone at 594-0852. A pre-recorded message will contain information. One can also check the TNA egroup.
    7. Happy Holidays to all.
  10. Meeting ended at 8:05 PM