Minutes

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on June 22, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. with Chairman Hosfelt presiding. Members present were Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Sudler, and Mr. Keller. Mr. Shelton was absent. Members of Council present were Mr. Anderson (arrived at 4:13 p.m.), Mr. Neil, Mr. Cole, Mr. Hare (arrived at 5:07 p.m.), and Mr. Slavin (arrived at 4:17 p.m.). AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Mr. Hutchison moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Sudler and unanimously carried. Discussion - Proposed Committee to Study the Basic Life Safety (BLS) Needs for the City of Dover During the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee meeting held on April 27, 2015, members evaluated proposals for the ambulance service contract. Mr. Scott Koenig, City Manager, advised members that Council had ultimately voted to extend and renew the Prime Care, LLC contract through June 30, 2018. During the discussions, a member of the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee suggested creating a committee to study issues such as procedures and protocols, service delivery, and equipment needs to incorporate in the next request for proposals for ambulance services, which Mr. Koenig stated would take place close to 2017. Mr. Koenig advised members that City Council would be considering an Authorization to Execute Agreement to Perform a Comprehensive Analysis of Police, Fire, and EMS Services for the City of Dover during their meeting scheduled later in the evening. He explained that some recommendations regarding BLS may come out of that study, although BLS would be a relatively small component of the study. Responding to Mr. Hutchison regarding internal mechanisms in place, Mr. Koenig explained that complaints are usually filed in writing with the Emergency Management Coordinator. Moving forward with the current and next budget years, he stated that there would be a file of complaints, remedies, and ultimate disposition which would be monitored to determine best practices for handling such situations. Mr. Koenig noted that this information would not be published, as it is considered to be private, unless specifically requested. Request for Three-way Stop at the Intersection of Dwight Court and George Washington Drive Mr. Christopher Rupp, 1203 Woodrow Court, advised members that a request was submitted to put in a three (3) way stop sign between Dwight Court and George Washington Drive, stating that there are currently no stop signs at this location and, as a result, drivers speed through. Mr. Rupp expressed concern for the safety of people in that area, particularly young children, and suggested that putting a three (3) way stop sign in place may cut down on some of the speeding. Responding to Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Rupp stated that he had not had contact with the Police Department regarding this matter. Mr. Rupp noted that the topic was discussed with a neighborhood watch representative who mentioned putting a policeman at that location, but that was a year ago and this was not done.

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 2 Mr. Hutchison suggested reaching out to the Dover Police Department to ask that officers patrol the area and provide a recommendation on the best way to address the issue. Mr. Scott Koenig, City Manager, indicated that the amount of traffic occurring at this intersection, from an engineering standpoint, would not support the installation of a three (3) or four (4) way stop. However, Mr. Koenig stated that the City had installed stop signs in areas of the City that may have not warranted it from an engineering aspect in the past because a community had submitted a petition that identified a need, and this was agreed upon by all the residents around the stop sign. Mr. Koenig stated that, often, once a stop sign is in place, there are complaints that people are running the stop sign. Then the Dover Police Department will ticket people who violate the stop sign; however, these are typically people that live in and around the area. He reiterated the importance that all members of the community be in agreement. In response to Mr. Sudler regarding an alternative solution, Mr. Koenig stated that people simply need to obey the speed limit. He explained that a lot of money is spent to put up three (3) and four (4) way stops signs and for policemen to patrol due to a relatively small group of people that are creating a major inconvenience for these neighborhoods, but this often does not remedy the issue long term. He said if the community wants a stop sign put in place and will support it and obey it, 80% of the problem is solved; however, if the majority does not adhere to the rules once signage is in place, it is not effective. Major