Statements by Fred A. Neil
1,535 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay, Councilman Anderson, Fourth District.
Play from 04:11Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilman Anderson, thank you. Councilman Sudler, Fifth District.
Play from 05:38Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Councilman Lewis, are you unmuted now?
Play from 07:15Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, sir. You're on now.
Play from 07:21Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Correct. Second District, you're clear.
Play from 07:26Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. My report. I attended the, uh, October the 8th Code Board of Appeals hearing with Chairman Sommer. Uh, thanks to the chair of DHR, Dr. Michu Nedler, who uncovered the second Third District representative that has been missing with the death of the original member of that board, and her name is Chiara Fox Mulholland. Uh, Third District, we had three East Lake constituent complaints, one involving a storm drain, one dealing with a truck and a shopping cart, and then grass being blown down into drains, all three handled by Code Chief Kopp. A constituent called and requested that Acorn Lane be closed off to non-local traffic as East Loockerman Street was blocked off. The matter was referred to Assistant Manager Lyon, who reported that Acorn Lane is a DelDOT roadway and not under City control. A constituent complained once again about a new house being built at William and Water Street. The complaint this time was about debris, and Code Inspector Kopp has already taken actions against the property owner. And after being referred to by Yvonne Martine, I've discussed with a man living on White Oak Road at 83, at 83 April Drive about a problem with a neighbor. And that's my report. And now, is Councilwoman Hall now available?
Play from 08:29Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
She's not here available. Because of that, uh, we will switch to, uh, the Legislative and Finance, uh, Committee, uh, and that motion, uh, goes to Councilman Anderson. The floor is yours, sir.
Play from 10:18Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Is there such a motion? I'll entertain a motion to that effect.
Play from 28:55Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Now that's been seconded. I just want to make one note that the reason it was done, it was not done on purpose. It was done because the chairperson was not here to basically take that meeting, and so that was the reason for it. Any discussion on the motion? No discussion. All in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? It passes unanimously. Please continue, Mr. Chairman.
Play from 29:13Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Is your house protected by Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson?
Play from 33:00Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
No.
Play from 47:54Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Mr. Chair?
Play from 1:03:34Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. Exactly, that's exactly what we're trying to do. We're dealing with people, and we've been asked by citizens to help with the people who are not able to help themselves because of addictions or because of mental illness, which is leading to homelessness. There is no way that we can take, legally, action as members of council. You need a legal system that's going to say that this is required of you to have help, uh to do that help, and you need to have a legal system in order to do that. And this has been asked by citizens who have come to us and say they our businesses have been disrupted, we can't make the money, this is the money that we we are going to be paying in order to help these people, and we can't afford it because they're interrupting our businesses and driving uh customers away, and they're hurting the values of our home. That is exactly the reason why the alderman's court steps in and basically does what the uh uh Department of Justice isn't doing. If the Department of Justice was doing this, we wouldn't have to go this way. And citizens who have come to us and asked for this help, not maybe not you, but others who are basically affected, and it has nothing to do with money from these individuals. It has to do with saying this is something that's required of you to get the help that you need, that help has got to be there long enough to be able to get them off of those uh problems with their mental illnesses or of their uh detoxification and to get them into training programs. That's the reason for it. I yield, Mr. Chairman.
Play from 1:03:39Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And now I can announce that Chairwoman Donyale Hall can get at the business of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Enhancement Committee. Floor is yours.
Play from 1:21:45Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Madam Chairman.
Play from 1:23:13Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, thank you. In addition to the packet material which is available to everyone and is quite copious, I read the minutes of the Council Committee of the Whole meeting that I missed due to a not so common cold. I will be voting to approve staff recommendations as the evidence speaks for itself: the failure to to follow federal requirements and state legislature, I mean the city ordinances, and timelines. The main concern that the crux of this is what replaces the lost spaces. I reviewed a proposal presented by Councilman Dr. Sudler, which I support and hope the members of the City Council will support in resolution. It calls for the use of the 150-bed state Morris Correctional Facility, now city empty. The mayor also mentioned the fact that the family court, which is a state property and not ours, also stands empty and could be used. We do need to resolve the problem. I think this Council is interested, is very interested in resolving the problem. And on October the 27th, as Chairman Anderson has mentioned, this is a topic that will be explored very thoroughly. So we're not ignoring the problem, we know that it exists, and we need to have replacements and something perhaps more permanent. I yield, Mr. Chair, Madam Chair.
Play from 1:23:19Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Next part, Councilman Boggerty, are you talking on this topic or any topic? Because she's yielded, so I'm giving you permission to discuss whatever you wish to say.
Play from 1:26:10Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilwoman's chairing.
Play from 1:26:31Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, well, you have to permit this person to present herself...
Play from 1:27:07Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I have no questions, but I just want to say I have read you. I've read a lot! You are a very good author! Let me put it to you this way: I spent a lot of time with you over this weekend.
Play from 1:32:10Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I yield.
Play from 1:32:31Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Move to accept staff recommendations. They would deny the funds to remove or or retract the funds.
Play from 2:22:45Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes. And the reason for it is it's just not the church. Basically, people who are in the area have come to us because of what has occurred in the area. And it's what has drawn, and I think the evidence is very clear in terms of both the police reports and the EMT reports of what has occurred. So it's not what's in the building, it's what the building basically attracts. And for that reason, I'm saying yes.
Play from 2:23:45Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So there's no motion, no action.
Play from 2:25:03Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Nothing passes.
Play from 2:25:06Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
The motion fails.
Play from 2:25:09Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
You have before you this evening's agenda. I'll entertain a motion for its adoption.
Play from 00:02Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
It's moved and seconded. Uh any discussion? All in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion passes.
Play from 00:07Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
The consent agenda. You have before us the evening's consent agenda. All consent agenda items are considered routine and non-controversial and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the council. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of council so requests, at which event the matter shall be removed from the consent agenda and considered as a separate item. What is the pleasure of council?
Play from 00:16Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
It has been moved and seconded for the consent agenda. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Play from 01:00Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:15Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Uh the motion passes. We now have proclamations: Indigenous Peoples' Day, and invite Mayor Christiansen, members of the Lenape Indian tribe to the podium for the presentation, and request the City Clerk to read the proclamation into the record.
Play from 01:15Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Halloween trick-or-treat. I invite the fun Mayor of Dover, Robin Christiansen, to the podium for the presentation, and request the City Clerk to read a proclamation into the record.
Play from 05:32Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Final reading of proposed ordinances. The first reading of proposed ordinances was accomplished during the City Council meeting of September 28th, 2026. The ordinances are available at the entrance of the City Council Chambers, or on the city website at www.cityofdover.com under government. First, I'll entertain a motion to consider the final readings by title only. A separate motion will be necessary for each adoption. What is the pleasure of council?
Play from 07:39Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
It has been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Pass.
Play from 08:28Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Uh the Ordinance 2025-19, adoption of the 2024 ICC codes. Uh request David Naylor, uh the ICC certified master code professional, to brief the members on this ordinance.
Play from 08:34Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Oh, looks like we're pivoting.
Play from 09:13Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Jason, are are you up on this?
Play from 09:15Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Okay.
Play from 09:17Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Questions? Councilman Lewis.
Play from 12:13