Memos at Random


	A potpourri of miscellaneous news SCRIBBLED IN A REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

Claymont expects to join Hockessin as the first applicants for 'hometown' zoning when County Council considers zoning applications in October.

Planning consultant Tom Comitta said he will have a draft community plan ready for the Claymont Renaissance steering committee when it meets in June. If approved and later adopted by Council, the plan would establish standards for future building and major renovations in what are considered 'traditional' neighborhoods. "It would guide development in those areas the way we want it," Josh Mastrangelo, the land use department's liaison with the committee, said at a meeting on May 20. The plan will mainly target "underutilized or underperforming properties," Comitta said.

Although final boundaries of the locally-controlled development zone were not defined, the committee seemed agreed it should cover both sides of Philadelphia Pike between Harvey Road and Darley Road, extend west to Green Street and possibly include some segments of Governor Printz Boulevard on the east. Daniel Harkins, of the Rolling Park Civic Association, cautioned that emphasis should be on "encouraging the formation of businesses that serve our everyday needs" in order to counter the present trend of Claymonters having to go afield in Brandywine Hundred to do their routine shopping.

MORE ASSISTANCE COMING: Brandywine School District will establish a foundation to provide non-tax financing for supplemental services to help its high school graduates pursue further education, superintendent Bruce Harter told the Claymont Community Coalition on May 20. He said the aim is primarily to assist "the 30% of our kids" who do not go on to four- and two-year colleges. Other than to say that contributions from individuals and private foundations would be used, and that some services would require payment of a fee, he did not go into details about how the Brandywine foundation will function.

When Russ McCabe places an historic marker in Sussex County, in early June, the plaque will be the 200th put up since he became director of the marker program 13½ years ago.

That milestone is significant in a couple of respects. It equals the number erected in the previous 60 years since the program began. More significantly, he said, the pace at which the capsule history lessons have been appearing illustrates what even he is surprised to find -- continuing strong public interest in Delaware's heritage. "You'd expect that to slack off after the [turn of the] new century was over, but it hasn't. If anything, it's gotten stronger," he said. "The impetus is not just coming from native Delawareans, but [also] from other residents as well."

A record 31markers were erected in 2003. All but a few were the result of suggestions from local organizations or, in some cases, individuals, he said. "Occasionally, we have to say no, but that's rare." What's required, he explained, is commemorating a place or event which holds a reasonable degree of general public interest. It is up to the General Assembly to provide financing, usually at the behest of a lawmaker from the area where the marker is to be placed. Current cost is about $2,250. Each inscription is thoroughly researched to assure accuracy, he said.

McCabe said he's as enthusiastic about the program as he was when he first went to work for the state archives. So much so, he added, that he wants to be remembered as "the Johnny Appleseed of roadside history."

IT'S HERE, NOT THERE: The marker commemorating the Court of Chancery decision which ended up being the only one of the five Brown vs. Board of Education cases which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld when striking down racial segregation on public schools was put in front of building where the

M.B.N.A. Bank, did not figure into the decision. That structure, which dates to 1914 is probably in line for historic identification as well, he said. But he added, "We haven't had any discussion about that with the present owner." As Delaforum has previously reported, the exterior appearance of the Public Building has been extensively altered. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delafourm article.)

GOING, GOING AND PROBABLY GONE: Lynn Gehouskey apparently has outlasted her old charge, the county parks advisory board. And the Department of Special Services project manager has no one to thank for that as much as herself. Even before she finished telling County Council's executive committee that the board did virtually nothing for 23 years -- before the state legislature morphed it into the special services advisory board as part of the 1997-8 reorganization of county government -- the Council members voted unanimously to ask the General Assembly to get rid of it. The board was formed in 1973.

Gehouskey told the committee on May 18 that between 1989 until 1996, while she was its secretary, the board held 28 meetings and only three of them managed to muster a quorum. Board members did little more than try to promote personal interests, she said. Gehouskey was backing up her boss, general manager Joseph Freebery, who told the committee that his department can get along very well without an advisory board. The committee took up the matter after an outside auditing firm noted in its fiscal 2003 report that the board has had nothing but empty seats since the reorganization.

