Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

Monday, May 1, 2006

 

        A meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on Monday, May 1, 2006 at Warner Elementary School in the library.  A summary of the presentations made and the discussions held at the meeting follows:

 

1.                  Howard Sholl, Vice-President of the Association, began the meeting at 7:07PM. There were 17 persons present at the start of the meeting.  Ten additional persons joined the group during the course of the meeting.

 

2.                  Mr. Jay Cooperson, a TNA member, addressed the group in his capacity as the architect employed by Beth Shalom Synagogue, 18th and Baynard Blvd.

·        The synagogue was built in 1950, and a wing was added in 1959.  There have been no recent major capital improvements made.  Today, electrical and mechanical upgrades are needed.  In addition, handicap accessible ramps are needed.

·        The congregation wrestled with the question of remaining at its current location or relocation.  One year ago, the decision was made to remain.

·        A site plan was presented.  The goals are to make the building more flexible, inviting and attractive. Additional exterior lighting will be installed.

·        The 1959 wing will be reduced by a third to add the possibility of additional landscaping.

·        A portion of the current parking lot will be made into a garden.

·        Landscaping will be added near the property line.

·        There will be a new entrance and façade by the parking lot will be improved.

·        Along 18th Street, a  new emergency stairway and elevator will be installed.

·        Construction is planned to begin at the end of October 2006, and will last eleven months.

·        Due to the continuous use of the property as a synagogue, there is no need for a change in zoning status.

·        Although programs have expanded with the arrival of the current rabbi, the total square footage of the synagogue will remain the same.

·        The disruption of traffic during construction will be minimal.

·        A new source of water will be installed to accommodate the use of fire suppression sprinklers.

·        The congregation will vacate the synagogue for a year.

 

3.                  Norm Griffiths, Councilman of the Second District, addressed the group:

·        Last budget meeting of the year has taken place.

·        Budgets have increased, due to some new revenue streams for the city.

·        There is a pilot “payment in lieu of taxes” program being promoted in Dover.

·        In fiscal year 2008, there will be a total $10 million new dollars.

·        Forty new positions are to be added in city services, including 15 new police officers.  Half of the officers will be placed directly in the community, and a few will be assigned to the radio dispatch.    There are about 125,000 radio calls received each year.  These additions will bring the total number of police officers to 320.  There will be five employees added to the Department of Licenses and Inspections.  Fifteen new positions will be added to public works.

·        The city will address the issue of those who do not pay parking tickets.  One individual had accumulated $10,000 in unpaid fines.

·        Councilman-at-large, Bud Freel, has promoted a new recycling pilot to start on July 1.  Coupons good for purchases at some local stores will serve as incentives.

·        $30,000 in the budget will provide incentives to live in the city with a five-year requirement of city residency.

·        $67,000 will be used for safety training.

·        The city’s electric bill for lights will increase by $442,000.

·        There will be a 15 % increase in water and sewer charges, which will be used to fix overflows.

·        The 2006 total budget will be $146 million. 

·        The 2007 total budget will be $170 million.

·        On May 3, there will be an older citizen day held downtown.

·        With the new revenue stream from the state, the city can sustain increases in salaries.

·        City is not responsible for sidewalks; however, it is responsible for the streets. Sidewalks are an owner’s responsibility.  Senator McDowell and Rep Williams may make some of their street money available to repair sidewalks upon application.

·        Forty-five new police cars have been placed in use, thanks to a grant from New Castle County.

·        Questions on scoff laws: Why not get judgments on these individuals?  Should not their licenses be revoked?  Answer: The money is not owed to the state, but rather to the city.  The state will not move to collect the fines.

·        Charles Potter and Senator Harris McDowell are running against each other in the September 12 primary.  The Triangle Neighborhood Association usually sponsors a candidates forum.

 

4.                  Captain Michael Maggitti addressed the group:

·        Tom Baker has been given the recent crime stats report for the neighborhood.

·        There has been a terrible problem with burglaries in the first three months of the year.  These have not involved violence, nor have there been any direct encounters.

·        The two new officers assigned to the neighborhood have made a difference.  Now, a third police officer has been assigned.  His name is Carlo Spearman.

·        There is a huge problem with the drug fentanyl, which is being sold as heroin.   There have been 12 to 15 overdoses reported in the city.  Most victims are in their 40’s. The drug is sold in wax bags, which even carry brand names.  Almost 99 percent of heroin in Wilmington comes from Philadelphia. The paramedics have an antidote for fentanyl called nacane.

·        Radios are considered to be too loud, if they can be heard beyond 50 feet.

·        Hakim Ali (Greg Norton) has been knocking on doors.  Do not let him into your house.  He is not afraid of dogs.

·        If you call 911, be sure you have reached a Wilmington Delaware operator.

·        There was an incident of young boys throwing stones at a woman passing by them.  This occurred one evening around 7:30 PM at the corner of 19th and Van Buren. One should call 911, if physically threatened.   Be sure to give the location of the incident.

