New Castle DIGEST - July 1, 2024
Monthly 'News, Views & Stuff to Do' for the City of New Castle, Delaware
Editor’s Note: The Digest may be a day late this month, but you can’t be a dollar short for a free newsletter, so here it is anyway.
I. June News Round-Up 📰
Budget Approved with No Tax Changes, for Now
Deficit Balloons to $1.25M, to be Covered by City Reserves
The final draft of the city's FY2025 budget, presented on June 27, included updated figures reflecting fresh changes to NCPD's union contract. Council had previously been working from last year’s expense figures for the department, as the new collective bargaining agreement was finalized alongside the budget just this week.
Increases to Public Safety line items had been expected, given the importance of, and recent challenges surrounding, retaining good officers. However, the ~$600K jump nearly doubles what had already been a large deficit for the city, the vast majority due to 'non-discretionary' expenses.
As reported last month, other expenses growing largely beyond elected leaders’ control include various insurances the city must carry, healthcare and pension costs for other city workers, building and vehicle maintenance costs, and others.
Council and city staff are also looking to invest in areas where the administration has catching up to do, including much-needed professional development and IT improvements. In one example of the “catching up” needed, it was noted at an early budget workship that only three members of the city’s Public Works crew have CDL training and certification.
As it stands, the deficit for FY2025 stands at $1.25 million.
Rather than saddle residents with a sudden tax increase with little time for public input, Council voted to use city reserves to cover the deficit for the next fiscal year. In prepared remarks offered at the June 11 meeting, Ms. Souder shared the elected body’s rationale:
… Council is facing some very difficult decisions regarding our budget for the fiscal year which begins July 1. Many costs are increasing and most of them are for non-discretionary items. For example, the cost of our employees’ health insurance is increasing 27%. We do have a very healthy amount in reserve, and some have suggested that we simply use these funds to cover the deficit. That may work in the short term but, since the increased costs are for necessary ongoing items like insurance, it is not sustainable over the long term.
Some like to compare government budgets to household budgets. If your basic household costs like rent or mortgage, utilities, food, etc., are increasing faster than your income, you may draw down your savings to pay these bills, but you cannot continue to do that indefinitely.
Because of these increased costs, Council must consider the possibility of a tax increase. We have reduced expenses where we could but also need to provide for the services residents of New Castle deserve and expect. To do this we need to attract and retain qualified staff for our administration, police, and public works.
We have sufficient reserves to cover the deficit for one year but, as I said, we can’t continue to live on our savings. Also, as we know, New Castle County is currently conducting a reassessment of our properties. We will probably know the outcome of this reassessment by early next year. This will allow us to determine the impact of the reassessment on our future tax revenues and make a more informed decision about changing our tax rate.
Council is … waiting until we have this information to decide about increasing our tax rate. The decision will probably be made in Jan. or Feb. with any resulting increase taking effect in July 2025. We do not take this decision lightly or easily because we know the impact it will have on residents. As always, this decision will be made in public meetings with the opportunity for residents to have input.
One-time projects authorized for completion using grant money over the next year include the purchase of a new bandstand, a $75K contribution toward the next phase of the Battery Park playground project (which may help in securing further private grands, which in turn would mean less is needed), and the construction of a dog park at Hermitage Natural Area.
More information about the county-wide tax reassessment being performed by Tyler Technologies can be found on the County website, or in this document. Under the state law that prompted the reassessment, counties may not raise any more revenue as a result of its completion. However, individuals whose properties have previously been significantly under- or over-valued may see a change in their tax bills as assessed values are realigned with the real market.
Further Information: Final Draft FY2025 Budget (6/27) | FY2024 Budget (May YTD for comparison) | Budget Workshop Agendas (and Video Links)
Shock and Sadness at St. Peter’s School Closure
“They didn’t even get to say goodbye to their friends”
As originally reported in The Dialog, following meetings with teachers and staff on Wednesday, June 26, parish Pastor Timothy Nolan announced the school would not be able to reopen in the Fall. Saint Peter’s first opened in 1906.
A letter sent to students and their parents “cited an unexpected drop in enrollment,” according to The Dialog, while noting that the “parish was operating at a deficit.” At a meeting with some families the next day, Nolan clarified, “This is not a diocesan decision. It was made at the parish level because we simply don’t have the money.”
At the meeting, he and Principal Carlo Testa expressed regret for the decision and the difficulty it will cause families, but made the reality of the situation clear. St. Peter’s had just 103 students enrolled for the next school year, they noted, while needing 160 to break even on operation of the school.