Although the proposed new property code could be enacted as soon as May 25, the Department of Land Use wants to gather some community reaction before it becomes law.

"I have no emotional attachment" to the pending version, general manager Charles Baker told a recent meeting of leaders of areawide civic organizations. On the contrary, he said, the department plans to produce a revised version after receiving 'community input'. As Delaforum previously reported, the basic intent was to update the existing code and incorporate it into the Unified Development Code. In drafting its provisions, the department "wasn't going to go too far afield from what is already here," Baker said. The intent was to prohibit "conditions that lower neighboring property values."

Council of Civic Organizations of Brandywine Hundred has raised objection to blanket approval to allow parking of recreational vehicles of any size in residential areas, according to Daniel Bockover, its president. Chuck Mulholland, of the Southern New Castle County Alliance, questioned why raising of small mammals such as ducks and guinea hens, which he said are ecologically beneficial, should be prohibited while horses get carte blanche. Powell herself has questioned a ban on parking some large vehicles, such as delivery trucks, on the properties of people who make their living driving them.

June 18 has been set as the target date for diverting Concord Pike and Foulk Road traffic onto the six-lane bypass around the intersection of those busy roads.

That will allow for construction of bridges to carry the pike over the connecting road and walking path

merge. There will be a 35 m.p.h. posted speed limit on the bypass which, he said, is not unrealistic since the posted limit on the pike is 40 m.p.h. He admitted, however, that the new one is no more likely to be widely respected than the present one.

PICK IT UP: Builders have to clean up after themselves at construction and demolition sites and put trash and debris into containers which keep it from blowing around under an ordinance approved unanimously by County Council on May 11. Councilwoman Patty Powell said the measure addresses a pet peeve of hers and many others. She acknowledged that simply dropping wrappers and other material as work is underway is understandable, but said that, at the end of the day and other logical breaks, it should be stowed away. Those who don't now face $200 fines plus $10 a day for continuing violations.

Parents and brothers and sisters would be added to list of people whom county employees must avoid when making purchases or contracting with outside of the competitive-bidding process under a proposed ordinance sponsored by Councilman Robert Weiner. They already are barred by law from such dealings with their spouse or children.

Different rules would apply to hiring outside lawyers to represent county departments and using them for individual employees under legislation introduced into County Council.

The measure, submitted without comment by Councilwoman Karen Venezky on May 11 and expected to acted upon on May 25, continues to require Council approval to spend more than $50,000 for professional services not subject to competitive bidding. However, it would exempt services of outside lawyers hired to represent offices, departments or agencies. Such representation for employees "in a criminal investigation or action" would still require Council approval if the amount involved reaches that level. The proposed ordinance contains no reference to civil suits involving individuals.

As Delaforum previously reported, the issue was raised at a recent court hearing on a taxpayer suit challenging the practice of using outside lawyers when Chancellor William Chandler found the applicable county law ambiguous. Venezky's proposal, which is characterized in its title as a clarification, followed a May 4 behind-closed-doors briefing on the case for Council's executive committee by county attorney Timothy Mullaney and Collins Seitz, an outside lawyer representing the county. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

The measure also would authorize the county's chief administrative officer to transfer funds among line items in departmental budgets, another issue raised in the case.

ANNEXATION 'ON HOLD': Wilmington's bid to annex the Miller Road Shopping Center has been delayed pending a determination of how to accommodate two economic development proposals, according to County Councilman Robert Weiner, in whose district the center lies. City government wants to provide incentives for a Shop Rite supermarket to be located there. The Delaware Economic Development Office has offered the site to Access Group, now based on Foulk Road, as a place for larger office facilities. The former idea requires annexation while the latter would fall through if that happens.