Marvin Mailey, Deputy Police Chief, stated that the Police Department can increase police enforcement in that area which, once in place, usually improves the driving habits there. He concurred with Mr. Koenig that often the individuals in violation are those who live in the community where the street sign is put in place. Deputy Chief Mailey stated that he made note of Mr. Rupp’s complaint and would forward the information to the rest of the Police Department to be addressed. Responding to Mr. Hosfelt, Deputy Chief Mailey advised that the Special Enforcement Unit could do a speed survey on George Washington Drive, which may help as well. Mr. Hosfelt explained that a speed survey can give an indication of the average rate of travel on the road, which could help identify the best way to address the problem. Responding to Mr. Hosfelt, Mr. Rupp said he would be agreeable to a speed survey. Proposed 15 MPH Speed Limits for Alley Ways Mr. Hosfelt explained that Councilman Cole, Third District, had proposed a 15-mph speed limit for alley ways within the City of Dover. Ms. Paula Kinsey, Owner of Tea for Two, 224 North State Street, advised members that her garage is located approximately four (4) feet from an alley and explained that on numerous occasions she scarcely avoided collisions in the alley. She stated concern for the safety of children that ride bikes in the alley ways. Ms. Kinsey expressed her opinion that the speed limit should be 10 mph to provide drivers enough reaction time to stop at a short distance and to allow residents to move about

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 3 safely, as well as pedestrians, college students, and patrons of The Grocery Basket. Ms. Kinsey also noted that as a result of a house in the vicinity being torn down, a short cut was created which caused an increase in foot traffic in the alley, noting that pedestrians often appear to be intoxicated, adding another element of concern for pedestrians and drivers. Mr. Paul Olsen, 301 North State Street, supported Ms. Kinsey’s comments. He stated that he lives across the street from Ms. Kinsey and noted that approximately a year ago, Council approved a stop sign in the alley in the back of his house, which immensely reduced the speed of travel. Prior to that however, Mr. Olsen noted that a person was hit in the alley and he expressed support for whatever action could be taken. Mrs. Kathie Siler, 229 North State Street, expressed her concurrence with Ms. Kinsey, supporting her request to place a 10 mph speed limit in the alley. She stated that she had lived on North State Street for 30 years and recalled a child being hit in the alley and that the homeowner that she purchased the property from was nearly struck as well. She concurred with Mr. Olsen that the posting of a stop sign had been extremely helpful. Mrs. Siler stated that there are a great number of pedestrians that utilize the alley, including children walking home from school, people walking their dogs, etc., and that, with the way the alley is situated and how the garages are placed, the visibility is very poor, leaving very little time to react when traveling beyond 10 mph. She concurred that many people look at the alleys as short cuts and felt that posting signs would be helpful. Ms. Susan Yost, 11 Cecil Street, stated that she also lives on the same alley as Tea for Two, which is between State and Bradford Streets, and expressed her agreement with the previous speakers. She shared her concern regarding speeding through the alley and the danger it poses to herself, children, and dogs. Responding to Ms. Yost, Mr. Hosfelt stated his belief that the speed limit was 25 mph in a residential district. Ms. Sarah Herbert, 223 North Bradford Street, stated that her step-daughter's vehicle was totaled by someone traveling in the alley approximately three (3) years ago, indicating a high rate of speed. She also pointed out that the “Watch for Children” sign in the alley was not placed where it could easily be viewed and this was the total signage in the alley. Ms. Herbert explained that it had been suggested that the residents place their trash cans out further to cause drivers to slow down; however, residents had not done so. Ms. Herbert stated she had written to area residents to ask them to send her their concerns, and there were issues that go far beyond the alley ways. People had expressed concerns regarding arrows pointing in the wrong direction on North State Street, drivers ignoring signs to stop for pedestrian, etc. She stated that signs should be posted low enough so that those speeding by could see them. She reiterated the need for a clear solution to the problems with alleys. Ms. Herbert said that she would provide information regarding the issues brought to her attention by the community to Councilman Cole and that members could review them.

