New Castle County government had an available $10.8 million surplus in its general fund on June 30 and another $7 million in uncommitted money in its sewer facilities fund.

Those amounts, contained in a just-issued report, make up part of what previously has been defined by officials as a $230.5 million 'surplus', but the difference actually was the combination of the money in various reserve accounts. That led during campaigns leading up to the election in November to questions about just how large the budget surplus was. That issue is now before Court of Chancery in the form of a taxpayers suit challenging the legality of some of the funds. Vice chancellor William Chandler ordered county officials to substantiate existence of the funds in question and explain how they were established.

County auditor Robert Hicks took exception to the current 'Computation of Available Surplus' report on the grounds that, unlike previous years, it does not contain a summary of how portions of the gross amount had been designated for specific uses. As Delaforum previously reported, the independent auditing firm of Ernst & Young confirmed that the reported amounts jibe with the county's financial books, but the firm did not express an opinion about procedure used to calculate them or the form in which they were reported. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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TALKING OUT OF TURN?: Common Cause of Delaware, a government 'watchdog' organization, called on officials of the state Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control to stop talking with British Petroleum about its proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in New Jersey, opposite Claymont, until the company files an application for a Coastal Zoning Act permit. The terminal's dock would be in Delaware, whose boundary extends to the Jersey shore. B.P. allegedly said in a filing with federal regulatory authorities that it was holding conversations with Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland officials. Doing so, Common Cause maintains, would violate Delaware law.

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CLAYMONT CELEBRATES THE SEASON:

Photo by Anita Sterling County Councilmen John Cartier (left) and Robert Weiner (right) during ceremonies at the conclusion of the annual Claymont Christmas parade. Cartier was elected to represent a new district, formed by splitting Weiner's district, which includes most of the community. Between them is George Lossé, president of the Claymont Coalition. The parade, on Dec. 4, attracted the largest number of participants and spectators of any in the series.

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TEACHERS RECOGNIZED: Five Brandywine School District teachers have been granted nationalcertification, according to the Delaware Department of Education. The designation by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is deemed to be the highest level of professional recognition. Receiving it were: Kristen Aiello, of Mount Pleasant Elementary; Sara Jane Dunford, of P.S. du Pont Elementary; Wanda Lentz, of Concord High; Enid Van Such of Forwood Elementary; and Bonnie Wilson, of P.S. DelDOE said 45 public school teachers received certification this year, bringing the total holding it to 250.

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The Brookview Apartments complex is up for sale, according to Brett Saddler, president of the new Claymont Renaissance Development Corp.

He told Delaforum at a media and community event on Nov. 22 that the complex off Philadelphia

Pike has been listed at an unspecified asking price with a Washington, D.C., broker. If it changes hands, that would be particularly significant, because the property has long been considered a key to efforts to attract investment and rejuvenate Claymont. The development organization is a follow-on to the Claymont Renaissance steering committee which gave way to it and an advisory committee to review proposed development plans following approval of 'hometown' zoning status. At the ceremonial opening of an office in the Claymont Community Center, Saddler said the development corporation is intended to "prove Claymont is serious" about its future. County Executive-elect Christopher Coons said it is expected to turn "what was just a hope" four

Brett Saddler is flanked by Claymont's traditional purple and gold at the ceremonial opening of the development corporation office.

years ago into reality. Councilman Robert Weiner said it is expected that the until-now volunteer effort will be augmented with a paid staff. Saddler said the initial project is to develop a business and marketing plan to attract potential business and residential investment from as far as the Philadelphia area. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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ROX & SOX: Wilmington Blue Rocks fans can expect to continue to see baseball talent destined to reach the major league with the parent organization. Ben Cherington, who is in charge of player development for the Boston Red Sox, told Delaforum that that organization is in the process of redirecting its approach to its farm-team system. "We're not where we want to be yet, but we're getting there," he said. Only two players on the roster which won for the Sox their first world championship since 1918, Trot Nixon and Kevin Youokilis, came up through the ranks.

When the Blue Rocks ended a 12-year affiliation with the Kansas City Royals to link up with the Red Sox, observers thought lack of emphasis on its minor league operations would result in a decline in the caliber of players assigned here. Only twice in the dozen years has the team lost more games than it won and some 75 alumni, including Sox star John Damon, have gone on to big-league play. At a media event on Nov. 22 Cherington described the Blue Rocks as the "gem of the league" and its Carolina League as "the best high-A league in baseball."

The Blue Rocks compromised a color problem with the new affiliation. Uniforms next season will have the full team name in blue, but carry large red player-identification numbers front and back.

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Financial disclosure requirements for county employees and, especially, for volunteer board members would be eased by a proposed ordinance.

An ordinance sponsored by Councilman Robert Weiner which he introduced into County Council on Dec. 7 would empower the Ethics Commission to waive "literal application of the requirements in a particular case" if it deems that is not necessary to determine actual or perceived conflicts of interest or "would result in an undue hardship on any official or [county] employee." The waiver would have to be specifically requested and would be for one year although another request could be submitted in the subsequent year.

As Delaforum previously reported, changes Council made in the disclosure law in response to the federal corruption indictments drew fire from Victor Singer, chairman of the Planning Board, as being unnecessarily intrusive. Weiner said he "received numerous complaints" along the same lines from other board members. His proposed ordinance also would provide for disclosure of loan amounts by "categories of debt," rather than specific figure. He said the proposed changes would "maintain the integrity of the [reporting] system" and have the approval of the Ethics Commission. (CLICK HERE to read previous Delaforum article.)

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