Weiner said both proposals are still viable if everyone involved can come up with a way to redraw the city boundary to split the property at the northwest corner of the city between city and county jurisdiction. Many years ago, it was gerrymandered in order to put a brickyard outside the city. Weiner said the Shop Rite incentives are conditioned on the store's being in the city while Access Group officials do not want their employees to have to pay the city's wage tax. That company, which finances law school education, previously sought to relocate at the abandoned Cannin School site on Naamans Road.

PLAY NICE: Brandywine Little League will get its fields at Naamans and Marsh Roads after all -- but with a condition that the public can use them when league teams are not. County Council on May 11 approved passing through $310,040 of state money to develop the site as a county park. When that happens, special services general manager Joseph Freebery told Council, the park will be managed like all others in the system where organized leagues and other groups obtain permits to use the facilities at stated times. They open for use by anyone else at times when the permits are not in effect, he said.

RIVERFRONT GRANT APPROVED: County Council voted unanimously on May 11 to release $10 million to the Riverfront Development Corp. to develop a nature and conservation area, but did so with a promise to make money available in the future to support neighborhood projects in Wilmington. Councilman Penrose Hollins, whose district includes the city, told Council's finance committee that he has no objection to spending public money to attract people into the city, "but it's time to look at those people who are here 24-7." The Riverfront enclave is located with Wilmington.

Council president Christopher Coons, who lives in the city, said he agreed that the nature area is a worthy cause, but called for "comparable investments in other communities in the county that have needs." The county grant -- which will cover about two-thirds of the cost of the project -- was held up pending receipt of additional information about details of the project. They are still generally unavailable, but Coons said, "We're willing to trust the [development corporation's] board that they will use this public money well."

MIRROR IN MINIATURE: Four American Legionnaires have arranged for Delaware to have a smaller scale counterpart to the dedication in Washington of the long-awaited World War II memorial. Richard Struck. commander of Laurence Roberts Post, said they spearheaded the project at the national American Legion as a way to provide a venue for people who cannot attend the Washington celebration, which is expected to draw an overflow crowd. "We are glad to do it," he said, noting that the May 29 event, during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, honors all military veterans. Delaware has an estimated 88,000.

The local ceremony, at the Riverfront Arts Center, will begin with a prayer breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by a 9:15 walk in support of veterans with mental illnesses, of which Struck said there are between 3,000 and 5,000 in Delaware. The $15 charge will go to that cause. Reservations and donations are being accepted by Wilmington Savings Fund Society, 2502 Foulk Road. There will be displays of World War II memorabilia and band performances. Also on the committee are: Lyman Brenner, Maj. Gen. Francis Ianni and Wayne Pledger. Rita Marocco, of the mental illness association, also is involved.

Wilmington will continue to observe Memorial Day with a parade on the traditional date, May 30 -- which this year falls within the holiday weekend -- as it has every year since soon after the Civil War. It will step off at 6 p.m. at Rockford Park and proceed east on Delaware Avenue to a commemorative service at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Broom Street.

Congressman Michael Castle said he is seeking $150,000 in federal money to begin a long-term project to develop a recreation area along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

Standing on the banks of the waterway on May 7, he acknowledged that, with an initiative of that magnitude, "the good days are the one when you make the announcement and the one when you cut the ribbon." In between, he said, there has to be a lot of hard work by many people. He didn't speculate on how long 'in between' will take or eventually cost, but said the result will be worth it. He described the canal as "an untapped recreational and educational resource." If Congress approves, the money will go to finance a study by the Army Corps of Engineers in hopes of bearing that out.

"It is a wonderful idea that should have been thought of long ago," said New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon, who pledged county participation. Lt. Col. Thomas Chapman, who heads the Corps' mid-Atlantic region, said it is "not just a dream -- it can become a reality." Opened in 1829 as a privately-owned nautical tollway, the canal now is a free 35 feet-deep, 14 mile-long channel across Delaware and Eastern Shore Maryland for nearly 1,000 commercial ships a year and scads of 'weekend navy' boats. Delawareans have long divided themselves between those living 'above' and those 'below' the canal.