Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting

Monday, April 9, 2007

 

 

1.               Howard Sholl, Triangle Neighborhood Association President, started the meeting at 7:05 PM.  The meeting was held in the Salesianum School library. There were 38 persons present at the start of the meeting.

2.               Howard Sholl made a few announcements:

·       The April 2007 TNA Newsletter incorrectly stated that the Neighborhood Clean-up would be held on Saturday, May 12, 2006.  The correct date is Saturday, May 12, 2007.

·       Important phone numbers were listed on the April 2007 Newsletter.  Are any additional ones needed?

·       Thanks to those who delivered the newsletters and who participate in the Neighborhood Watch.

·       The new trash schedule is:

o      Monday – recycle bin

o      Thursday – regular trash

3.               John Rago, representing the Mayor’s Office, addressed the group:

·       The Yard Waste issue is being resolved.  Yard Waste is being taken to a site near Governor Printz Blvd for composting.

·       If yard waste is found in the regular trash, the collector crews will radio a request for a yard waste pick-up.

·       576-3879 is the special pickup phone number.

·       The rule in the City of Wilmington is that any trash placed on the curb must be in a can.

·       Instant tickets ($50) will be issued to those who habitually do not comply.

·       Like many issues in an urban environment, city authorities must address: attitude, actions, behaviors and beliefs.

·       Fairness and logic will be the basis of decisions made by Licenses and Inspections officers, who are assigned geographically.   They know the neighborhood.

·       Like all unpaid tickets, non-payment will result in a lien against property.

·       The Vacant Property fee has proven to have been successful.

·       Trash and recycle brochures are available on the front table.

·       Observation from the floor: A property owner on the 600 block of West 20nd street is not following trash regulations.  Answer:  In the pilot program, it took two to three weeks for people to get on board.  If the problem remains, representatives of the City will go to talk with the residents.

·       Compliment from the floor:  Trash collectors get the recycle bin back to the right residence.

·       Recycle bins should not be put out before 6 pm on Sunday night.

·       The Mayor prepared and presented his budget for the next fiscal year.  It will include:

o      28 new police officers,

o      7 new staff to collect new revenue,

o      More booting of illegally parked cars.

·       Councilman Griffiths is on the Budget Committee.  The reviews by the City Council are done in a responsible manner.

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

·       There are eight city districts, and the Triangle is in the second.

·       There will be a Budget Meeting next Monday at noon.  It will be taped and replayed on the local cable network.

·       The starting point of each budget review is a comparison with the previous year’s budget.  Increases are explained.

·       A problem reported at the last TNA meeting indicated that dump trucks are coming through the neighborhood.  Resolution: Signs restricting truck traffic will be posted in the neighborhood.

·       Finance committee meeting today considered an ordinance covering cable franchises.   This ordinance would not control the Internet; however, TV and video can be controlled.  The City can charge for using city space.  Delmarva and Comcast will be grandfathered, but new rules will be in place for Verizon, when it arrives.

·       On July 1,  $15,000 will be available for college scholarships through the Second District Councilman’s office.   The recipient must live in the 2nd district.  The funds are sent directly to the college selected by the student.

·       Councilman Freel proposed a bill for fire drills for senior high rise building.  It would require the Fire Department to review emergency plans and to conduct a fire drill once every two years.

·       April is Financial Literacy Month.  Beware of sub-prime mortgages.  Jack Markell, Delaware State Treasurer, gave a good presentation on vehicle loans, recently.

5.               Lieutenant Townsend, Wilmington Police Department, addressed the group:

·       A “reverse 911” message was sent to notify residents of location of a known child abuser.  In addition, fliers were distributed.

·       Question from the floor:  How does one get a phone number added to the reverse 911 list?  Answer: Send an email with the number to John Rago or Captain Maggitti.

·       There have been reports of a suspicious male going trash cans and bins in the neighborhood.  Photos were distributed.

·       Burglary trend continues, especially in homes with unsecured windows and doors.   Small items like iPods, game boys and DVD players are taken.  One house was stripped of its copper pipes.

