Mayor and Council - Regular Meeting

Smyrna Town Council meeting, March 2nd, 2026. Chief, will you lead us in the pledge, please? Please join us 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. Please stand for a moment of silence.

Please be seated. Paul Danielle. Good evening everyone. Good evening. Councilman Drew here. Mayor Got present. Councilman Johnson Miles here. Councilman Olsen here. Councilman Poe here. And Vice Mayor Dr. Rupshire present. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. Any delusions, additions to the public agenda? I'd like to make a motion that we move uh 9A to be number five on the agenda. I second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor?

I.

Those opposed? Motion is carried. At this point, if we could have Sir Matthew Hawkins and Officer Jason Mcn Jr. join me up front, please. And then respectively if we could have your family members that are going to hold the Bible for you for your swearing in please. you guys around so you can put your hands on it. Separate a little bit. So, ideally, if you're on this side and you're on this side, when they take pictures, you'll only be in your picture and you'll only be in your picture.

I will start with Matthew Hawkins. Please place your hand on the Bible and raise your hand. I, Matthew Hawkins, I, Matthew Hawkins, do proudly swear to carry do proudly swear to carry of the responsibilities of the officer of the office of police officer responsibilities of the office of police officer with the town of Simra Police Department with the town of Smyrna Police Department to the best of my ability. to the best of my ability. freely acknowledging that the powers of this office freely acknowledging that the powers of this office flow from the people that I am privileged to represent flow from the people that I am privileged to represent. I further swear always to place

I further swear always to place the public interest above any special or personal interests the public interest above any special or personal interest and to respect the right of future generations and to respect the right of future generations to share the rich historic to share the rich historic and natural heritage of Delaware and natural heritage of Delaware in doing so in doing so I will always uphold and defend defend I will always uphold and defend the constitutions of my country the constitutions of my country and my state. So help me God. and my state. So help me God. Thank you, please. Here you go.

Thank you to please sign both of these. Congratulations. Congratulations. have a message. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. All right, this one is yours. Back to the chief, please.

Thank you. Either one's fine.

This is for you. Thank you for helping us today. Thank you. Okay, you guys ready? I, Jason McNat Jr. I, Jason McN Jr. Do proudly swear to carry out the responsibilities Do proudly swear to carry out the responsibilities of the office of police officer of the office of police officer with the town of Simra Police Department the town of Serno Police Department to the best of my ability to the best of my ability freely acknowledging freely acknowledging that the powers of this office that the powers of this office flow from the people that I am privileged to represent flow from the people that I am privileged to represent. I further swear always I further swear always

to place the public interest above any special place the public interest above any special or personal interests or personal interests and to respect the right and to respect the right of future generations of future generations to share the rich to share the rich the historic and natural heritage of Delaware historic and natural heritage of Delaware. In doing so, in doing so, I will always uphold I will always uphold and defend the constitutions of my country. and defend the constitutions of my country. And my state and my state. So help me God. So help me God.

That's right. Please sign up fast. I lost it. There you go. On that side. Thank you very much. The pretty one is yours. Thank you very much.

Congratulations. Council, if you would, would you please come up and congratulate our new officers? Congratulations. Thank you so much. Thank you. Be fun. I have to tell you, this is my first swearing in, so this is pretty fun. Thank you. Congratulations. I can talk. I said I can talk really well. Council, would you please stay so we can take a picture and chief? Yes, ma'am.

Just thank you. That's for you guys. Thank you for being here. During little stuff, where would you like me? You want me to stand on the dice? Where am I going to look the least short? Next. next to me.

Thank you. Hey, again, congratulations and thank you very much for becoming part of the family. Hey, consent agenda. Council meeting minutes from February 17th, 2026. I'd like to make a motion that we accept the meeting minutes from February 17th, 2026.

Second. Any discussion? All those in favor of accepting the minutes from February 17th? I. Those opposed? Motion is carried. presentation and public comment. Um, yeah. And ladies and gentlemen, if you're here for the swearing in ceremony, you don't have to stay for the rest of the meeting. I'll be completely fair and honest. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Never mind. I'll hand it to him. I didn't realize he was still sitting here. I thought he said eventually I'll time the public. Jason, Matthew, can I see both of you, please? Well, yeah. Yeah, you guys can go out that door.

Yes, you can. Thank you very much. Please point out to the rest of the department that it's gold glitter.

