Statements by Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.
552 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I yield.
Play from 46:06Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Point of order, Mr. President.
Play from 2:05:57Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Dr. Sudler put his hand up, and you failed to recognize him.
Play from 2:06:01Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Mr. Lyon, do we know that when the we had the temporary barricade, uh, there, were there any emergency responses that happened or occurred during that time?
Play from 2:16:16Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah, I would I would like to know. I mean, so the sign is a deterrent, but I'm pretty sure, I don't know if it's going to slow down or people are going to honor the sign, you know what I mean? So that shit, um, as a traffic, a traffic-calming mechanism, I think I'm still leaning towards blocking the entrance permanently, but it would be nice to know if if there was an emergency response and, uh, I know the chief's not here, but I know he had mentioned Police? Is the chief No, no, no, uh, Fire Chief. Yeah, Chief Carey mentioned he gave a the number of how many seconds when responding to a fire. And 1 to 2 minutes is probably not good when it comes to that response. But, uh, you know, um, you know, that that still doesn't sway me the way I'm thinking, you know, as far as permanently blocking. I know there's another entrance and the fire station almost sits in between both sides, so I figure if you went down Division Street, you probably could shave off some time and still get there. Um, but, you know, I'm not an expert in that area, but I know that there has been safety issues involving children, and I'd rather try to get the most best of both worlds in that in that scenario. So with that, I yield.
Play from 2:16:47Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, uh Mr. Chairman. So I I agree with what um Councilwoman Arndt said about permanent structure. I I would be leaning more towards having some type of a gate situation that in an emergency even for a fire response or somebody could just show up there and open the gate if if need be
Play from 2:32:50Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Run through it, whatever, but just, you know, um [laughter] something that uh we would be able to get access to, but not not nothing I wasn't thinking of anything permanent in that in that case. I yield.
Play from 2:33:14Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On slide 44, where the island in front of the church and the daycare center, where the sidewalk is going to be, I guess you're going to extend that part out further into the street?
Play from 3:41:29Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Is that, is the parking going to, cuz right now it's parallel.
Play from 3:41:52Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And there's enough room for that?
Play from 3:41:57Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. And then parking on the other side, too?
Play from 3:41:59Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Like in front of City Hall almost, I think it is, along there, like three or four parking spaces there. And then, are the trees going to get cut back, or
Play from 3:43:08Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah.
Play from 3:43:49Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. I yield.
Play from 3:44:37Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Second. Second.
Play from 3:49:56Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Let me get a peanut butter or a mint to cool it down.
Play from 5:16:52Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so I think we should at least just just Gerald Rocha's statement, release the report to the public, but, and I'm siding with Councilwoman Arndt because, you know, our memory is not going two years back, right, when it comes to what the solicitor said. Um, and what was the reasons, if you can remember, the solicitor, was it because of personnel?
Play from 5:16:57Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
issue. So, what what you're saying is
Play from 5:21:25Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I yield right now to Councilman Lewis.
Play from 5:21:34Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah, I I agree with Councilman Lewis and the mayor. However, we need we need another opinion from our solicitor.
Play from 5:23:07Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Well, you gave permission to dialogue.
Play from 5:23:26Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I don't know if this resolution is going to satisfy as a as a substitute. There's not enough meat in the in the resolution for me, so I'm not in favor of moving this forward. Um, and then I think we should go back with the solicitor or have the solicitor send us an email outlining those specifics that you had said why we should not release it, or can it be redacted in some type of way, you know, those kind of things, is what what I would want to be looking for. I yield.
Play from 5:23:34Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Permission to dialogue?
Play from 5:31:30Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So, what's the purpose of the resolution then based on what you just said?
Play from 5:31:33Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I yield.
Play from 5:32:49Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Although I want to wait on the solicitor, I'm going to say yes, just because I believe in the transparency.
Play from 5:37:44Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
So moved to adopt the agenda as presented.
Play from 00:06Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
you know, they are city, uh, employees to a certain extent, you know, an extension of us. And I think that that would be appropriate, and I think that also fits with the needs to be requests, you know.
