Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

Monday, March 5, 2007

 

  1. Howard Sholl, Triangle Neighborhood Association President, started the meeting at 7:03 PM.  The meeting was held in the Warner School library.
  2. Thirty-eight persons were present.
  3. Captain Michael Maggitti addressed the group:

·        By way of introduction, he mentioned that the Police Department captains serve as liaison persons with the local communities.

·        The monthly crime stats are available at tonight’s meeting in printed form.  These will be posted to the TNA Yahoo group tomorrow.  We have a full year’s worth of crime stats now.

·        An assault occurred on Tuesday, February 27 near 18th and Van Buren around 6 PM. The assailant asked for a cigarette.

·        Groups of kids have been seen walking through the neighborhood.

·        A burglary was reported in the 2100 block of Van Buren Street.

·        From the floor an observation was offered: I saw a suspect coming from the apartment building riding a bicycle about the time of the burglary.

·        There was a question on the description of the individual.  A call was made through Town Watch, as well.  The basic description is a young black, male on a green bike.

·        Reaction to the observation: Please give me a call tomorrow.  Are you sure the person was coming from Parkview Apartments?

·        Last Friday night around 4:30 to 5:30 PM a woman from McCabe Street saw a person with a gun.

·        An elderly couple froze to death on Cleveland Street on the other side of town, due to a thermostat problem.  We should all check on our elderly neighbors.

·        The Caesar Rodney Half Marathon event will take place at 9 AM on Sunday, March 11.  The course involves the Riverfront, Rockford Park and Rodney Square.

·        St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Saturday, March 17, starting at 4th and King Street.  It will cause some traffic issues.  

·        Question from Norm Griffiths: What is the progress of Operation Fed Up?  Answer:  There have been six cases to date. If a convicted felon is in possession of a gun, he is held without bail under the provisions of Fed Up. This new procedure has been very effective.

·        On Friday, a Police Academy will graduate thirty-three new officers.  The entire force is about three hundred officers, so the new officers will have a direct impact on increasing the size of the force.  A trained police officer has a set of marketable skills, which he can take elsewhere, like the county or state police forces.  This ease of transfer did not occur twenty-five years ago.  More attractive salaries can be obtained.  There will be another police academy established in about three months.

·        Additional police officers will be placed in community policing.

·        Neighborhood watch training may be come available, soon.

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

·        Finance Department activity has increased around the collection of parking and wage taxes.

·        In error, an employer may not be withholding wage tax from employees who live in the city.

·        One example was a gentleman who had an unpaid wage tax bill of $7,000.

·        When new people are welcomed into the community, they should be told about city wage taxes.  All who live or work in the City of Wilmington are obligated to pay wage tax at the rate of 1.25% of gross salary.

·        Owners of rental properties should have received a letter concerning a two year inspection cycle.   The regulations on pre-rental inspections have change. These new regulations must be taken seriously.

·        This coming Wednesday, March 7, the City of Wilmington will sponsor a celebration of the city’s 175th birthday.   It will take place at noon on Rodney Square.  A reception will take place at the old town meeting hall near 500 Market Street. All are invited.

·        L&I will ticket those who do not put their residence’s trash in a can for collection.  Trash left in a bag is not acceptable.

·        A new water billing system will go into effect soon. In the past, parking lot owners have not been charged a fee for runoff water, which makes its way into the sewer system. This procedure will be changed.  As a result, the water/sewer bills of residents will decrease.  A flier was left with Howard Sholl, which provides more details.

·        There will be a Public Safety meeting at 7 pm on March 13 in the McLaughlin building.  Similar meeting are scheduled for June 12, September 11 and November 27.

·        A few brochures were made available:

o       There will be a summer institute concerning careers in transportation.  A phone number can be found in the printed materials.

o       Summer jobs from Parks and Recreation are available.  If there is an excess of applicants, a lottery will be held to select those who will be given the opportunity.  The phone number can be found in the printed material.

o       A list of all the neighborhood groups in the 2nd Council District was provided to Howard Sholl.