Congratul welcome aboard. Thank you. Thank you. Please provide your name. Hi Vicky Blair. Um I wanted to congratulate our newly sworn in officers but they've gone but congratulations chief

on board. Um I want to give a shout out to the town during this last storm. You guys rocked it with all the electrical out outages that we had. Loved it. Plowing a thumbs up, too. Um, the graffiti ordinances that going to be discussed tonight, I just want to throw this out there as a resident of this town. I think it's very admirable that business owners be held to the same level of property maintenance as residents of this town. We are held to one. If my property gets damaged, whether it be mother nature or BB vandalism, whatever it is, I have to fix it. I have to pay for it. I have to maintain it. Business owners should be held to that same responsible lily. So, I want to say kudos. You missed it. Very storm. Excellent.

Thank you. Appreciate it. You guys have a great night. Thank you. Is there anyone else? Okay, we will move on to non-aggenda items. Um, I will start. I had the privilege of attending the graduation for our police officers. Um, it was the first time that I had the opportunity to do that and and it was very nice. Our officers actually out of four officers that were given awards, um, Jason McNat Jr. received the I don't want to call it the most athletic it was physical fitness award physical fitness award and then officer Hawkins received the

academic excellence award just want to make sure I had the terminology right uh that was really huge out of the class that they had everyone else was a Wilmington police officer and of the four awards are two Smyrna officers both took home awards so that that speaks very highly of who we have and and the success that they're going to look forward to, which is pretty awesome. Um, I think that is really all that I have. Um, Vice Mayor,

so kudos again with the recent storm sound amazing and just to see the pictures online with our staff backing up our staff, making sure that everyone was fed and taken care of. I love to see that that unity in our community. And um, I want to say thank you to Mayor Got. Um, what was that, Sunday night? We talk often and we check on Pulse Point often to see what's happening in the community just to follow up to see if we need to make some follow-up calls in the neighborhood. So, she called me and said, "Your house is on fire." And I said, "What? What are you talking about?" And she said, "Your address just popped across Pulse Point." And she said, "Give it a second." And second later, my door is knocking with the fire and police at the door. And I'm like, "Oh my god, what's going on?" So, um, I didn't have a fire, but it was a my daughter called cuz she saw a fire. So, um, just go to show that people are always looking out.

Yes.

And I appreciate that. So to have it firsthand on something that we do on a regular basis to check on people and then here it happened to me and to be able to see our first responders in action at my front door. It was it just gave me chills. Um so just thank you for that. Thank you for that. Um and also for women's her story message I have today I stand before you in honor of March women's her story month a time when we celebrate the women whose courage brilliance and resilience have shaped every corner of our society. This month is prolific because women's impact has always been prolific, expansive, creative and impossible to ignore. When I reflect on the women who paved the way, I see myself in Shirley Chisum, the first black woman elected to Congress and the first black woman to run for president of the United States. Like me, she was of Caribbean heritage. And her story reminds me that our roots carry power. Her boldness, her refusal to accept limits, and her insistence on being unbought and unbossed continue to inspire generations of women who like her and women who like me. I also honor women like Susan B. Anthony, a white woman who whose work in the suffrage movement helped lay the foundation for the rights many of us exercise today. Her contributions remind us that progress is often built when people from different backgrounds stand together for a shared purpose. That's when we talk about proximity promotes change. These women, different race, culture, and lived experience show us that

proximity promotes change. When we learn from each other, when we stand beside one another, when we listen to one another, we create movements that are stronger, broader, and more transformative than anything we could build alone. Women's Her Story Month is a celebration of that collective power. It is a reminder that her story is not one story. It is a tapestry woven from many voices, many struggles, and many triumphs. It is the story of women who nurture, who lead, who innovate, who teach, who protect, and who who rise again and again. As we honor this month, may we continue to uplift women's voices, recognize their contributions, and ensure that every girl grows up knowing she is powerful, capable, and worthy of every opportunity. Thank you, Council Secretary. Councilman Pope.

Oh, thank you. Uh, first of all, I want to give a big thank you to the entire staff for handling the most recent storm and also what you do daytoday. The town really appreciates everything that you do to help support the community. So, thank you so much. Um, also, uh, Thursday I did attend the Delaware League of Local Government dinner, and one of the things that was, um, very encouraging, there were a couple of students from the University of Delaware's, uh, public administration, um, program and they're actually getting their feet wet in being of service to their community and it gave them a chance to talk with different elected officials from around the state. So, it's always great to see young people getting involved. Finally, uh just as a reminder, the information is on the town website. So, this goes out to anyone who um may not be registered to vote. Please, ma'am, please sir, this is the period that's open to make sure that you're registered to vote. Check with your neighbors, your relatives, your friends. Uh make sure uh that you are registered because registration closes at 4:30 on Monday, April 13th. So, please make sure you're registered to vote. And thank you very much. Councilman Olsson.