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 4 Ms. Janice Gaddis, 448 North State Street, stated that although speeding was not an issue in her neighborhood, she grew up in Chicago where most homes had garages in the alley, not driveways. She recalled stop signs being posted in the alleys and expressed her thought that the speed limit must have been less than 25 mph. State Representative Sean Lynn, 224 Columbia Avenue, advised the Committee that he had received a number of complaints about this topic, including the lists of constituents and respective emails that had been provided to Councilmen Cole and Neil. Representative Lynn asked the Committee to consider this information and find a way to provide some relief to the constituents. Ms. Lynn Gold, 222 North State Street, expressed her support for everything that had been verbalized regarding this topic. She pointed out that accountability was also an issue, stating that if the City were not accountable for enforcing the limits, they have no impact. Ms. Gold suggested speed bumps, stating that this would require less enforcement because people would either have to stop or wreck their cars. Mr. Hutchison stated that the City does not utilize speed bumps because of fire apparatus and paramedics; however, he felt there were alternative solutions. He assured those present that he shared the safety concerns that were expressed. Mr. Cole expressed his appreciation to Mr. Hosfelt for placing this topic on the agenda and thanked the residents of the Third District for attending the meeting and voicing their concerns. Mr. Koenig advised that the City’s code indicates that the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted and expressed his uncertainty as to whether this would prevent the City from reducing the speed limit to 15 or 10 mph. Mr. Koenig stated that the City has about 16 miles of alleys, and if signs were posted they would be needed at the beginning and likely at the end of each alley, and it was his belief that some posting would be needed in the alleys, which would be difficult from an operational standpoint. He stated that there are obstacles that may pose issues regarding posting and visibility because of the way the alleys are laid out. In addition, the cooperation of property owners would be needed to post signs since some of the alleys are not paved according to property lines. Mr. Koenig advised that alleys in the City are supposed to be 16 feet wide; however, in some cases may be slightly wider or narrower, which would ultimately require signage on private property. Mr. Koenig stated that some people had expressed concerns that alleys were very narrow, and noted that putting up a sign would further narrow the area, creating problems for larger vehicles. He indicated that it would be essential to consider these types of issues when determining if and where signs should be posted and it would take some time to accomplish. Mr. Koenig requested, if the City moved forward with this, that staff be given direction on a location for a pilot project to be tested before going City-wide with it. In response to Mr. Hosfelt regarding whether there would be a difference in enforcement level if speed limits were reduced, Major Marvin Mailey, Deputy Police Chief, stated that 25 mph was faster than it should be, noting that streets with greater visibility and clearance for vehicles have a 25 mph speed limit. He concurred that alleys are tight, have blind spots, and a lot of opportunity for

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 5 accidents. Deputy Chief Mailey stated that he did not oppose the drop in the speed limit and confirmed Mr. Koenig’s statement that Delaware law would require posting at the beginning and end of the speed zone. This would present a problem with enforcement because of the area where officers would have to be stationed to enforce the speed limits. He indicated that if the Department could get its officers out there to enforce the limits safely, they would do so. At the request of Mr. Hosfelt, Deputy Chief Mailey said he would ask the Special Enforcement Unit commander to look into this and perhaps provide some information to the Committee and Mr. Koenig regarding what had been done in other cities or locations in relation to this issue. In response to Mr. Sudler regarding how a reduction in speed limit would affect enforcement, Deputy Chief Mailey stated that, with the many tasks the Police Department has, alleys are not at the top of the priority list, especially considering that the Department is functioning with 88 officers, which was well below manpower standards. He indicated that speed in alleys had not been monitored in some time. Responding to Mr. Cole regarding the requirements for posting, Deputy Chief Mailey stated that the operator must be given due notice of the posted speed so they can decelerate and come within the guidelines. It would have to be posted at the entrances at each end, unless it was a one (1) direction alley. In response to Mr. Cole’s question as to whether an ordinance could be established declaring that all alleys within the City have a 15 mph speed limit, Deputy Chief Mailey stated that this would be a