April Triangle Neighborhood Association Meeting                                 

6 April 2009

 

  • President Howard Sholl called the meeting to order at 7 pm.  23 people were in attendance at 7pm.  33 were present at 7:30 pm.

 

Police Report, Capt. Harris (Sgt. Kane and community officers Talley and Miller were also in attendance)

 

  • 1 burglary in 800 block of W. 25th St.
  • 8 alarms
  • 3 thefts
    • 800 block of W. 18th St. at Warner School – book was found outside.
    • 2 at Terry Apts. (1 victims wallet, second apt. entered and money taken)
  • Plain clothes police officers on duty to investigate burglary spree
  • 1 robbery – no victim has come forward, but witness filed police report
  • To contact community police officers, need to contact Sgt. Kane (463-4957) because they don’t yet have their cell phones.  Hopefully they will have the phones next week.

 

Reports from elected officials

 

Trippi Congo, City Council

 

  • Budget hearings start on Monday.  They will be televised on channel 22.  The schedule is posted on the City website.
  • New office hours at the customer service windows (to pay bills and obtain parking stickers)   9:30 am – 4 pm
  • He is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday 12 noon – 3 pm at Brandywine Park
  • City is holding their Easter Egg Hunt at the same time in Rodney Square 11 am – 3 pm
  • Contact – cell:  (302) 218-8630

 

John Rago, Communications Director for Mayor Baker

 

  • Budget – it’s a tough year.
  • Mayor decided not to layoff employees or cut services
  • Mayor has asked employees and government to make sacrifices
    • Increase in property tax and water sewer
      • Property tax increase:  $7.25/month
      • Water / sewer increase:  $5/month
  • 22nd and Harrison Street property update
    • City now owns property
    • Will renovate
    • Put on market as single family / owner occupied

 

Harris McDowell, State Senator

 

  • Budget
    • Proposed 8% pay cut for state employees – he sees this as a problem because credit scores are based on salary / debt ratio so a decrease in salaries will decrease credit scores

o      Hard to do without one month’s pay?

o      State employees had nothing to do with the financial crisis.

o      Would raise more money by raising tax on gross receipts

o      Try to reduce positions in the State, but most state agencies are shorthanded, now.

  • Stimulus Package
    • Some good news– The stimulus package contains $16 million for weatherization.
    • $28 million for energy savings is possible.
    • SEU – Sustainability Energy Utility will be one stop shopping for those who want to consider energy efficiency and alternate energy.  It is possible to lower consumer bills on the first day after installations.
  • State Sales Tax – Delaware benefits from tax free shopping.  In time, we may need to quantify the benefit.

 

Neighborhood Business

 

Howard Sholl

 

  • The Nominating committee announced the slate for next fall.  Elections will be held at the last meeting of the season.
  • We should recognize the work of the Joyce brothers in the community garden.
  • Operation clean sweep will take place the week of May 4.
  • Saturday May 9 will be the TNA special pickup day.  The city workers like coming to our neighborhood, because we help.
  • We are looking for volunteers to work on the garden in the afternoon of May 9.
  • Ingleside has applications available for those who need help with their homes.
  • May 27 will be the annual health and fitness day.  It will be held at 4th and Church near Christina Park.
  • TNA received a thank you from the Friends of Wilmington Parks.
  • Our next meeting is May 4. School Board elections will be held on May 12.  The candidates will be invited to speak.
  • Call Delmarva to change burnt out street lights.  Report the two sets of five numbers on the silver plates found on the utility poles.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.