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.
Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Ms. Duca, um one of the concerns in my district, the second district, that has been fermenting for many years now is South Little Creek Road. Um with trucks coming through, um it's become a safety issue, because a lot of trucks are, I guess, coming off um Route 1, they're bypassing North Little Creek Road, they're going in the back there, making a right, they're coming down South Little Creek to get to 13 or across the city. And you have the East Dover Elementary School there. Morning, uh they have an odd situation where um they have the parents park right on the side of South Little Creek Road. I wait, I guess waiting to go in to drop their kid off through the circle.
Play from 15:54Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
So, it narrows the road with the parents being parked there to drop their kids off. Then you have these big tractor-trailers coming down South Little Creek Road. And this is again something that has been complained to me repeatedly by my constituents over there. Uh with this initiative, um what's being done, or is there anything that can be done?
Play from 17:06Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
The only improvement that they did this past summer was repave the road. They didn't widen it.
Play from 18:08Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
All right, understood. If you could uh kind of look into that, because like I said, this has been fermenting for a while now and it's been addressed as a safety issue because of East Dover Elementary School there, and particular in the morning, because that's when these trucks come traveling down.
Play from 18:20Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
So So, what's um, as far as the time constraints on that, uh so I can go back and tell my constituents in the second district that live over in Schoolview, Stoney Creek, and uh the other areas?
Play from 19:15Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Thank you. Uh we could be entering, as you know, a serious dilemma here, and the city is going to be suffering the brunt of this because we do not have the resources, everyone knows, and it's going to take the state to come in and assist us with this whole ordeal. Um we're talking about the old Sheraton, um the proposed new Kent Hope Center, um but we can talk till we're blue in the face. Um there's no guarantees. So my concern is, what is our contingency plan if the state bails out, they don't assist us, they don't get this Kent County Hope Center up and running? Um I mean, there was good ideas brought up about the old Morris Correctional Center, the old Family Court, but I don't know, to be honest with you, because I used to work for DOC and I worked in that facility, if that would be up to par to start moving people in there to run um a shelter because they have uh multiple issues in there. It's an old building, and there's a reason why it's been closed. So, taking that off the table, you have the old Family Courthouse. Um I don't believe I was ever in that courthouse since I resided down here in the city of Dover, so I don't know what it looks like inside uh or how you would possibly, if the state offered that building, house homeless in there or propose it as an emergency shelter. And I'm going to get to some questions with regard to emergency shelters in a minute with Ms. Duca. But, again, what's our contingency plan, as a city, if the state don't intervene?
Play from 48:15Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
You refer to the Red Cross. Now, to my knowledge, the Red Cross is a great organization and they're always there with major catastrophes and all, but it's not long-term.
Play from 51:35Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Under- Understood, um but my concern is with the time constraints, too. Um have you reached out to any of the churches? And the reason I'm asking you this question is uh because, as you are aware, I've known you for a long time now. And uh I have been involved uh in volunteering and assisting the homeless population before I even moved down to this state. And back when I first arrived here, um before Code Purple even existed, we used to, and this was under uh Dover Interfaith Homeless Shelter with Jeanine Kleimo and all, we used to um transition the homeless around to sleep in different churches. We would do it like one church accommodated them one week, another another. Correct. Um have you reached out to any churches if, in fact, we get into a bind, if they would be willing to go back to what was previously done years ago?
Play from 53:41Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
You you you know you got my signature already, because I've been doing this. But um I just again don't want to see us get into a bind because we're getting close, and uh that's why I'm asking these questions um because if, in fact, the state don't come through, and uh I have to be positive and hope that they do, uh and I, you know, hope the governor sees what's going on here uh through the media reports and everything and uh he intervenes uh with his housing secretary at at this juncture. But uh I I don't want to see this city get into a situation where we have tents popped over uh popped up uh in city parks and, you know, on corners. I mean, I see them right now popped up uh down at Legislative Hall. I mean, there's not a lot, there's few, but if if if nothing's done and, you know, you can have 50 down there. You know, what do you do?
Play from 55:07Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
All right, keep on plugging away, okay?
Play from 56:28Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Uh, Ms. Duca, with regard to the um emergency um shelter uh plan, has anything changed to your knowledge? Has there been anything added um within past years that was not mentioned to your knowledge, or has it always been pretty much blanket emergency shelter-type policy?
Play from 56:30Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Correct.
Play from 57:17Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay. And the reason I ask is because um you had mentioned that it's a short-term housing for 90 days or less, correct? So,
Play from 57:19Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
According to the state. Okay. So, in the past, the city has issued uh uh emergency shelter provisions and allowed, for example, People's Community Center to become one.
Play from 57:28Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Within the past.