matter for the City Solicitor to address. Mr. Cole advised members that many states had declared a 15 mph speed limit for alley ways throughout their jurisdictions unless otherwise posted and suggested this may be a possibility. At Mr. Hosfelt’s request, Deputy Chief Mailey agreed to research this possibility with the City Solicitor. Ms. Sarah Herbert, 223 North Bradford Street, reiterated that she had provided a list of constituent concerns to Mr. Cole, noting that one (1) of the suggestions was to educate the City regarding pedestrian laws, possibly through the newspaper and schools. She felt that pedestrians do not know what to do on walkways and alleys. Council President Slavin suggested that a motion be made to request staff to begin the process of preparing an ordinance as part of Deputy Chief Mailey’s research. Mr. Hutchison moved to refer this matter to staff for review and recommendation to be followed up at the Committee’s next monthly meeting, seconded by Mr. Sudler and unanimously carried. Discussion - Increased Criminal Activity - Lincoln Park Subdivision Mr. Stanley Richardson, 126 Reese Street, addressed the Committee about a group home located behind his residence. He stated that the facility had been there for a few years but had taken a significant downward turn in the last year and a half. He cited a recent incident where he had to have

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 6 one (1) of the group home residents arrested for trespassing and threatening to destroy his property and blow his head off shortly after a shooting that took place in the neighborhood. Mr. Richardson stated that the individual was later arrested. Subsequent to that, the director of the facility advised Mr. Richardson that a fence was scheduled to be put in place; however, this did not occur. Additionally, Mr. Richardson stated that he was told that he would be made aware when the individual who threatened him was released from jail but this did not occur. He was then told that this individual would be present no longer than a week; however, he was still currently present after three (3) weeks. Mr. Richardson spoke of another incident where a resident of a group home on Bradford Street threw a brick at a neighbor’s windshield and rocks at her car, and who also went to jail. Mr. Richardson stated that something needed to be done about the group home. He indicated that it was said that residents are mentally handicapped; however, based on having worked for the prison system for 27 years, in Mr. Richardson’s experience, prisoners who wanted to be moved to a more private or more relaxed area of the prison would claim to have mental problems. Mr. Richardson felt that those types of individuals were being released to group homes. Mr. Richardson stated that he was informed by a fellow prison retiree who was working with Connections Community Support Programs, Inc., the organization that runs the group home near Mr. Richardson, that inmates were being picked up and put into group homes without screening. He expressed his understanding that this organization was mainly concerned about the $1,500 that they receive per day per resident and they are not paid if these homes are unoccupied. Mr. Richardson said Connections has two (2) other locations in Dover, one (1) of which housed a sex offender until the community protested this individual’s presence, at which time this person was moved out. Mr. Richardson questioned the types of disabilities the individuals being housed at the group home have and expressed his feeling that many do not have a mental disability and are only looking for a place to be housed. Mr. Richardson advised members that he is fearful in his own home and does not feel safe running his lawn care business, stating that he feels he is in a vulnerable position when he is performing tasks like lying down in his driveway while sharpening blades for his lawn care business in his driveway. He noted that when he cuts the grass of Ms. Gloria Gardner, 115 Bertrand Street, next door to the group home, one (1) of the residents gives him dirty looks. Mr. Richardson stated that he had been told that three (3) more group homes were popping up on Saulsbury Road and Forrest Avenue next to the Subway Restaurant. Mr. Richardson suggested that the City notify the neighborhood when approval is sought for a group home. He mentioned again the shooting that took place and expressed his frustrations that no one is speaking up to help the Dover Police Department identify the shooter. In regard to the recent shooting that he mentioned previously, Mr. Richardson advised that he and Detective Woods of the Dover Police Department attempted to obtain information from the father of one of the possible individuals involved who originally stated that he did not know the names of anyone involved, only their nicknames. When pressed for the nicknames after being told the Police Department could likely identify them based on a known nickname, the individual was no longer willing to cooperate or provide any information. Mr. Richardson stated that the same individual whose name the neighbor refused to provide a nickname for, was later arrested, along with