Nothing at this time. Thank you. Councilman Drew. Good evening everyone. Um, thank you for coming out. Uh, I want to say congratulations to the officers that were added to the police department. Congratulations, Bonner. Congratulations, sir. Um, I also had the privilege and honor to uh go to the Delaware League uh dinner as well with Mr. And um I was able to uh get close to and talk to um Marcus Henry who was an awesome speaker. He had some question and answers and it was awesome networking um that night. Um and that's all I had to report. Miles,

um I also attended the police graduation with I actually drove Tabby up there. So it was up there. Um uh I've been to a lot of them. Of course, some of them are long, but it was good to see like Smyrna being put on the map getting getting those awards. So, that was that was pretty awesome. Um, great job to our staff. I mean, I woke up that next morning and the roads were already clear, although we were still people were still driving even though we had a a state of emergency. But, um, our staff did a fantastic job this time. I got no complaints this go around and it was it was fantastic. So, uh, thank you Jason, thank you town manager Tori. And uh that's all. Okay, chief. Now that we've stole all your thunder. Sorry.

Yeah. All the festivities are, you know, super proud of our two new officers. I think you guys will be super proud of them. I think the town will be super proud of them. Um proud moment for me because as as a new chief, these are my first two through the academy. So, as I told them when I hired them, for better or for worse, we're going to be linked at the hip forever. So, I hope that you make me look really smart in your career for hiring you, or you could make me look really dumb. But we were forever tied together. Uh, I do think both of them are going to make me look smart. It's not about me, it's about them in the department. Um, touching on the awards, as you said, um, found out this morning that we probably should have gotten a third award. I won't make any accusations, but apparently our our recruits were number one and number two in firearms proficiency as well. That's really,

as their chief and mayor said, "Hey, Smyrna, can you save some awards for the Wilmington officers?" So, it's okay that they got the firearms award. No, it's okay. It's their academy and we got to go for free and they we appeal. We're not going to appeal. We're going to let the one stand. I think I have that in my flyer. Yeah. Whoever Listen, good for them. Um those guys are going to do great. I'm super proud of them. Um you'll see them out in the community starting starting today. They the Hawkins started and Officer McN will be Wednesday night. He'll start and right behind them June 5th, we have our next two graduating from Dover's Academy.

So we are we are definitely trying to get back up to full strength. We're getting close. Um, I think our process shows that we have a good process based on the end result with all the awards and accolades and the academy staff pulling me to the side to tell me what wonderful officer they thought I was getting. Um, that that certainly speaks volumes. Is the fifth graduation or is the fifth when they will start? Fifth is the tenative graduation. That could change. There has been some academy days canceled because of snow. Okay. So, that is just very tentative. June 5th. And are they in Dover? I imagine it'll be at Dover High School. Okay. Okay. It's usually where it is, but we don't have a location yet. Okay. That's just the superintendent date. Okay. Um for our next two, uh Connelly and Sale, right? Gale. Connelly and Gail. Sorry. There you go. Thank you.

Thank you. You guys have my monthly report. If you have any questions, certainly I'm here. Uh one other thing I wanted to touch on, and that's why Lieutenant Carrian stuck around this week or last week. Last week, we just I I think I mentioned it to you probably in private. We had applied for a grant for some cell phone extraction technology um through Project Underground Railroad. I am not the subject matter expert. I didn't apply for the grant. It's all that man right here and he's going to tell you about it. All right.

So, we uh we were lucky and was awarded um about $10,000 from uh project UR. Um and what they are is they're an organization that is dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking and the exploitation of children. So this technology is really going to help us uh put together uh better ways to investigate these crimes. It also comes with certifications to train officers using that technology and executing those investigations. So very happy for that. Thank you. Congratulations. So I have a question. Sure. Is that certifications for all of the officers or is that certifications for a select few?