News of the closure has been met online with an outpouring of surprise and grief. Many parishoners, parents and alumni have shared their fond memories of the school on posts about the closure, and expressed sadness that it will not be around for future Catholic kids in the area.
Others, online and at the meeting, have expressed anger at what seemed a last-minute announcement, forcing many families to scramble to get their kids enrolled in other schools before September. “They didn’t even get to say goodbye to their friends,” one parent lamented in a neighborhood Facebook group.
Catholic schools across the country have seen a wave of closures and consolidations in recent years, due to a combination of challenges. These include the availability of Charter schools, which can be less costly and more attractive to parents not commited to Catholic education, as well there simply being fewer children, especially in the US northeast and mid-Atlantic. Enrollments are down all over.
Some commenters suggested that St. Peter’s school or parish leadership should have seen this coming and given more warning, or some chance for the community to rally.
Two factors made this difficult, as described during the 6/27 meeting: first, that St. Peter’s normally got a wave of enrollments in June that did not come this year; and second, that an announcement of a school being in trouble would have caused more families to leave before the picture was clear.
Ultimately, that picture is of a $250K operational deficit for the school based on the enrollment numbers projected for next year, which was just not sustainable. “I wish I could say something that would make it easier or better,” Principal Testa said.
The St. Peter’s team and diocese staff are working with other Catholic schools in the area to help students and teachers who want to continue with parochial education to do so. Fees paid by those who had enrolled for next year will be fully refunded, and all students’ full academic records will be available for pickup on July 1.
Parts of this story condense excellent original reporting by Mike Lang and Joseph P. Owens in The Dialog, which is the news source for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, DE. The parish will hold a second info session for affected families on Tuesday, July 2, at 6pm.
Fire At Nora Lee’s Forces Closure, prompting Solidarity Fund for Workers
On Saturday, June 15, the day before Father’s Day, a yet-unknown spark ignited a blaze under the back deck at Nora Lee’s French Quarter Bistro on Delaware Street.
Good Will Fire Company quickly responded, with help from other companies. As they reported online to a concerned and curious community:
The bulk of the fire was quickly knocked down. After further investigation, it was found to be a fire under the deck that was working its way into the structure. Additional arriving units completed searches of the building and checked for extension. The fire was reported under control within 30 minutes and companies remained on scene wetting down hot spots... The incident is under investigation by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Thankfully no one was hurt. Yet before being quashed, the fire did serious damage to the structure’s back wall, forcing the restaurant to shutter for the time being.
While Nora Lee’s has noted on their Facebook page that “hopefully we will be able to reopen soon,” the closure presents a hardship for employees. To address this need, a GoFundMe has been set up to accept contributions from the community to help workers make up some of the lost income.
Here is the GoFundMe Link for that Employee Solidarity Fund for those who are able and wish to contribute. (Or click the image below.)
Updates from the New Castle Common
On June 1, Regina Marini became the newest member of the Trustees of the New Castle Common (TNCC) after defeating Laura Fontana in a runoff election. That poll saw the highest voter turnout for a Trustee ballot in more than five years (646) and prompted numerous remarks on the clear qualification of both candidates.
Ms. Marini is now the 170th Trustee of the Common and, according to Trustee Pete Toner, the seventh woman to hold that role.
With a full board of thirteen members present, no more visitors from the state Dept. of Justice, and a two-month Summer break looming, the Trustees met on June 4. The meeting was substantive, if not especially long, and quickly covered a wide range of activities and projects.
The longest discussion was on a proposal to change the “50%+1” threshold for winning election to the TNCC Board, allowing candidates to win outright with a plurality of the vote. This change was suggested by Mr. Gallagher on behalf of the Bylaws Committee, which he said had wrestled with the issue a great deal.
He said a simpler, “most votes wins” system would remove the need to hold runoff elections, which create additional expenses and challenges for the board, voters and candidates. He suggested some good candidates might be turned off by getting the most votes but then having to win again in a runoff, and later added that the policy “made more sense when [TNCC] had life terms.”
Ms. Corcoran noted she had resisted the idea at first during committee discussions but came around when she “realized that I got on the Board with zero votes,” referring to her own unopposed accession last year. Mr. Toner suggested voters could and had become exhausted, pointing out how the staggered terms of TNCC board members required an election be held approx. every 11 months.
Tommy Wilson pushed back forcefully, denouncing the idea that someone could win a 12 year term with just 34 percent of voters’ - let alone residents' - support, leading to a wide-ranging discussion. He also rejected the idea of voter exhaustion, pointing out that the just-concluded runoff had drawn more voters than the preceding ballot. Wilson declared, “elections are about majorities.”