·       Suggestion: Buy and install motion detectors.

·       Question from the floor: Can you comment on the two recent assults?  One involved the use of a gun to get an iPod, and the other involved a group of youths who stopped a gentleman asking for a cigarette. Suggestion: Bring a cell phone with you when you are out walking. Follow your gut instinct and flee a dangerous situation.

·       Tom Baker mentioned that there have been 22 false fire and burglar alarms recently.  The police are required to investigate, and the result is wasted time.  A city ordinance will assess a fee of $100 for the third false alarm.

6.               Chris Coons, New Castle County Executive,  addressed the group:

·       My wife, Annie, and I have lived in the Triangle Neighborhood for the last 12 years.  We will be moving out of the Triangle, but only relocating to Delaware Avenue.  We will remain residents of Wilmington.

·       Due to some financial issues that New Castle County has been experiencing, property taxes will be increased by $18.

·       Home number remains as 427-4824.

·       Email will remain as Chriscoons@comcast.com

7.               Two representatives, Soren and Joe Figorila,  from RecycleBank addressed the group:

·       They brought a red recycle bin with them for demonstration purposes.

·       What can go inside a recycle bin?

o      If you can tear it and it is paper, it can be recycled.

o      If it is not perishable, you can recycle.

o      Neither food, nor yard waste is permitted.

o      The lid on the recycle bin has a list for reference.

·       Plastic bottles listed as 1’s and 2’s can be recycled.  In general, if the plastic bottle has a neck, it can be recycled.  The code numbers are listed on the bottles in a small triangle.

·       Yogurt containers are an 8, and cannot be recycled.

·       Take the lids off, and rinse out.

·       Block captains can act a focal point for questions.  

·       Clip board  passed through the group.  Anyone with questions was asked to write his/her name on the sheet.

·       RecycleBank has been working with condo associations.

·       Shredded paper is ok.  In fact, 40 % of what we throw away is paper.

·       Question from the floor:  How does the bin get back to the right house?  Answer:  The address is listed on the inside of the bin.

·       There are three bin sizes.  The one distributed was the middle size.  Requesting a smaller bin was discouraged.  

·       Handouts were provided.

·       Acme and other stores participate in honoring recycling awards. Tell us the stores you want on the list.

·       Batteries are not collected now.  Cell phones can be recycled, but check of the website for the procedure.

·       Plastic bags from the grocery stores cannot be recycled.

 

 

8.               Howard Sholl addressed the group:

·       Issue was raised via phone call about cars parking near 23rd and McCabe during the Salesianum baseball games.  Solution:  Salesianum will lock the gates near 23rd and McCabe, thus forcing persons to park in the Salesianum parking lot.

·       A similar issue arises with the ball fields across from Warner School. Howard will talk with the league officials.

·       Frank McKelvey has distributed a list of officers for the next TNA season.  The names were read aloud.   No objection to the names was raised.

·       Next month

o      May 12 will be neighborhood clean up day.

o      City trucks will pickup items placed at the curb.

o      Volunteers will assemble in the Warner School parking lot.  They will pick up the articles from the curb and pitch them into the truck.

o      There is a 2nd District planning council, which was the dream of the previous mayor.  The agenda covers:

§       meeting with other organizations

§       flowers for the garden

9.               Questions from the floor:

·       How can we get an L and I officer come to the next meeting?

·       How can some neighborhood watch signs be replaced?

·       How can we get the railroad underpasses spruced up?  Answer:  CSX owns these overpasses.  All we have to do is ask for permission to paint them.

·       How can fire hydrants get cleaned?  Answer: Send the location to John Rago.

·       How do we get the green utility poles painted?

·       How do we report hanging wires?  Answer: Email location to John Rago.

10.            Howard Sholl closed the meeting by mentioning the availability of other fliers:

·       Home repairs session  at the Y,

·       Wilmington awards nomination forms

·       A variety of other fliers.

11.            Frank Joyce requested to have the new neighbors meet with him at the conclusion of the meeting.

12.            The meeting concluded at 8:35 PM.