NO NEW TAXES - AGAIN!
Council passed a resolution to maintain the same tax rate of $0.87 per $100 of assessed property value for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Including contingencies and reserves, the budget is balanced at $4 million dollars. Council made some tough decisions but, in short, decided to invest in the City employees, who continue to help make New Castle a living, working City. Many of the new projects you see happening around the City, planned and in progress, are financed with support from the Trustees of New Castle Commons, new and different public/private partnerships, an increase in civic volunteerism and grant funding which allows more of your tax dollars to work for day-to-day operations. Special thanks to City Treasurer, Janet Carlin, Finance Director, Marian Delaney, City Administrator, Bob Martin and Council Secretary, Jean Williamson for their part to make this happen. For more information, call Finance Council Liaison, Dr. Gen Miller or Council President, Chris Castagno at 322-9801 or email CastagnoCJ@aol.com.
BOOTHHURST IS FIRST MOBILE PLANNING STOP
The Planning Ad Hoc Committee will host the first of six neighborhood-planning sessions at Boothhurst on Monday July 8. The Committee will use the City band shell trailer as a meeting place, which will be parked in the open space area in the center of the neighborhood. The goal is to ensure that input from all neighborhoods is part of the new comprehensive plan. There will be a new location each Monday from July 8 for the following six weeks. The Ad Hoc Committee has already hosted 4 widely publicized Workshops with planning firm, Kise, Kolodner & Straw but participation was lower than desired. For more information, call Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Stan Sykora at 322-9801 or email your Council President, Chris Castagno at CastagnoCJ@aol.com.
FOUR FIRMS ON SHORT LIST FOR BUILDINGS
The Police Action Team evaluated 10 proposals and developed a short list of four for the construction project to design and build the new Police and Municipal Services buildings to be located at the new Municipal Boulevard. The Team interviewed each of these four firms on Monday and a decision is expected on Friday. Design and architecture work are expected to begin next week with input from the Police Department and Municipal Services Commission members. Responding to several complaints of stagnant smell and “unhealthy”
COUNCIL AMENDS TRASH CAN PLACEMENT
City Council adopted Ordinance 410 amending Chapter 204 "Sold Waste" of the City Code. This is an amendment to specify the placement of trash cans after collection as FIVE FEET FROM THE FRONT FACADE of the building unless behind the enclosure of a fence. As with all Ordinances, the Mayor must sign the legislation adopting it into law. This new Code is on file at the City Offices. Once enacted, the City's Health Code Official will enforce the new Code with support from the Building Code officials. A brief outline of the amendment will be mailed in the next MSC electric bill. This amendment is similar the Code of the City of Wilmington and was developed in response to citizen complaints and input. For more information, contact Councilman DiAngelo at 322-9801 or Council President, Chris Castagno at CastagnoCJ@aol.com
NEW BUILDING CODES ADOPTED BY COUNCIL
City Council voted to adopt the International Building Codes that will replace the BOCA Codes currently used. Other complimentary Codes were adopted with the International Building Code including, Int'l Residential Code, Int'l Plumbing Code, Int'l Mechanical Code, Int'l Fuel Gas Code, and the Int'l Property Maintenance Code. Neighboring New Castle County and most other Cities in the State of Delaware use all of these Codes. These Codes are available for review at the City Building Department and are available for sale from New Castle County. For more information about the ordinances, please call Council President, Chris Castagno at 322-9801 or City Building Code Official, Jeff Bergstrom at 322-9813.
LINES & GRADES ORDINANCE AMENDED
City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 407, amending Chapter 215 of the Code titled, Lines & Grades. "Lines & grades" plan was required for all construction in the City to ensure storm drainage and other issues were considered before construction. The amendment allows for the "lines & grades" plan to be waived with the written determination of the City Engineer that such an exception is appropriate. The cost of engineering services will be at the sole expense of the applicant. The amendment will allow for additions to buildings to be considered and evaluated by the Engineer and this amendment is with in the intent of the original Chapter 215. This Ordinance is available at the City offices and if you have any questions about "lines & grades", please call your Building Department at 322-9813.
COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW CITY ENGINEER
City Council voted to appoint engineering firm, URS, as the new City Engineer. Mr. Dave Athey will be project manager of the City of New Castle account. Several firms applied for the position. The Mayor, Council President, Building Code Official, and City Administrator interviewed three firms. The interview team felt that URS was most suitable for the City's requirements. URS is also the Engineer of record for the MSC. The current >engineer will complete the projects in progress. For more information, please call Council President, Chris Castagno at 322-9801 or email CastagnoCJ@aol.com or call City Administrator, Bob Martin at 322-9812.