While it was clear that, as Mr. Alfree put it, “everyone has thoughts,” this was a first airing of the matter with no vote to take, so members moved on. Ms. Masiello pointed out that everyone would have three months to think about it before the next meeting.
The language that would be changed by this proposal appears in TNCC’s Policies and Procedures documents, which govern the body alongside the Bylaws, and which also require votes to update. Unlike the Bylaws, however, these documents are not shared with the public, and a recent request for their disclosure was respectfully denied.
Other highlights of the Trustees’ June meeting included:
The Property Maintenance committee (PMC) plans to remove some large, low tree limbs that have been obstructing views of the bandstand in Battery Park.
A property line survey has been completed at Fort Casimir and there will soon be simple posts indicating the boundaries of the site. Mr. Wilson noted the PMC has been “having a hard time with HAC” (the Historic Area Commission) with regard to getting approval for new bollards to keep cars from driving onto the grass there. The board hopes to use a “wood-like product” from EcoPlastic of Delaware.
The Trustees are looking into methods of discouraging geese from making Battery Park their home, including a system of low-mounted flashing lights. Mr. Toner suggested a product like Away-with-Geese could disrupt their sleep and thus encourage them to settle elsewhere (with a 60-day money-back guarantee). Past efforts have included the use of dogs, which the geese outsmarted by waiting in the water, and the capture and removal of hundreds of geese to downstate, only to have them return, according to Mr. Alfree.
Work on the School Lane Trail project has begun. Planned since before the construction of the bike/pedestrian trail along Rt. 273/Frenchtown Road, the new paved path will connect from it to School Lane, by Planet Fitness and the Parivaar Indian Grocery on the far side of the Farmer’s Market complex.
While the board doesn't meet over the Summer, committees do continue their work. Additionally, once assignments for the next two years are finalized, the Trustee website will feature a listing of which members serve on which committees (a first).
The Army Corps of Engineers recently inspected New Castle’s shoreline and gave it an excellent rating.
At its' members request, President Chris DeAscanis reestablished the just-dissolved election committee as an ad-hoc committee to do follow-up work cleaning up the Trustees' private voter registration list.
Further Info: 2024 TNCC Meeting Minutes (one-month lag due to approval process)
Updates from City Council (Non-Budgetary)
Council met on June 11, with all members present: Suzanne Souder, presiding; Joe Day; Brian Mattaway; Andrew Zeltt; and Nermin Zubaca.
John Reaves and Phee Price of the city’s Outreach Team offered an update on their activities. These include seeking designation as a bike-friendly community, working to bring tour ships other than the Kalmar Nyckel to the Wharf, creating and upating matierals promoting city events and businesses, and an intensive social media push.
They are working with the state to understand the demographics of local tourism, which contributed billions to the DE economy last year. In response to questions from Mr. Zubaca, Mr. Reaves said they are using paid ads on Facebook as part of a targeted campaign, and that they would consider trying to involve younger people in the social media campaign.
Later in the evening, Council considered and approved Resolution 2024-20, extending the Outreach position through the end of August.
Other highlights of Council’s regular June meeting included:
NCPD Chief Richard McCabe described the city’s plan to issue parking tickets for failure to move one’s vehicle for weekly street sweeping, which will go into effect soon. While there will be a short grace period, tickets eventually will carry a fine, which he estimated at $53, noting that could change. A sample of the tickets will be posted to the department’s social media. Mr. Zubaca suggested Council develop fridge magnets or some other handy reminder of the sweeping schedule that could be provided to residents.
Mr. Mattaway is working on a Proclamation to acknowledge the discrimination faced by Italian immigrants to New Castle, and that community’s many contributions to the wider city. He also asked that the St. Anthony’s Day Procession held each June be added to the city calendar.
Mr. Zeltt noted that Requests for Proposals for work on the dog park should go out this month to solicit bids for that project.
The new A/V system secured by Mr. Day for the River Room at the Senior Center should be in place for Council’s July meeting, following upgrades to the building that enabled its installation this month.
City Administrator Antonina Tantillo:
continues working with Planning Commission chair Margo Reign and DelDOT to get New Castle on its list of ‘Traffic Impact Districts,’ which could translate to additional resources and consideration from the state.
noted that the project to mitigate flooding on Rt. 9 south of Dobbinsville has - finally, for the first time - been placed on DelDOT’s project list for FY25-26.
said work on the Dobbinsville Floating pier will begin soon.
A resolution to fill a vacancy on the Board of Adjustment could not move forward for lack of a candidate. Council hopes to have one in July.
