Mayor & Council

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING by teleconference by calling 646-931-3860 and entering Meeting ID number: 895 5655 9124 Passcode: 708878 or by visiting Join Zoom Meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89556559124?pwd=4TdG907LChahtJvhVIg2j7ipEswymC.1 Council Meeting Council Chamber, Smyrna Town Hall 27 S. Market Street Plaza, Smyrna, Delaware October 7, 2024 – 7:00 PM Agenda 1. 7:00 PM – Call to order The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Mayor Johnson 2. Pledge of Allegiance After the Pledge of Allegiance, Councilwoman Gott led a prayer 3. Roll Call Roll call was taken by Danielle Pope. All were in attendance but Councilman Pressley 4. Additions/deletions to the published agenda Mayor Johnson mentioned adding a discussion about the Library construction update. Councilwoman Gott motioned to approve the agenda with additions Vice Mayor Rasmussen seconded All approved the agenda with the addition 5. Consent agenda a. Council minutes of 9/16/2024 Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to approve the Council minutes of 9/16/2024 Councilwoman Gott seconded All approved the 9/16/2024 minutes 6. Non-agenda items a. Mayor and Council Members Mayor Johnson – talked about some updates to ordinances he would like to see includes a safeguard on the budget process, providing an end of year summary for the previous and upcoming years. He also talked about having Council as a whole voting in a Vice Mayor and Council Secretary instead of just the Mayor appointing those positions. Mentioned the opioid information and said it’s an agenda item so he will talk more then.  Councilman Johnson – thanked the Electric crew for getting services back on at JBM so quickly last week. Mayor Johnson – thanked the skateboarders for showing up Vice Mayor Rasmussen – thanked the local swift water rescue team for their support in helping the residents of North Carolina. Councilwoman Dr. Upshur – acknowledged September into October as Hispanic Heritage month. Talked about October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. October 11 is National Coming Out Day. October 10 is Global Mental Health Day. October 17 the Smyrna Clayton Rotary will be having a scholarship dinner at Clayton Fire Hall, $60/person; the scholarship is for all Smyrna residents who are seniors. Talked about Pathway Partnerships Interest forms which are options for the Smyrna School District; [classroom speakers, career fair participants, advisory board members, student internships, and more]. Gave an update on IRT, stating that the Smyrna School District has signed the paperwork and is on board for the project. Councilwoman Gott – read the Public Power Week Proclamation. October 23 at 6 p.m. is the Parks & Rec meeting, downstairs. October 12 is the Revolutionary War re-enactment at Belmont Hall. October 19 is the Monster Mile supporting Breast Cancer. December 1 is Christmas in Clayton. December 4 is the Town of Smyrna’s Veterans event at the Opera House. December 7 is the Pearl Harbor Memorial at Lake Como. December 8 is Caroling on the Square in front of Town Hall. Someone from the public asked where these events are published. Councilwoman Gott said that there’s an events calendar link on the website where these can be found. Councilman Pope – read a proclamation for Gerald Mood b. Police Chief c. Town Manager Discussed the report that he provided; year to date financial reports, electric rate comparisons with other municipalities, [the Town is 5 out of 11, sitting on the lower end], we are continuing with staffing updates/filling positions, preparing for the Financial Committee meeting and will be presenting, and attended the dinner recognition for Light Up Navajo. Talked about being in the final quarter of 2024 and remain focused on achieving the goals outlined in the strategic plan: hiring of key positions, budget development, diligent collaborations, and have the support of Town Council.  Mayor Johnson asked if Council would be getting the Budget in the first or second week in November. He would like it by the second. Chief James said they should have it by the first week. 7. Old business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. Update on the International Council Mayor Johnson tabled this b. Update on Opioid Commission information* Mayor Johnson discussed this after Zoom was shut down because of a heckler. Danielle Pope was not present for most of the discussion due closing Zoom and preparing to join the meeting in Council Chambers. What he was talking about when Danielle got into the room was that there are several grants out for Opioid Abatement and Remediation and there is still money available. He hoped that local governments would soon see some of the additional money from the Federal Government. c. Economic Development Incentives* Not discussed 8. New business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. Resolution 007-24 setting date and time for trick-or-treating Vice Mayor Rasmussen – this resolution was amended last year to remove the age limit and would like to propose the resolution without the age. Councilwoman Gott – mentioned that this was discussed last year, and they talked about this not be brought to Council, as it is a standard that Halloween is celebrated on Halloween. Mayor Johnson – first we need to remove the age, then they can go back and discuss it not coming back to Council. Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to approve the resolution with the amendment of the removal of the max age. Councilwoman Dr. Upshur seconded. All approved. There was a heckler on Zoom and the broadcast was shut down. The meeting continued in-person only. b. Amendment of DEMEC alternate from Director of Finance, Travis Stewart, to Assistant Town Manager, Jason McNatt Discussed during the closing of Zoom. Danielle Pope was not present. However, she was told this item was tabled. 9. Presentation and public comments (3 minutes) Ben Jones – skateboard advocate, here to show support to the skateboarders who will be talking. James West – skateboard advocate, here to show support to the skateboarders who will be talking. Ben Buoncristiano – administrator for the Smyrna Skateboard Instagram page. He spoke about the skatepark and how it is more than just skating. It is a place for exercise and mental health wellbeing. In 2018 they asked Council for updates. In 2021 they came back and asked again. They want to work with the town, but have been given short notice on things in the past that have them feeling that the Town doesn’t want to work with them. They want to foster connections. Patricia Hennighan – with Fresh Start. She asked about the general practice of the Town’s disconnects and payments. She read from a law that says disconnections require 1 to 2 notifications, 14 or more days before shut offs. She mentioned that the town phones are constantly busy. People come to them, who have paid their bill, but are still shut off. She continued, saying that fees are weaponizing to the public and asked for longer grace periods. Stephen Williams – a skateboarder’s parent. The skatepark is a lifeline for kids who don’t want to, or can’t, play other sports. Vicky Blair – talked about the skatepark. The residents had their taxes doubled and asked if the skateboarders there understood the cost and maintenance that is put in a skatepark. She mentioned that there are other things that need attention. She talked about the Master Parks Plan and that it has an updated plan. Suggested people go to the Parks and Rec meetings, check out the budgets. Vice Mayor Rasmussen let her know that public comment is for address Council, not the visitors. Vicky said she felt that there were other things that need to be address financially and the Town needs to prioritize. Anthony Chipola – talked about the greatness of the town and the excitement of the skatepark. It is a safe space for children, and they need something to keep them outside. The Master Parks Plan does have a skatepark, but its in one of the last phases of building. Until then, there has been no public notice or resolution. It was talked about at a Parks and Rec meeting, but there’s no video to support it, only minutes. Mayor Johnson asked if there were any more speakers; there were none. He thanked everyone for their comments. Asked that they follow the rules at the skatepark from now on; meaning they can’t move items as it increases the Town’s liability.  Someone asked if they can bring items to the skatepark. Councilwoman Gott said that any items like that have to be approved by Public Works, as the park is a public park. 10. Executive session to discuss personnel matters in which the names, competency, and abilities of individual employees will be discussed. 29 Del. C. § 10004(b)(9). 7:46 p.m. Councilman Pope motioned to move into Executive Session. Councilwoman Gott seconded. All approved. 11. Possible action on matters discussed in executive session 7:56 p.m. Councilwoman Gott motioned to come out of Executive Session. Councilman Pope seconded. All approved. 12. Adjournment 7:56 p.m. Councilman Pope motioned to adjourn. Vice Mayor Rasmussen seconded. All approved. Posted 09/30/2024 at 4:30 PM (#1) Posted 10/2/2024 at 10:45 AM (#2) * added when topic arose NOTE: This agenda as listed may not be considered in sequence. This agenda is subject to change to include additional items, including Executive Sessions, and/or deletion of items, including Executive Sessions that arise at time of meeting.