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 7 some other individuals as a result of an incident at Dover Downs. Mr. Richardson thought that there were weapons in the residence of the individual, referring to a shooting that took place eight (8) months ago that the same individual was involved in. Responding to Mr. Hosfelt, Mr. Richardson stated that the individual he was referring to regarding the shooting was not connected with the group home; however, Mr. Richardson felt something needed to be done about both situations because they were both problems and posed a danger to the neighborhood. In response to Mr. Hosfelt, Mr. Richardson stated that he had called the Dover Police Department on numerous occasions and encouraged his neighbors to do the same. He noted that the Dover Police Department does a good job but more needs to be done about the group home and the violence in the neighborhood. Ms. Gloria Gardner, 115 Bertrand Drive, expressed her concurrence with Mr. Richardson’s concerns regarding the health-related group home next door, which opened approximately one (1) year ago. Ms. Gardner stated that when the home first opened, there were no problems with the residents as most of them were wheelchair-bound patients; however, recently, those types of individuals had been replaced by young 19 and 20-year-old men. Ms. Gardner noted specifically that starting on May 21, 2015 the police were called to that location four (4) times in one (1) week, and she no longer feels it is safe for her children to play in the yard. Ms. Gardner added that a couple of weeks ago she observed a young man using a brick to break a window in the group home and was later advised by one of the group’s counselors that the windshield of Ms. Gardner’s car had been broken out of her car and her car had dents from bricks. Her concern was this kind of damage, as well as the physical damage that could be caused to her, her children, or her grandchildren. Ms. Gardner suggested that the facility adopt some kind of screening process for the types of patients that are approved to be housed at the group home. Ms. Gardner shared her understanding that in some cases if someone wants to build something in a neighborhood, a petition would be distributed to the members of the neighborhood to allow them the opportunity to give or deny their permission. She indicated that she was shocked to find that a medical facility was approved next to her house in a residential neighborhood with no one’s knowledge until they started bringing patients in. She asked to be informed what the ordinance or requirement was for this. Responding, Mr. Hosfelt advised Ms. Gardner that her question would be brought to the attention of City staff to be answered. Mrs. Gardner stated that she thought it was very unsafe, noting that she had been in this house for approximately 35 years and she felt that serious changes needed to be made. In response to Mr. Anderson, Ms. Gardner stated that she believed the address of the group home is 125 Bertrand Street, which is next door to her home at 115 Bertrand Street. Mr. Charles M. Durham, 145 Irma Street, stated that he was from the neighborhood being discussed by the last two (2) speakers and lives a block away from the group home. He advised members that he was the former owner of the property next to Ms. Gardner, which he sold it to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, who indicated that it would be a home for people who needed

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 8 short-term assistance. He stated that he went to the neighbors about who would be buying the house and told them what the purpose was, feeling that this was his obligation. That house was torn down and the new one was built. He expressed his apologies to Ms. Gardner, Mr. Richardson, and the other neighbors, stating that had he known the type of facility that was going to be placed there, he would not have sold the property to the buyer. Mr. Durham stated that there were additional issues. Approximately two (2) weeks ago, a 9mm bullet came into his home through a porch window, ricocheted off of the side wall, and landed in a door jamb in a rear room of his home and, based on the angle of entry, the bullet was believed to have come from Simon Circle. In addition, Mr. Durham cited problems with speeding, stating that people disregard the stop signs on Paul and Irma Streets. Mr. Durham stated that he and his wife put up a brand new fence around their yard the first of July, only to have it kicked down by individuals coming through the alley way. He advised members that people speed up and down that alley way and also down Irma and Paul Streets on dirt bikes. Mr. Durham advised that Mr. Richardson had been good enough to talk to the neighborhood about things to solve the problem and he and Mr. Richardson discussed finding a way to block off the entrance to Simon Circle from Reese Street, leaving just a walkway for kids going to school. Mr. Durham recalled that years ago a neighbor by the name of Ms. Martha Woodfolk went around the neighborhood trying to get people to sign a petition to stop the building of Simon Circle and stated that he refused to sign it because he felt