Two relatively pro-forma Resolution passsed:
Ordinance 548, which would amend the zoning code regarding minimum lot frontage and wetlands, received a first reading.
The city received and reviewed its FY2023 audit, which auditor Frank DeFroda noted was ‘clean.’ New Castle had, as of May 31, $11,196,941.91 in its accounts, of which $2,223,890.84 was considered ‘restricted funds.’
Further Info: Meeting Agenda | Meeting Video | Council Packet (Incl. reports from Police, Fire, Code Enforcement & Treasurer, plus previous minutes)
II. ICYMI: Local Media Spotlight 📸
In case you missed it... there was a lot going on around town and scrolling past on our feeds this month!
Please enjoy some of the fascinating stories and beautiful photos of life in New Castle that caught our eye in June, starting with a cool feature on the Read House Community Garden in the Delaware Historical Society’s Insider newsletter.
…
Our own socials got to Pop with Parties, Parades & Processions…
…
We also enjoyed Storytime in the Park, Lions Preparing for the Parade & Celebrating a Birthday, the Art of Steampunk at The Window, fun with friends at the Senior Center, and one local book's big Denver adventure.…
The posts above come from:
New Castle Public Library - on Facebook & Insta
Historic New Castle Hundred Lions Club - on Facebook
The Window on Delaware Street - on Facebook
New Castle Senior Center - on Facebook
…
The posts above come from:
Delaware Public archives - on Facebook and Insta
The Delaware History/All Things Delaware Facebook group
Bellanca Airfield Museum - on Facebook and Insta
Related to the last pic and plans for local playgrounds, also check out the new website for ONCOR, the Old New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition, which prompted the creation of, and overlaps with, the city’s official Playground Subcommittee.
…
What caught your eye around town this month? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!
III. EDITORIAL
Responding to “Concerned Citizens”
by Matt Alexander, editor & admin
Creating this newsletter and curating New Castle City Topics on social media is a labor of love, which allows me to share what I find beautiful and interesting about my town. While I am a person with some strong views, the ‘Views’ promised here mainly refer to the pretty pictures.
When I have knowingly taken one, my ‘stand’ on a given topic is always marked as an ‘Editorial,’ such as you are currently reading. All these insufferable “I’s” make it pretty clear I’m speaking as me, rather than the usual disembodied, carefully neutral voice of NCCT, right? It’s only right, I think, to stand by one’s public assertions.
I was surprised, therefore, by an unusual ad in the June 5 issue of The Weekly whose anonymous author honored me with a vaguely snarky name check.
A concealed complainer - or wraithly whinger, if you prefer - dressed up their personal opinions about the city’s current budget conundrum as a ‘Citizen Alert.’
Normally I’d have no reaction. I feel no need to defend public figures who can speak for themselves, or policies I didn’t write or endorse. And studying journalism taught me that you should strive not to be the story; hence the usual disembodiment.
As our cloaked concern-troll called me out by name, however, I will address a few quibbles I had with the style of this ‘Alert,’ if not its actual substance.
Let’s begin with the convoluted sentence that named yours truly. Clause 1 finds it ‘comical’ that I wouldn’t know or acknowledge the city’s healthy reserve balance, which Clause 2 then goes on to cite from City Topics. It even mockingly quotes the “about” that I used to indicate approximation of the numbers.
Huh?
While not clear on first reading, I actually think the intent of the swipe seems to have been a suggestion that I should have called on Council to use reserve funds to cover the deficit. Or perhaps criticized it for not already having done something.
But.
And this is crucial…
It is not my role to say what the city should do, and certainly not to be the avatar for anyone else’s opinion or preferred narrative.
(This goes for all sides of every New Castle City Topic,
and applies double for people in positions of power or influence.)
In last month’s Digest, I presented the facts as I had them at the time, which is all I can do. I welcome criticism, as anyone who has sent in corrections or suggestions for improvement of NCCT knows. It’s not that I’m offended by our ‘Concerned Citizen’s’ implication, either. There are legitimately all kinds of things I don’t know.
But this sort of clandestine, drive-by hot-take, with its needless “dunk” on the messenger, is inane and unhelpful. It does nothing to increase public understanding or change anyone’s mind.
If you think you have something real to say, it’s called making a case and standing by it. Heckling is not an argument, especially from the anonymous.
The pressures of keeping a small print publication running are intense, so I do not begrudge The Weekly for accepting what the industry considers an ‘advertorial.’ For a town this size, having our own printed paper of record is rare and very valuable, and I encourage readers who are able to do so to subscribe.
