Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

Monday, February 12, 2007

 

 

1.                  Howard Sholl, TNA President, started the meeting at 7:06 PM.

2.                  There were nineteen persons present at the start of the meeting, and six individuals came to the meeting late.

3.                  Captain Maggitti addressed the group:

    • Last Friday night around 10 PM, there was a murder near 24th and Tatnall Streets. 

·        There has been a run of burglaries in the northern part of town, mostly on small commercial establishments.  Usually, a store widow is smashed and cigarettes are taken.

·        Fed UP is a new program at the disposal of the city police.  It calls for federal-type enforcement, using federal bail guidelines.  To use this option: a gun must be involved with the crime and the perpetrator must have been convicted of a felony.  The suspect is held without bail, and if convicted, is sent to a federal prison in western Pennsylvania or in the Midwest.

·        The city’s Vice Squad raided a home, and found drugs being sold.  The suspects were well known to the police.  They were repeat offenders.

·        Question from the floor:  Was Wayne Jackson ever caught?  Answer: I do not know, but burglaries have decreased in our area.

·        Tom Baker, once more, did great job with publishing the local crime statistics.  Copies are available tonight.   We now have over one year’s worth of data.

·        In general, January was a quite month for crime.

·        Remember: keep your lights on, and lock your basement doors.

·        Question from Norm Griffiths: Is it true that some candidates have washed out of the current police academy?  Answer:  Yes, some have not continued with the program, but this is not a bad thing.  There will be a March 9 graduation.  We expect thirty to thirty-two new officers will be added to the force.  One must consider, however, that some veteran officers will retire or leave the department.

·        During the next week, Ruth Townsend (576-3175) will be the local police contact, while I am away.

4.                  John Rago, representing the Mayor’s Office, complemented the work done by the Wilmington City Police Department.  

·        He echoed the frustration of police dealing with the same offenders over and over again.  Somehow we need to get to these repeat offenders.

·        According to available statistics, those persons who have been shot during the last year had felonies and misdemeanors on their records.  In addition, fourteen of the twenty persons arrested for murders this past year had at least one felony or misdemeanor on their records.

·        There were eighty shooting and twenty murders reported last year in the city.  Our hope is that the Fed Up program will help.

5.                  Norm Griffiths, Councilman for the Second District,  addressed the group:

·        When new people move into the neighborhood, you would do them a favor by explaining that those who live or work in Wilmington are subject to the 1.25 % city wage tax.  

·        At the Wilmington Library on Rodney Square on Tuesday, February 13, there will be a “chocolate lovers delight” program.  It will go from 11 AM to 6 PM, or until the supply of chocolate runs out.

·        Del State in Dover will offer a summer Transportation Institute for those looking for a career in transportation.  The dates are June 12 to July 7, and it is free.

·        Free tax preparation services are available for those making $40,000 or less.

·        There are City of Wilmington Academic Scholarships available through the Department of Parks and Recreation. The deadline is sometime in April.   Call 576-1310 for details.  The scholarships are valued at $500 each.   

·        City Councilmen give out college scholarships also, but July 1 is the first date to submit an application.  There are forms, which must be completed. The total available is $1,500 per councilman.  These scholarships do not receive much advertisement.

·        In mid-march, the Mayor delivers his budget to the City Council.  Discussions and hearings run through April.  Norm is chair of Council’s budget committee.   By law, there must be an approved budget by May 31.

·        In the capital budget, there are provisions for a skate park.  Some funds needed to be redistributed to make this happen.  The park will be “flat on the ground,” and not airborne.  It is slated for Jackson Street under I95.

·        A report on storm water runoff is available.  Owners of flat surfaces, like parking lots, have not had to assume the cost of handling the water which runs off their flat surfaces into the sewer system.  There is only one sewer system, so all will be expected to cover the costs.  Normal residents should experience a reduction in rates.  Bills should show details on the charge for water, sewer and storm water.

