Statements by Brian E. Lewis
596 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah, I was going to mention that this is not uh city property, it's county. Uh is there any way we can recoup funding or anything from the county in this matter?
Play from 1:35:52Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay, so uh there's no money involved, you're just looking for approval?
Play from 1:36:04Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
The only thing we're going to have to do is maintain it, correct?
Play from 1:36:17Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. Uh I'm fine with that as long as it's not going to cost the city. Nothing further.
Play from 1:36:19Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
You- you know me, family knows me, and I'm pretty much a straight shooter. Um I can tell you this that the council has had discussions on this, and I think we need to continue to have discussions on this uh for the, you know, well-being of all city employees. Um but the gloomy part of it, and I think, you know, Council President Neil will agree with me, we got a budget coming up, and um, you know, rumor is that, you know, it it it don't look- I don't I don't want to make any statements, you know, without going over the budget, but we have to look at the budget first. Let's put it that way. Or let me put it to you that way, because um you've got to remember like we report to the taxpayers and constituents, so nobody wants to raise taxes. But I hear where you're coming from. I was a union rep, so I think we definitely have to have more discussion on this. But thanks for coming tonight.
Play from 1:52:31Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I- I know and I Yeah, and I- and I know, and I- I think I've brought up this question to uh Ms. Mori um when she and uh our HR director came up and spoke a couple of months ago, um and uh I I think, you know, the question I asked is um, you know, because I think they were talking about, because they were not filling jobs and they were using that money for not-
Play from 1:54:20Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
part of the Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee. We stand adjourned and turn it back over to Council President Neil.
Play from 2:07:48Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Second.
Play from 00:15Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Lewis seconds.
Play from 01:08Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:23Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
During our last city council meeting, I commended Ms. Duca and her staff to include um the code enforcement division uh with the chief, Eddie Kopp, for their professionalism, commitment, and um service during the recent two snowstorms that we had. Ms. Sass wasn't available at that meeting, so I felt it appropriate to give her this certificate of recognition because Ms. Sass plays an important role in our city. She is our emergency coordinator, our emergency management coordinator, and uh not only does she deal with keeping the city safe on a daily basis, uh she also keeps us, in particular with these last two horrific snowstorms, abreast of weather conditions along with the public. Uh she also uh receives phone calls uh that are for us, city council members and staff, and deals with various complaints and such. So, I personally feel that uh she is deserving of this, so I had this certificate of recognition made up for her, which I will read into the record. Presented to Kay Sass, in sincere appreciation and recognition of your exceptional leadership, diligence, and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the residents of the City of Dover during the two most recent snowstorms. Your proac-
Play from 09:02Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh good evening. Uh I think you answered uh two of my questions. Uh one was um when will be your next audit? And you had indicated uh it would be next year, uh this year?
Play from 35:28Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
This year? Okay.
Play from 35:40Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. Um, and uh that audit will be available uh to the public?
Play from 35:44Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. Um, the other question I had was who does your financials now, and you had indicated that you uh have an accounting firm that does that.
Play from 35:49Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Faw Casson, okay. Um,
Play from 36:00Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Regulations.
Play from 37:26Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh my next question, or final question is, we all want to see downtown Dover flourish, but we have a public safety and crime issue. Um, is there any funding available to assist with public safety on your part?
Play from 37:29Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I beg I'd beg to differ, but I figured I would ask you about uh the money as far as being allocated to assist with public safety, but I understand, you know, since it's coming from the state, um you have to follow the guidelines, etc. But I figured I would ask because the money is coming in.
Play from 38:44Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 49:11Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 51:23Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 1:28:39Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Safety Advisory?
Play from 1:34:32Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 1:57:15Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Good evening, gentlemen.
Play from 35:34Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
There's no doubt that the system needs to be upgraded in this chamber. It's going to come down to cost, though, and I don't know if you'd be able to give us an estimated cost this evening on how much it would be to replace the system in this chamber. Can you give that information tonight, or?
Play from 35:35Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Well, less than a million dollars, I mean, that that's high.
Play from 36:19Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Understood. So to be cost-effective, you can still utilize some of the equipment that currently is in place in this chamber. What are the warranties that come with the new system or new equipment that you're going to be integrating into this chamber if it's approved?
Play from 37:15Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. So, depending, I guess, on what plan we get as far as the warranty, it comes in intervals, it could be a 1 year, 2 year, 3 year, am I correct?
Play from 38:14Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. Then my next question: if we, for instance, authorize a maintenance plan for 2 or 3 years, would our IT department, and I guess this question would come to you, Joe, be able to maintain the equipment after the contract ran out?
Play from 38:21Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Understood. And that's all the questions I have at this time.
Play from 40:14Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I, I just have a comment, if I may. Most recently, we had Bayhealth here and I'm employed by Bayhealth, and I recused myself because we had a vote on the matter of expanding the hospital, and I had asked the city solicitor in the back room what should I do, and he told me that I needed to recuse myself, it would be safe to do that, and I did if you recall, and you could look at the minutes when it came to the vote.
Play from 1:19:30Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Understood, but I just wanted to...
Play from 1:20:22Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Um, second. I second it, or--
Play from 1:34:10Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Well, I think you pretty much, uh, summed it up, um, Council President Neil. Uh, I was basically only going to interject the fact that, um, when this, uh, came before the committee the last time, um, there were some issues, uh, with the application. An email was sent out to all of us by a Mrs. Frances Perry, which was very alarming to the fact that there was, uh, misrepresentation misrepresentation of information on the application, um, to include veterans. And, uh, my understanding is that the Veterans Affairs already has their own workforce development program. Um, but, um, her email was very alarming. So I was just going to bring that out to the fact that, um, I was not going to, uh, support the funding based on that, and also based on the fact that, um, I felt that this was a duplication, because the Department of Labor already has a workforce development program, and I have spoken to representatives over there at the Department of Labor, and they themselves said that they didn't feel that this was needed, because they have an array of programs over there for the homeless to go over and, uh, apply themselves to. Uh, and that's all I have. Thank you.
Play from 1:42:29Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
These days, probably a substantial amount of money.
Play from 2:20:49Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Play from 02:11Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 06:02Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 06:34Feb 25, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
President Neil, before you move forward on that item, uh, I would like to make a—well, first of all, I had dialogue with the chief earlier this afternoon, and I'd like to make a motion, um, to defer this item to the next council meeting, uh, to revisit, uh, a conversation that I had with Ms. Benne. Uh, in view of the recent loss of a family member, um, you know, I don't feel that it would be appropriate right now to speak with her. Uh, so that's why I'm making this motion at this time.
Play from 12:17