However, I would hope that such content would be marked as ‘Paid,’ especially when shared anonymously and crafted to look misleadingly like an official notice. Disclosure is the most basic of ‘best practices’ around paid editorial content, which has been described as “information pollution” in the Journal of Information Ethics.
In general, I think this cowardly approach to public discourse should be discouraged. Much of the internet is a wasteland of people yelling at each other without listening precisely because of the anonymity and the detachment.
There are enough faceless concern trolls online. I do not think we need or want them in our actual reality, and hope our Obfuscated Opiner will seek the light.
Lastly, I do not know who this clandestine critic is or how I may have earned their derision. But it seems they get the Digest, so I guess ‘Thank You for Reading,’ and if you want to help promote the blog, just saying “I read in New Castle City Topics…” is the better way to go next time.
(We are not going to reproduce the anonymous ‘Alert’ here. If you did not catch it in the paper, I apologize for any confusion.)
IV. Community Event Calendar 📅
For a farther view and to catch more events as they are added, check out and bookmark our website’s Community Calendar, where you’ll also find recurring/ongoing events like the ones below and more.
Outdoor Storytime in Battery Park, Fridays at 10:30am (weather permitting),
Fort Casimir & the Struggle for the Delaware Valley exhibit at the Old Library Museum on 4th Street, Weekends from Noon to 4,
Fourth Friday Art Loop events, and
Bellanca Airfield Museum Open Houses on 2nd & 4th Saturdays.
Coming up in JULY…
7/2 - School Closure Info & Resources Meeting at Crowley Hall, 6pm.
A (second) informational session will be held - for families of the St. Peter’s parish and school - on the unexpected closure and resources for transitioning to other schools.7/6 - New Castle Saturday Market on the Green, 8am-1pm.
Local produce and craft vendors right on the Green. This is the inaugural instance of an experiment planned for every Saturday. Organized by the city’s Outreach Team.7/9 - Public Hearing on Ordinance 547, at the Senior Center, 6:45pm.
The ordinance would update the Board of Health to enable healthcare professionals other than physicians to meet the requirement that one member have applicable professional knowledge. Read it here.7/9 - City Council Regular Meeting at the Senior Center, 7pm.
Agenda to be posted, here.7/10 - The Witchdoctors (classic rock) concert in Battery Park, 6:30pm.
Part of the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series presented by NC Community Partnership and the NC Jaycees. Blankets/lawn chairs recommended!7/14 - Art in the Garden in the Amstel House Garden, 3-6pm.
Hosted by Cabernet Candles and NCHS with an outdoor art exhibition, live music and poetry, mini-exhibits, wine and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets $25. (Rescheduled from June 23.)7/15 - 7/25 - Kalmar Nyckel in Port at New Castle Wharf.
Day Sails - tickets on the Kalmar website.7/17 - Olivia Reynolds Band concert in Battery Park, 6:30pm.
Part of the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series presented by NC Community Partnership and the NC Jaycees. Blankets/lawn chairs recommended!7/20 - Library on the Loose in Buttonwood (11am) and Dobbinsville (2pm).
New Castle Public Library will be giving away books, handing out ice cream coupons, giving out other info, and playing outside with music and bubbles. All children will also have the opportunity to meet a police officer and city councilperson. Details here.7/21 - Second Street Coffeehouse Open Mic at NC Presbyterian, 6-8:30pm.
$5 cash at the door for an evening of neighborly acoustic entertainment, with refreshments available for purchase and all proceeds going to the Friendship House.7/24 - FINN concert in Battery Park, 6:30pm.
Part of the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series presented by NC Community Partnership and the NC Jaycees. Blankets/lawn chairs recommended!7/31 - Magical Mystery band concert in Battery Park, 6:30pm.
Part of the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series presented by NC Community Partnership and the NC Jaycees. Blankets/lawn chairs recommended!
Then in AUGUST…
8/6 - National Night Out 2024 at the Wharf & Battery Park, 6-8pm.
Get to know local police and first responders while enjoying free fare from the New Castle Lions Club, a DJ, and the chance to send a local official into the dunk tank.8/7 - Conley & Watson concert in Battery Park, 6:30pm.
Part of the Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series presented by NC Community Partnership and the NC Jaycees. Blankets/lawn chairs recommended!
Thank you for reading!
If you found the Digest useful or interesting, please help others find it with a Share. And if you use Facebook, please join the conversation in our City Topics group there.
It was very good new to read that the "Dobbinsville Floating pier" construction will be commencing soon but I hope that you meant it will be the Dobbinsville FISHING pier that I have supported for years and thought would never be funded. Very good news...