·        Observation from Tom Baker: The community is experiencing increased truck traffic.  These are the large dump truck with six huge tires.  The trucks come down Harrison Street and proceed to 22nd street.  Greggo and Ferrara Co. is doing work on route 202.  When questioned, the contractor responds that these are public thoroughfares, so any vehicle can make use of them.  Response: Norm asked Tom to send him an email with the particulars.

4.                  Matt Denn, State Insurance Commissioner, made a presentation to the group:

·        As Insurance Commissioner, I am trying to get around telling the public what is happening in the office.  I am half way through my term.

·        It was brought to my attention that TNA’s minutes indicated a wish to hear from the Insurance Commissioner, so here I am.

·        The goals, which I listed at election time were:

o       People will be treated fairly,

o       Insurance rates will be brought under control.

·        My office is attempting to discover how the insurance companies are treating people.  In addition, we have reoriented our office staff to serve people first, then issues.

·        A home owner’s claim should not lead to non-renewal of a policy.

·        Our office is attempting to educate the General Assembly about non-renewal practices. If a claim is of a traditional nature, it should not be used to non-renewal of a policy.   In addition, a call to one’s insurance agent for the purposes of policy clarification cannot be used toward non-renewal of a policy.

·        The bad news is that credit scores are being used by companies prior to the issuing of home and car insurance. The General Assembly will be asked to consider the proper use of credit scores.  Thirty-eight states have tried to address the issue of credit scores and the purchase of insurance.  Credit scores are often inaccurate, and each insurance company uses these scores in a different way.

·        Average auto rates have tailed off.  Some insurance firms have kept rates increases in the low single digits.  Some rate applications have been denied by the Insurance Commissioner’s office.

·        There will be a legislation introduced to decrease Worker’s Compensation rates.

·        Health insurance rates have been removed from the commissioner’s oversight.  In the end, companies can charge fees without review.  There is no legal control, which the Insurance Commissioner’s office can use.

·        Representative Dennis Williams and Senator McDowell have been supportive of all insurance legislation, which would benefit the public.

·        Question from the floor: What cannot be used to determine rates?  Answer: There are about six or seven things which cannot be used.  For example, race and religion cannot be used.

·        There is great concern over identity theft, which can lead to a poor credit rating.

·        Question from the floor: Can ratings of financial soundness be used when shopping for long-term care?  Answer:  No.  An institution’s financial soundness is not a predictor of quality of care provided.   It would be better to consider a listing of complaints received.

·        The State Insurance Department has a web site.  Any email sent to me goes directly to me.

5.                  Howard Sholl addressed the group:

·        Delivering newsletters can be a lot of fun. We need seven more people to help with the task.  A map is available listing the openings.

·        Block 15 needs a block captain.

·        The Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled for a regular meeting on March 14, 2007.  Two cases deal with properties in the Triangle Neighborhood.

o       2012 N. Broom – Salesianum School would like to use this residence for administrative office space.  A presentation has been made to TNA at a previous meeting.

o       815 West Van Buren Street – There is a request to decrease by one foot the side yard between particular residents.  The applicant was not present at the TNA meeting.

·        Norm Griffiths will be present at the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on March 14.  

·        Another issue involving the Triangle Neighborhood will be presented to the Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 28. 

6.                  Due to the celebration of Passover, the April 2 meeting will be moved to the following Monday. The next meeting of TNA will be on April 9.  It will be held at Salesianum.  Use the front entrance or entrance C.  Signs will be posted. 

7.                  Frank McKelvey asked for names of individuals who would want to be considered for TNA officers or TNA directors.

8.                  Comment from the floor: In mid-February 42 homes in the Triangle Neighborhood still had holiday decorations displayed.

9.                  The meeting concluded at 8:07 PM