McDaniel Civic Assn.

December 3, 2007 Minutes

December 3, 2007 Minutes

McDaniel Civic Association
P.O. Box 7075 Wilmington, Delaware 19803
web site: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com

The McDaniel/Concord Manor Civic Association meeting opened at 7:00 PM on Monday, December 3, 2007 at Aldersgate Church by RJ Miles, President. Debby Waxman, Secretary; Mike Lauser, Treasurer; and Vice President, Taber Smith were present. There were approximately 30 people for the meeting.

RJ started the meeting by beginning with those present who needed to move on to other meetings. First up was Corporal Haggerty who was filling in for Amy Kevis. She advised us to be on the alert as there have been reports of people being followed in the area. She also explained the difference between robbery (a gun in your face) and burglary (invasion of home or business). She let us know the graffiti hotline (571-7332) and website (NCCPD.COM) for complaints. We all need to do our part in observing where this happens, and assured us that our phone calls or online complaints are anonymous.

State Senator Charles Copeland then touched upon the January 24, 2008 yard waste ban, which is back in effect. As of yet, there is no Brandywine Hundred site set up for yard waste drop off, but this is being worked on. He again let us know that our individual haulers, as well as the Delaware Solid Waste Authority have provisions in place to take care of the yard waste.

The President of CCOBH, Chuck Landry, spoke to us about crime in the neighborhoods. It was again impressed upon us that we are all responsible for reporting crime as each one reported helps to build a profile of the neighborhood. He also added that cars being parked on the street are an added target.

CCOBH, the umbrella organization for the Brandywine Hundred civic associations has a newly designed website up and running: www.CCOBH.org which has all the news and links galore for our area.

He expressed his opposition to the 202 & Naaman’s Woodlawn development, especially because there will no longer be a left hand turn possible from 202. As Bob Weiner agrees with the opposition, the floor was turned over to him for further discussion.

New Castle County Councilman Bob Weiner spoke out again about graffiti and vandalism, and our responsibility to be vigilant. He reminded us of the non-emergency number 573-2800. He spoke about the new Citizen’s Anti-Graffiti Brigade and the need for volunteers.

He gave us a run down on the 202 & Naaman’s Road Woodlawn development, and expressed his opposition, not necessarily to its development, but to the Whole Foods proposed complex. The traffic pattern will be complicated by routing traffic through the development in a jug handle pattern, further congesting the intersection, and negating the left hand turn. For those who are awaiting the arrival of a Whole Foods store in our area, Bob informs us that they have another option to build just over the PA line. There is also talk that this will so complicate morning and evening drive time, that the AIG Building tenants will leave.

As Woodlawn needs the money from this corner to fund their other very worthwhile projects, Bob feels that several other options would be less invasive, such as senior housing or a Level One Trauma Center as an offshoot of Christiana Care.

He touched on the work that is being done to revitalize Claymont. In place of Brookhaven, condos in the range of $165,000-$250,000 are being proposed; units that are affordable to the working professionals.
He also briefly mentioned that he there is an 8% yearly increase for county employees, so he doesn’t feel the fiscal picture has been tightened enough to warrant tax increases.

Representative Gregg Lavelle then spoke and told us that he has again introduced a bill to repeal the ban on yard waste. He says we are in the same position as a year ago, that nothing new has been done to help the homeowner, except for additional charges.

He was pleased the Blue Ball project is now finished within the seven year time frame and on budget. The Can Do Playground is also finished, but he advised us that this is a State Park and will be subject to the State Park system of entrance fees.

When asked about the health insurance bill, SB6, he advised that there are major flaws in the bill that would end up not insuring any extra people, yet would cost $12-15 million with only $2 million in the budget.

He was also asked why the fire hydrant on Brookfield continues to run. The way the system is configured at present, it needs to run because of the water quality on Marianna. Unfortunately, the water runs into the water shed basin at Shellpot. They are aware of the problem and are working on it.

It was brought to Gregg’s attention that the storm drain at Springer High (Shellpot and Prospect) needs maintenance. He promised it would be looked into.

Someone on Roseanna asked for speed bumps. Gregg informed us that DelDot first does the study on volume and speed of traffic which takes two years. Then the residents on the street all must be surveyed. If 66% of the residents respond positively, then they can be put in at a cost of $7,500 each.

This brought up the budget for paving, which is only $250,000 from DelDot. Florence to Orchard will be paved this spring. Shellpot from Goodley to Delaware Avenue will be done one year from now.

The meeting was then turned back over to our President, RJ. The first topic of conversation was our new snowplowing. We have contracted with Jason, who lives in Fairfax and, therefore, has a vested interest in the area. He is already serving both Fairfax and Graylyn Crest, our local neighborhoods. Therefore, we won’t be playing second fiddle to commercial establishments. Jason has more trucks and our cost will be on par with what we’ve spent in the past. Jason will salt if less than 4”. We were reminded to keep our vehicles off the streets during snow storms to allow the plows to do their jobs.

He touched on the school consolidation and that two schools will be closed. Springer will be rebuilt next fall, and Brandywood is scheduled to be rebuilt also. Schools will be reconfigured to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

RJ expanded on the Anti-Graffiti Brigade. A captain in each area will call upon 3-5 other volunteers on a random Saturday to clean up public land. Volunteers are needed. DelDot will supply cones, suits, brushes, paint, etc.

The code enforcement problem (rocks) on 104 Lyndhurst is 90% complete after seven years.

Community Watch will be the topic for the Spring newsletter. Volunteers for block captains are needed to patrol the neighborhood in pairs after some training.

RJ let us know that the Crimestoppers are continued and expanded. The anti-graffiti poster campaign that started in Brandywine is now statewide in all middle and high schools. There is a website: www.tipsline.org and a phone number 1-800-TIP-3333 for anonymous tips and even a reward if it leads to an arrest.

RJ then opened up the meeting to let one of our neighbors, Joe Myers, explain to us about the new waste removal service he expects to have up and running by March. His company is called Brandywine Waste Services and he’ll be offering a once a week regular trash and yard waste pick up for $21/month. He will be using smaller trucks and will not tack on a fuel surcharge. He also will be providing a 64 or 96 gallon trash can and will even take the cans back up to the house. He expects to be able to offer a discount for senior citizens. (joeandleen@msn.com 478-3742)

As there was no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Debby Waxman