that poor people needed a place to live; however, he now wished he had signed the petition. He stated that he and his wife were too old to move, but there were shots fired through his house, another neighbor had two (2) bullet holes in his car and one (1) in the house, and Mr. Richardson had a bullet hole through his basement window. He noted that this was an expense as well. He did not know what could be done in regard to Simon Circle but emphasized that the concerns needed to be addressed. In response to Mr. Sudler regarding the location of the alley that he was referring to regarding the dirt bikes and speeding, Mr. Durham stated that he lives on the corner of Irma Street and Paul Street and the alley runs down the south side of his property and extends from Simon Circle to Davis Circle. Mr. Hutchison stated that there are several group homes within the City and often no one is even aware of their existence, stating that in his experience as a former Mayor of the City of Dover and former City of Dover Police Chief, there are always going to be isolated incidents. He assured those present that the City could reach out to State leadership to address them. Mr. Hutchison stated that the issues and concerns shared tonight were unacceptable and felt that the City of Dover needed to take a leadership role. Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Director of Planning and Community Development, stated for the record and to make sure that members of Council and the Committee know that there are State and Federal laws that prohibit treating a group home for people with disabilities any differently than a single-family home, and there can be no differentiation by disability. Mrs. Townshend concurred with Mr. Hutchison that if issues arise, State licensing agencies can be contacted to address the issues. She advised members that Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. owns the home

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 9 that had been discussed this evening and stated that Title 22, Chapter 3 of Delaware Code, which gives the City zoning authority, specifically states that group homes for people with disabilities cannot be treated any differently than a single-family home. In response to Mr. Hosfelt, Mrs. Townshend stated that the City does not have licensing that is separate from the state licensing and offered to contact the City Solicitor to determine if a City license could be established, even if it were a non-charged license. This would enable the City to have the homes registered and be aware of their locations in order to follow up if an issue arises, but she cautioned that this is a gray area in terms of fair housing. Responding to Mr. Hosfelt, Mrs. Townshend stated that representatives from Connections were present. In response to Mr. Sudler regarding how Ordinance 2013-04, adopted on April 8, 2013, would apply to the current situation with the Connections home, Mrs. Townshend advised that, based on the calls that the Police Department had received for this location, there was nothing to act on under that ordinance. Mrs. Townshend also stated, in response to Mr. Sudler, that if someone from the agency had exhibited nuisance behavior more than three (3) times within a 12-month period, the City would have to seek the guidance of legal counsel and reiterated that, to date, there had not been any incidences that would permit action under that ordinance. State Rep. Sean Lynn, 224 Columbia Avenue, advised members that this issue had been brought to his attention, stating that he had received numerous emails, originally starting from the Gardner family and then moving out through the Lincoln Park area from those concerned about the neighborhood. Mr. Lynn suggested that the neighborhood be looked at from a public works and public safety perspective, stating the easternmost part of the neighborhood, specifically Cherry and Vine Streets, were in utter disrepair. He expressed his opinion that the streets were in deplorable condition and only suitable for traffic going in one direction (1), definitely not both. Mr. Lynn questioned how Cherry Street and Vine Street were approved, noting that they are not conventional City streets. Mr. Lynn shared his feeling that the neighborhood was in dire need of public works attention, noting that the easternmost part of Slaughter Street was also in disrepair, as well as the stream that borders Lincoln Park on the eastern side, and a culvert off Forrest Avenue is full of debris and waste. Mr. Lynn expressed his uncertainty as to who is responsible for maintaining the stream, but indicated that it was not being maintained at all, and the culvert that runs underneath Forrest Avenue was blocked and needed attention. Mr. Lynn noted that Mr. Hosfelt had raised the issue of creating a homeowners association and a neighborhood watch and said he had tried to reach out to Mr. Richardson in this regard but had been unable to obtain his phone number. Mr. Lynn expressed his hope that Council could encourage the Dover Police Department to reach out to set up a neighborhood watch in Lincoln Park, expressing his belief that it would help drastically, as would increased police presence.