For the select few that will be using the technology. It's this is doing cell phone dumps, child pornography, sex crimes, anti-trafficking. It's very very specialized thing that 10 years ago he spearheaded under previous chiefs that sent him for tons and tons of training and technology and it was very expensive. It's it's an expensive world. Technology is constantly evolving. Um the best of the best is super expensive and we all know we're trying to run the tightest budgets we can. Um we have not been employing the newest, latest, and greatest technology because of the cost. This grant will allow us to do that now. Okay. That's what makes us second to none. Manager,

um, everybody has a copy of the report. Um, just a few things to kind of touch on. Recently, a few of us had a tour through town with uh, one of our senators, so we got a chance to tour some of the local businesses. Um, we had the storm. Um, Josh, I can't say enough. Jason, I keep continuing to wake up at five o'clock in the morning and ask him to come in uh and help me. I stay in the kitchen for about 8 plus hours and then we got Amanda and Kathleen to come in to make sure that everybody was fed. So, um it's a good time. We enjoy getting a chance to do it and and being part of everything. Um there's a lot of information that's in this report. I would go through it with you, but we'd all be here all night.

Um Yeah, I can tell you the electric department just recently got an award. Um, which is, and I can't remember exactly what it is, but only about 10% of more than 20 2,000 municipalities actually get this award. So, you know, again, they're just like the police department. The electric department's out there doing their thing and uh, you know, we're proud to make sure that we have them there. It It's nice to make sure that we had our team out. I can promise you that anybody that lived outside of town um lost electricity and they lost it for several days. That's the truth.

Most of the crews were sent home due to the inclement weather. Our crew was up in the air making sure that you guys were all taken care of and had electricity within several hours. So, um you know, I definitely want to say thank you to those guys who out of all these elements and making sure everybody was taken care of. So, um outside of that, the financial report is in there. Really take a good look at that. super proud to say that we are in a much better position than we were two years ago when I took it over in March of 2024. Um, and you know, we've got some investments. If you can see, you can look in there, you'll see that we are we are actually much better. So, please look at that. If you have any questions, please just let me know. Okay.

Thank you. And to wrap that up, I'd like to say I am beyond humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve as mayor because you guys, all of you, um, make this so worthwhile and and the bounds that we are growing by and the successes that we're having are all a result of who you are and what you're doing to make us successful. So, thank you. Um, with that being said, old business, including discussions and possible action on the following items. Second reading. Second and I guess we need a motion. We need a motion to make this the second and final reading.

I make a motion to make this the second and final reading of ordinance 001-26. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? Those opposed? Motion is point of order. Are you waving the third reading? Yes. Yes. Okay. I'm sorry. We wave it. Your motion. What was that? Well, I sponsor the ordinance and it's an ordinance to amend chapter 18 building and building regulations article X property maintenance code to establish regulations requiring graffiti remediation by property owners.

You just have to amend the motion. Can we can we amend the motion, please? I'd like to amend a motion to uh wave the third reading. Uh, so we'll adopt this second reading as the final reading of this ordinance 001-25, I believe. 26, sorry, 26. Thank you. Quickly, your first your first motion is going to need to be for you to wave the reading, the third reading. Okay. Right. You need to vote on that. Okay. I make a motion that we wave the third reading of ordinance number 001-26. Second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Those opposed? Motion is carried. You need to make Yeah. No. I'd like to make a motion that we approve the uh second reading of ordinance 001-26. Second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? I. Those opposed? We didn't say it was final. You You have to You have to state a reason for doing so. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thoughts on last?

Uh, okay. So, I'm voting in favor uh because I believe it is necessary to move forward and help fasttrack this uh ordinance. Councilman Drew. Um, I agree with the same reason the council and I agree as it relates to establishing the regulations requiring graffiti remediation by property owners. I I am voting in the affirmative based on uh it is a need that we uh definitely have to have for the town and also based on the recommendation of staff.

Councilman Olson. Uh I vote voted to Now are we are we are we doing the uh waving of the third reading or are we talking about the uh ordinance itself? The ordinance itself you've already waved the third reading. Okay. I vote for it because uh the graffiti needs to be cleaned up.

Thanks. Motion is carried that we approve the ordinance to amend chapter 18. Let's go back over here. And we have the I don't have the letter in front of me. Okay. We have a request from the Boys and Girls Club for a donation of $15,000 to from council to them. I'd like to we need to make a motion and then open the floor discussion or can we have the discussion and then make the motion?