 

6.                  John Rago, representative of the Mayor’s office, addressed the group again:

·        In March, the Triangle will become part of the city’s recycling program.   The Triangle will be one of the first neighborhoods.

·        The containers will be burgundy in color, not blue.

·        As recycling was rolled out city wide, the pilot neighborhoods showed that Wilmington is embracing recycling.

·        There is a significant potential for savings.

·        A letter will be sent to your homes from the Mayor.  It will explain the “recycle bank”, and will direct you to the Internet for a list of rewards.  The first day will be March 20.   Wilmington will benefit from the funds associated with recycling.

·        By the way, the city made money on the fees associated with the switch from MNBA to Bank America

·        There will be 322 police officers now with the addition of officers from the current academy class.  This is an increase.

·        Across the country, the number of mail boxes is being reduced by the US Postal service, due to a demonstrated lack of use.

·        A new Post Office has opened at 500 Delaware Street with fifteen minutes of parking around the corner on Jefferson Street.  It is located in the WSFS Building. The downtown Post Office on King Street has been closed.

·        Question from the floor: Are car stickers needed in Forty Acres?  Answer: I do not know.

·        Question from the floor: Will drive thru post office boxes remain?   Answer:  I do not know.

·        Instant ticketing for unkempt lawns, yards and buildings will begin April 1.  It is intended to crack down on the chronic abusers, who leave trash unattended and allow dangerous (unhealthy) situations to exist. 

·        There will be no garbage next Monday, February 19, due to the holiday.

·        Tom Baker reminded the group that starting March 1 a false alarm fee goes into effect.  The third false alarm will cause a $100 fee to be levied.

7.                  Howard Sholl addressed the group:

·        The April meeting cannot be held at Warner School.  The offer was make to hold the meeting at Salesianum.  A decision on location has yet to be made.

·        Frank McKelvey will be asked to head the Nominations Committee.  There will be two open slots on the Board of Directors.  Chris Coons will be moving out of the neighborhoods, so he can no loner serve on the Board.

·        Tomorrow, February 13, there will be a meeting held at Warner concerning the new Conrad school.

·        Notice was received from the State about increases on gasoline, tolls and vehicle registrations.

·        Information is available about a meeting of the “Women of Hanna.”

8.                  Tim Sharpe addressed the group:

·        We continue to look for volunteers for Town Watch.

·        From Norm Griffiths, we have received two new Town Watch signs for vehicles.

·        Question from the floor: There are so many dark houses on 21st street. It is a shame. Is there any way to contact these people? Can the block captains do something?  No answer was supplied.

9.                  Senator McDowell addressed the group:

·        The recycling and yard waste ban has not hit us here in Wilmington.  Yard waste is the easiest to recycle.

·        John Rago interjected that the city will collect yard waste and will divert it.  By taking the yard waste out of the stream, there will be a huge savings.

·        Entrepreneurs will spring up in the county to handle yard waste disposal.

·        Some members of the State legislature do not want to take a firm stand on recycling.  We cannot be irresponsible with the world’s resources.

·        A task force has been studying sources of sustainable energy.  All alternatives must be performance based.  Renewable energy can take the form of solar plates. Another approach is to package the non-use of energy.  It will pay to help people to be more efficient with their use of energy. One must consider the base amount of energy one requires.  Tax breaks for energy conversation are proposed.

·        Question from the floor: Is there a program, which subsidizes the use of solar energy?    Answer: Yes.

·        Question from the floor: Other states have recycling of cans and bottles. Why not Delaware?  Answer:  Wilmington is showing the way.  Perhaps, the State will take notice.

·        All recycling asks for a little bit of sacrifice to make it work.

·        Question from the floor: Is there any interest in wind power?   Answer: There is some interest. REC, renewable energy credit, is available. Most wind is at night, and it competes with nuclear power.  Wind mills cost about $2 million to build. There is no silver bullet. There are even issues with the use of ethanol, since increase in consumption of grain would impact on the cost of food.

10.       The meeting ended at 8:20 PM.