·        A new police academy class will graduate in September with 30 or 40 officers.

 

5.                  Howard Sholl distributed Operation Clean Sweep fliers. May 6 is the special clean up day. To help with the effort, meet in the Warner School parking lot at 8:30 AM.  Remember worthwhile items can be donated, instead of trashed.

 

6.                  Howard Sholl led a discussion on whether or not to accept the offer of New Castle County Executive, Chris Coons, to serve on the TNA Board.  Chris has no objections one-way or the other.  He cannot attend many meetings due to other constraints on his time.   The consensus of the group was to leave Chris on the slate of candidates.

 

7.                  Frank Joyce took over control of the meeting for the purposes of the election of officers.

·        Frank personally thanked those who decided to run

·        He read the TNA Elections article from the newsletter. Those listed with the office they are seeking are: Howard Sholl (President), Frank McKelvey (Vice President), Rev. James Dalton (Secretary), Lee McKelvey (Treasurer), Tom Baker (Director), Chris Coons (Director), Kathleen Flynn (Director), Loren Grober (Director), Meg Hudson (Director), Concetta LaMarca (Director) and Tim Sharpe (Director).

·        The consensus of the group was to vote on the entire slate at one time, not one person at a time.

·        There was a call for any nominations from the floor. No additional nominations were offered.

·        There was a motion from the floor to elect as officers and directors those listed in the May 2006 TNA Newsletter.  The motion received a second.  An opportunity for discussion was offered, but no discussion took place.

·        The slate was approved by a voice vote.  No “nays” were signaled.  The slate was duly elected.

·        Frank thanked the membership for the confidence they have placed in him over the years.

 

 

8.                  Senator Harris B. McDowell addressed the group:

·        The city has been permitted to raise the hotel tax.

·        The Governor established a task force on city revenues, and the Senator was selected as a member.

·        About $ 11 million per year will be infused into the city’s budget.

·        The city can do some things on its own.  Through efficiencies the city was able to realize an additional $ 3 million in savings.

·        There have been a lot of city bashers, but the tide is about to turn.

·        In the 1960’s, there was the tendency to leave the city behind.  Now, we realize that we are all one

·        Delaware never went into debt, during the last four years of difficulty times experienced by other states.

·        There is a significant amount of pent up need, and requests for new assistance exceeds funds.

·        Hope to include emphasis on education. Hope to reduce crime.

·        The State of Massachusetts did a wonderful thing with health care.  It considered the enormous amount of health care available, and how it is administered.  Virtually everyone in Massachusetts will have health care coverage by 2007. The state will provide $285 per year for those who do not have coverage from employers.  The cost of health care plans  are projected to be reduced.   If it works in Massachusetts, then we should try it in Delaware.

·        Question: Do you support a ban on the carrying of concealed weapons? Answer: No.

      The police are against this measure.

9.                  James O’Neill of the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation addressed the group:

·        He introduced his two associates, who were with him: Ms. Nancy Falasco (Zoo Director) and Mr. Greg Ellis (President of Delaware Zoological Society).

·        A process has begun to devise a master plan for the Brandywine Zoo.  The goal is develop a better use of space.

·        He and his associates would like to review the current status of the Zoo master plan.  A bubble diagram, a sketch and copies of the Brandywine Zoo News were distributed.

·        The sketch illustrated the movement of the Zoo’s fence about 25 feet unto the dog training field off of 18th Street.   The movement of the fence would permit the addition of a maintenance corridor.   The style of the fence would be similar to the black aluminum fence in place across from the monkey house.

·        The bubble diagram presented three options for maintenance access corridors.  The purpose of the corridor would be for the delivery of hay and food to the animals.  It would be only one lane wide. The type of road surface has not been determined. The vehicles using the corridor are similar to the small vehicles used already in the Zoo.

·        Normal delivers like UPS packages will continue to be made at the Zoo’s main entrance.

·        An additional six new exhibits are planned.  The Zoo would not close down during the expansion.

·        There is also a desire to provide handicap accessibility ramps.

·        The Zoo wants to have a good relationship with its neighbors.  There was some discussion years ago about the new fence installed by the Zoo.

·        The historical integrity of the Brandywine Park will be maintained.

·        Is there any opposition from the neighborhood?  The Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation would like to move forward with the Mater Plan.  Is there any opposition from the neighborhood?  Responses:  The least desirable corridor option is  # 3.  One person opposed any road.  One person supported option # 2. 

 

10.              Howard fielded the following requests and questions from the floor:

·        Are there any volunteers to shelve books at Warner School?

·        We need to raise the issue of upgrading our garden at our June meeting.

·        Should we consider entering any neighborhood garden in the horticultural competition?

 

11.              Speaking for Bud Freel, Tom Baker announced that there was no opposition to the municipal take over of the property at 800 W 22nd Street.

 

12.              Loren Grober announced that the path from the Brandywine Park to Alapocas Run is moving toward completion.

 

13.              The meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.