Play from 45:52Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
preparing for and relieving community tensions arising from intergroup conflict. So I just wanted to put that out there because there is nothing here that says that we investigate, that we are proactive. Now we can make make the change, but as it currently stands, though those that's that's basically the purpose of the commission. Um however, and nothing that you, Dr. Sudler, put in this document that you provided to us um suggests anything of that nature um and is doable, it sounds to me. Um whether or not we want a liaison or not um or to continue with the liaison, that's up for discussion still probably. Um it might not be a bad idea to take some of the stress off of the city clerk if we had liaison. I will put that out there. You know, when it comes to the coordination, some of the trainings and stuff like that. Um do they need to attend every meeting? I don't I don't know if they need to do that unless you deem otherwise. So if you I think that if it's pertinent that the somebody from the council is present, then I think it, you know, would be you know, if it's advantageous and you think they you need presence there to reach out to the liaison and if the liaison can't make it, anyone of us could be asked to to show up um as an alternate. Um I like the internship idea. Uh as they ID cards, banners, and marketing materials, there is a budget that you have. I don't know if those items would exhaust the budget, but hey, you know, price out some of this stuff and see how much, you know, if you need help, I'm sure that, you know, clerk with questions could could answer some of your questions. As far as printing goes, same thing. But do we need to add more money to the budget? We don't know that unless we unless we, you know, know how much the stuff is going to cost. But it's not you have some money in the budget. I think that you can at least get a tablecloth or some banners and stuff like that that you're asking for. Um yeah, I think that that should pretty much cover it. I would also add mediation training, maybe, you know, if they're if you think that that would be helpful, there are resources out there that can give you mediation training. Um and that that's it. I I yield, Council President.
Play from 52:26Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Yes, just to piggyback off of uh Dr. Sudler. If my memory serves, when I served on the uh commission, we had a liaison from this commission that sat on the human relation, the state Human Relations Commission. And I don't know if if anybody here has been appointed or I don't know how that, that was before my time that she was on the commission. Um Commissioner Mullen, you might rememb- recall that part. Um, but I don't I don't see why we couldn't ask if someone local is on the state commission, would they be able to participate on as like an at-large person, I think it was. I I yield.
Play from 57:25Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Rocha seconds.
Play from 1:01:25Sep 9, 2026, Construction & Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals Meeting
Yeah. So the only, and correct me if I'm wrong, uh, Eddie, when there's construction going on and there's a permit on the property, then those materials would be, it would be understood that it would be used for the construction inside or whatever. But to just have them laying around outside is, is not normal to me.
Play from 13:37Sep 9, 2026, Construction & Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals Meeting
Yeah, but, I mean--
Play from 14:06Sep 9, 2026, Construction & Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals Meeting
Okay. Well, if you're asking for my interpretation, and I think my voice counts in this situation, that's that's not normal to me.
Play from 14:09Sep 9, 2026, Construction & Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals Meeting
Unless you had a permit and you were Well, making upgrades and things of that nature.
Play from 14:23Aug 18, 2026, Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting
Okay. Well, with myself, uh, being a part of the community program, um, I just want to report, uh, last meeting we had a, a young lady come in by the name of, um, Helena Roses, and she talked about the Lemonade Stand Day, um, which was which took place on August the 15th, which was last Saturday. Uh, that that, uh, event did happen and I have a couple of, um, a couple of brochures I can, you know, just copies of some brochures of some of those who participated in that particular Lemonade Stand Day. Um, I thought they might come this evening to, uh, give a little update on it, but they're not available as well. Uh, however, um, I do have some things if you want to look at, uh, that I can share, and and you all can see it afterwards, uh, after our meeting. But that did take place and, and, uh, I do believe it was a success. I, I stopped, I had the I had the opportunity to stop by one and, um, and at least, um, see others as well. One was on Route 8, uh, going east after you cross over, uh, 13. Um, and then the there was another one, uh, that was held, uh, in front of Janane's Barbershop on Loockerman Street. And I know there were there was a third one here. Um, I'm not really sure where that location was, but I didn't get a chance to go by that one. However, they did have a, a good time and they had some success and and some folks came through and and I believe this is just the beginning of part of, uh, what will be growing into more of, uh, a statewide thing. So, uh, just be on the lookout for that. There'll be some more coming about and and they're going to have some more announcements regarding, uh, that particular activity in the community, okay? Um, also, um, we have, um, a, a com- uh, a possibility to vend at a, a community fair and, um...
Play from 56:53Aug 18, 2026, Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting
and check out the space that is available and how they offer it, you'll be pleased.
Play from 1:18:38Aug 18, 2026, Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting
You will be pleased. And then we'll expect you at the commission to come back and let us know. You can probably talk with Commissioner Mullen--
Play from 1:18:43Aug 18, 2026, Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Play from 1:18:51Aug 18, 2026, Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting
Well, it sounds like you're on a good track.
Play from 1:19:12