Play from 57:39Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay, um past couple of years, actually. So um what are the restrictions? I mean, number one, you had mentioned that they have to have a sprinkler system, correct? Correct. Uh they have to have bathrooms?
Play from 57:40Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay.
Play from 58:19Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Good evening, Jason.
Play from 58:21Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
So I think uh that answers um my question and uh many other people's question is because um the question was if uh the city has allowed within the past years these emergency shelters to come in to play without objection, why not this year? And you answer the question when you said because it was an opinion that came down from our city solicitor, so that's what ruffled the feathers. Am I correct?
Play from 59:01Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay. Thank you. Uh and that's all I have right now. Uh I may come back with questions, but I don't want to hold uh my other colleagues up. Thank you.
Play from 59:44Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Yes, um I was going through the legal opinion with a fine-tooth comb, Ms. Duca, uh which I'm sure you did also, and um the last paragraph uh before the conclusion, uh it starts with a particular vulnerability on this test. Um if you go a couple sentences down, it says, "strain that the affected properties place on other areas of the city's infrastructure." Did you provide that to our city solicitor, that information, or
Play from 1:52:02Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay. So that wasn't provided to him, so that's basically I guess what his synopsis is, because it wasn't provided, he's basically saying that um, "I'm not sure if there are studies that support this," so he's basically I guess taking a position um because there aren't, he's not in favor?
Play from 1:52:49Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Oh, understood. So you didn't provide any like uh examples from your perspective?
Play from 1:53:32Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Okay, that that's what I was kind of getting at. Um I I mean, you know, um I think one of the problems that we're probably going to face in the future is uh we have to get like Councilman Anderson said, all stakeholders involved, and particularly um our state legislature. Um but in hindsight, you know, we we can't go on um because we have a revenue problem right now as you're aware in the city, so we can't go on in, you know, status quo, so um I think, you know, this is definitely a start and a good proposal to move things forward. Um it's not going to be a quick fix um because we have to again get all the stakeholders involved and uh we also uh have to uh at first implement the study. So um I guess at this juncture just just move forward on your end. That's all I have.
Play from 1:53:36Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Help me understand why we're bringing even this election into play. I think it's a moot matter, completely. That's my opinion. I mean, you know, whoever gets in gets in, okay, we're still going to have to deal with that particular representative. Uh and um you know, I I concur with Councilman Sudler with respect to, you know, when we initiated the public safety fee, we didn't have to get a charter change. None of this transpired. So, what's the difference? You know, what's the difference? We already have a public safety fee that's been initiated.
Play from 2:26:23Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
I mean, all right, Ms. Sass left the room, but uh
Play from 2:27:07Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
the EMS?
Play from 2:27:13Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
For the EMS and um Yeah. I mean, everybody's paying for that, nonprofits and all. So, I mean, I'm I'm not for the motion. And, you know, and I'm sick and tired of uh Councilman Neil saying, "We're playing politics." He's playing politics.
Play from 2:27:14Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
No.
Play from 2:36:52Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 09:18Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 10:18Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
I just have two questions. Um, the first question is, uh for the record, uh we are within budget restraints, and the funds are available, correct?
Play from 19:52Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Um thank you. You had indicated that um there's two positions if I'm not mistaken where uh you're going to retain the individuals after retirement for a period of time, and so to bring in a new hire training. Um my question is, um will these people both of them be making the same salary? How is that going to affect the city?
Play from 20:12Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
So the new employee will be making less than the retiree, correct?
Play from 21:06Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes, because I just want to I want to make sure that we're not, you know, exceeding our budget restraints.
Play from 21:09Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Understood. That's all I have. Thank you.
Play from 21:42Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 22:07Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh since you last spoke and gave your presentation, uh Mr. Kopp, I uh received an email from a constituent, a resident that owns a business over by Peoples Church on Bradford. Their concern was that they have a floodlight, but for safety concerns, uh because, you know, people congregate out in that area, and they basically, uh saying that um it somehow will affect um, you know, business's spotlight shining out there, you know, to deter uh vagrants or, you know, trespassers from going on their property. Um, how will this affect that, if it does?
Play from 25:55Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. So, it will cover that. Uh a business saying that would be a violation?
Play from 27:07Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay, so I'll uh refer that uh particular ordinance uh to the business owner. Um, so the other concern is um, again, has to do with safety with uh, you know, residential areas with spotlight, well, a lot of people, you know, uh put these lights up, even uh sensor lights, to protect their homes. So, the concern that um they had in the feedback I got from a lot of my constituents in the Second District, again, has to do with uh, you know, keeping people off their property. I know like the sensor-activated lights, they only stay on for a certain amount of time. Uh, is that going to be a violation or affect uh somebody with this new ordinance?
Play from 27:47