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 10 Ms. Kathy McCann, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Connections Community Support Programs, Inc., apologized to Mrs. Gardner for what happened to her car, stating that measures should have been in place to ensure this did not occur, and they were now attempting to remedy this. Ms. McCann stated that the reason the original home on the property was torn down was because it had a great deal of asbestos in it and could not be salvaged. She advised members that Connections built a very nice new house and stated that they are dependent on the State Division of Developmental Disabilities and the State Department of Health and Social Services to make referrals for people to live there. Ms. McCann stated that Connections is not funded with $1,500 a day, as someone asserted earlier, and that the people who live have developmental or intellectual disabilities. She explained that the people that live there right now are very young, and they are not very well socialized, and she agreed that they may not be the best people to live in a neighborhood that is so densely populated. Ms. McCann stated that she would go back and tell the State that the current location is not a good placement for those individuals. Ms. McCann noted that the people who live in the Connections’ home were not involved in any shootings and are not speeding in cars or driving motorbikes, stating that those are issues in the neighborhood, but not related to Connections. In response to Mr. Hosfelt regarding her responsibility to ensure that individuals living at the Connections facility are respectable, Ms. McCann stated that she believes it is Connections’ responsibility that staff manage the people who are living there to the best of their ability. She indicated that if the people are not manageable in this setting, Connections can reach out to the State and ask them to do something different with those people. Ms. McCann stated that it is not possible to force an individual to do anything but, in the spirit of neighborliness, everyone has to be willing to work together because there have been a few incidents in which there had been people agitating on both sides. Responding to Mr. Sudler, Ms. McCann stated that the staff members receive a lot of training, but they are mostly people who have high school diplomas, noting that the people who manage the program are people with Master’s degrees and professional training. Ms. McCann pointed out that, unfortunately, the funding that is available for the program is pretty much based on a rate of $10 an hour, which includes benefits. Ms. McCann stated that Connections pays people a little bit more than that in attempt to get people with a little more qualification, but reiterated that they do go through a State-prescribed training program. In response to Mr. Hutchison, Ms. McCann stated that Connections does not put the individuals through a screening process, they are assigned to them by the State agency. Responding to Mr. Hutchison’s comment that this was a problem, Ms. McCann agreed, explaining that Connections does not have the right to say yes or no to a prospective resident; their only recourse is to explain to the State that it is not a good location because of the dense population, which is a problem for those who have issues getting along with other people, noting Connections’ responsibility to be good neighbors.

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 22, 2015 PAGE 11 In response to Mr. Hutchison regarding the State’s responsibility to consider an individual’s ability to be in a neighborhood setting when assigning them to the home, Ms. McCann stated that the problem is that many of these people would otherwise be institutionalized and federal law no longer permits that, so the State is now in the position of having to find alternative places for them to live, adding that funding is also an issue. For the record, Mr. Anderson advised members that Mr. Sudler had previously suggested setting up a mobile substation that could be moved to different areas and locations. Mr. Anderson stated such a substation could stay at a location for two (2) or three (3) months, then move to another location. Mr. Anderson asked that the Committee put this up for investigation and research. Mr. Hutchison stated his belief that Deputy Chief Mailey had heard the complaints and would take them back to Chief Paul Bernat, and together they would come up with a game plan to address some of the concerns regarding Simon Circle and Lincoln Park. Mr. Hutchison expressed his desire to revisit this issue. Mr. Sudler moved to recommend that the Dover Police Department increase their presence in the Simon Circle and Lincoln Park areas, as they had in the other location near State Street, and concentrate on the alley way and the areas of concern. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hutchison and unanimously carried. Deputy Chief Mailey stated that he wanted to advise Council, the residents from Lincoln Park, and all those present that the Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, which is overseen by Lt. Jason Pires, had been in place in Simon Circle, Lincoln Park, Bertrand Avenue, and that whole area since June 17, 2015, and they had made numerous arrests. Deputy Chief Mailey urged the residents of that area to report immediately any criminal activity that they see or become aware of. Mr. Hutchison moved to defer the remaining agenda items until the July 27, 2015 Safety, Advisory, and Transportation meeting, seconded by Mr. Sudler and unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:11p.m. James E. Hosfelt, Jr. Chairman JEH/MFK/js/dd S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS-PRESENTATIONS-ATT&EXH\Committee-Minutes\2015\06-22-2015 SA&T.wpd