Uh you probably need to make the motion and then have a discussion. Need a motion to move forward with the donation request from the Boys and Girls Club. Are we sure that's correct? I think we can have a discussion without having to make the motion to approve of something because Robert's rules say you have to have a motion to have discussion to listen. Okay. I guess I thought the request itself was I'd like to make a motion that we uh take into consideration the request by the Boys and Girls Club for donation. Second. Is there any discussion? Now we have the discussion. Um, so right now, I mean, do you have comments or should I just

I I do. Oh, okay. I'll let you go first and then my recommendation is that we extend the opportunity to the Boys and Girls Club for us to absorb the utilities that they currently have, which they are now paying. um it would not result in a a financial donation to them, but the result would be that much like Duck Creek Regional Library and other amenities within the town, we own that building. Um we will will we will be paying for the facility for them to meet in. That is my recommendation. So it's open for discussion. So in previous years um what have we given to the Boys and Girls Club? It depends on what the project was.

It depends. It's been upwards. I think one of the donation was about 18,000. Okay. Um I think that would have been about 24 that we did that donation and what mayor got just requested, we did a check on what it was and it's about $18,000 in utilities. So it would be great what has been done in the past. And keeping in mind that giving an organization a donation that large after we've increased taxes does not feel like the right thing to me. I would agree. And I mean in previous years, have they come to like talk with us like at a council meeting to ask for the donation or have they just sent a letter?

Both. Yeah. Um quick question is so when you say utilities, I take it as water store and electric as as well as uh trash collection or what? So it includes all the utilities. So that's okay. Um we've done that for any building or anything that we own. So if you think about it, we own um we own a little league little ass boys and girls club and several other buildings. So we have taken on utilities good majority of them since with the fire department and uh Okay. So is that utilities plus 15,000 or utilities is 15,000 instead. Okay.

Um would we do it up to that amount? Is that would that would be the ask or less? My my suggestion would be that we do it in its entirety for the year. Okay. Okay. Um and we will I guess we need to do we finish this motion and then amend it or do we amend it now? Like a motion to amend. Hold on. Sorry. One more. No, that's fine. Um, as far as communicating with them, obviously they hear what we talked about in council. We communicate with them.

I mean, in all reality, is there a chance that we can, I hate to say this, but table it so that way they can come and have a conversation with us rather than a letter? Did you already meet with them? We Well, they sent the letter in. They knew we were having the discussion this evening. Okay. Um, the agenda was posted seven days in advance. Okay. So, and we've kind of changed the process of what donations look like now. Um, in the past, it's just been I'm going to give you a donation, and there's not really been

anything. So, we do now is we're requesting there's a form, they send in a letter, it then comes to you, and then you guys get the opportunity to discuss it, and then make the final decision on what the actual donations are instead of just randomly going out. Okay. Okay. All right. Then, I'm done with my discussion. I'd like to make a motion that we amend the request to um actually provide utilities for the year for the Boys and Girls Club instead of making a cash donation. I second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Those opposed? Motion is carried. You will pay the utilities for the Boys and Girls Club 2026. Resolution 002-26 regarding the audit

town resolution 0002-26 whereas pursuant to section 8.1 of the town charter the town council shall have full power and authority to use the money in the treasury of the town of Smyrna whereas pursuant to section 4.2.43 43 of the town charter. Town council may appropriate money to pay the debts, liabilities, and expenditures of the town or any part item thereof from any fund applicable thereto. Whereas based upon the research performed by the town's finance department, the t the town's finance department recommends an un the unidentified $135,000 cash balance be allocate allocated towards the general funds fund balance in 2024, which will permanently resolve the issue and prevent the town from continuing to receive a qualified audit opinion from the town's auditor. with respect to this specific in issue. Now, therefore, be it here resolved by mayor by the mayor and council of the town of Smyrna that the $135,000 excess cash balance originally discovered during 2021 be identified and deemed general fund revenue and brought forward and allocated towards general funds fund balance for the year 2024. The finance department is herefore directed to take this action and any other actions necessary to appropriately resolve the $135,000 excess cash balance. This is adopted by mayor and councel on this day March 20 March 2nd 202026.

We need a motion. Is there a motion to accept this resolution? I make a motion that we accept resolution 002-26. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Those opposed? Motion is carried. Resolution 002-26 regarding the audit will be accepted. And with that, I'd like to thank all of you for joining in this joining us this evening and have a good night and a safe drive home. Thank you. I need a meeting. A second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? I meeting is adjourned.