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.
Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I I think that's uh definitely uh an excellent uh collaboration. Uh my next question is, um you know, I know recently you applied for various grants uh to assist the city with purchasing a new equipment and all. Uh what do you anticipate doing with the um current equipment? Do you sell it, or what can you do with that? Are you going to use it as backup? Or uh is there any uh ways that we can recoup any funding that can go out back into our, you know, reserve?
Play from 1:53:38Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay, so so so the public understands we're going to keep the current equipment once we get the new? We're not going to sell it? Okay, gotcha.
Play from 1:54:45Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Last and final question pertaining to IT is do you have the anticipated date on when you're going to replace some of the equipment in this council chamber, because I know through various grants, I know there's some staff members here in the audience that would like to know also. Do you have an anticipated date when this equipment is going to be replaced? Because I think it's imperative, in particular I get a lot of complaints from my constituents and the public that they're not being able to view city council meetings and stuff online.
Play from 1:54:50Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay, I'll accept your answer as it is. Thank you. No further questions.
Play from 1:56:04Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I do have a question. Um this is something you never followed up with me, but uh you were allocated uh some moneys uh to go towards a new playground over in my district. As you recall, we had a public hearing and all. Yes. Uh I don't know, you know, what transpired because a poll was taken. Uh if, in fact, uh that's not going to proceed through, will that money um be put into next year's fiscal budget? Will it turn over, or what is your anticipation?
Play from 2:13:42Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
No.
Play from 2:14:10Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I haven't heard anything back from you or anybody in your department uh since we had that public hearing on whether the people wanted the playground or they didn't want the playground. Uh, but
Play from 2:14:13Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you. Um, I I just have two uh suggestions for you, Mr. Paradee, that maybe you could bring back and tell your colleagues, uh, and see if we could possibly get any funding. But, uh, first and foremost, um, with respect to the Hope Center type program, I think that's an excellent program. I I saw it up in New Castle and and how it functions. And, um, in the city of Dover, we currently have, well, one vacant building that may be a perfect place, which is the old Morris Correctional Center. And also, when the family court moves out into their new building, I don't know if the governor, um, has any ideas of what he's going to put in there, but that's just an idea, maybe, to put a Hope Center there, because we do have the building.
Play from 2:37:54Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, it was just uh something I wanted to throw out there, but I'm sure it's already kind of uh been going through the halls of Leg Hall at one point or another. Uh, my my second idea is uh to piggyback off what, um, Mr. Neil was discussing with regard to public safety and the courts and the
Play from 2:40:18Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
the AG's office. And of course, we would definitely require funding from the legislature because this would be costly, but and to to also elaborate Mr. Hugg and I had discussion on this about I guess a year and a half ago. And that was starting an alderman's court in the city of Dover. And by doing that, it may take the burden off the AG and a lot of the judges. I mean, we can have it right here in this chamber, but it's something maybe you would be willing to go back and discuss with your colleagues. Of course, you know, we could have one Deputy Attorney General assigned specifically and it would address all city issues.
Play from 2:40:33Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah.
Play from 2:42:01Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you.
Play from 2:42:10Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
kind of cool. If I do race down Loockerman, get a speeding ticket, I got to pay that. If I don't pay that, I'm going to wind up in front of a magistrate, probably in jail, get fined. Our police officers are risking their lives, and I'm hearing from the chief and everything else that they can't prosecute prostitution. If we have laws on the books, why aren't we prosecuting? If we're not going to enforce, let's get them off the books. I'm worried about our police officers. They arrest suspect A Monday, on Saturday they got a shootout with this guy because he now has a gun. It could have been because he robbed somebody. These are things we've got to look at.
Play from 2:43:50Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Very good presentation.
Play from 2:47:29Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you. I do. Uh I don't know if this question was already asked because I had to leave the room for a minute, but we're talking about challenges, um can you elaborate a little on contracting out? Um would it be effective um as far as the budget's concerned to be contracting out to some companies um since we are having these challenges, opposed to not?
Play from 2:54:52Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I'm referring to snow plowing, sanitation.
Play from 2:55:09Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Gotcha. Um how about collaborating with the county as far as um who they use or?
Play from 2:56:21Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Have you reached out to any other municipalities, uh county governments, other states uh to see what they're doing as far as the same challenges we have?
Play from 2:56:43Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Gotcha. Uh what—
Play from 2:56:56Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
With respect to, um, street cleaning, uh, recently I read somewhere, uh, or heard that, um, there's going to be some deviations or proposed deviations. Is is that true, and if so, could you explain?
Play from 2:56:56Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I know you and I had discussed this, uh, extensively, particularly last year, pertaining to street cleaning. Um, and I know you had indicated to me that, um, there were some issues with hiring people, okay, for that particular department.
Play from 2:58:39Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay.
Play from 2:59:13Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay. Um, in respect to, uh, keeping up with time constraints, uh, that's all I have right now. Thank you.
Play from 2:59:31Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I have some follow-up questions for PD. Is there a representative here?
Play from 3:04:24Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Uh I just have four ques- questions here. Uh maybe you can answer, if not, uh I think Ms. Marni's in the audience or you Mr. Hugg. Uh the first question that I have and I don't believe I got around to asking it at the meeting last Thursday was um and this pertains to the Police Academy, uh what is the cost to run the Dover Police Academy?
Play from 3:04:32Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay, awesome. Um what kind of uh revenue is it bringing in to the police department?
Play from 3:05:13Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Uh okay, so you should know this question as the Deputy Chief: what is the standard cost to train uh per officer?
Play from 3:05:23Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
How about this one: How many officers has the city produced since its establishment?
Play from 3:05:35Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Gotcha. So since its establishment, uh we the City of Dover have ascertained 30 officers?
Play from 3:05:49Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay.
Play from 3:05:57Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay. Um that's all I have then. Thank you.
Play from 3:06:03Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Good afternoon, Chief. It's 1:00, so it's afternoon now. First of all, I want to commend you for doing an excellent job with your new recruitment drive. My question is, since that drive has been initiated, what is the percentage of applicants that you've received? I know you've been going out to the colleges, the high schools, even the base, if I stand correct. Since its implementation, though, what has been the percentage of volunteers applying?
Play from 3:10:06Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
a new apparatus, a new ladder, a new engine, what do you guys do with the old and is there any way that you can recoup funding to go back into the fire department?
Play from 3:13:19Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this question.
Play from 3:14:33Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay. But it's to help you guys because you know I'm 100% supportive of the Dover Fire Department. In my opinion, it's the best in the nation. Um, we have a lot of nonprofits, okay? And some of these nonprofits bring in a substantial amount of money. You know, we have DSU, you know, we have uh a whole bunch, I'm not going to name them all. But is there any way that you know maybe you could send a letter out or something to the effect that you know you guys need air packs, is there any way, you know, you can maybe contribute something to assisting us with the air packs? Because like with a lot of nonprofits, they don't pay taxes, yet they receive our services.
Play from 3:14:35Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Well, let me know if there's anything I could do. Again, you know I'm supportive of you guys. That's all I have. Thank you.
Play from 3:16:21Jan 21, 2026, Dover Human Relations Committee Meeting
Excuse me, ma'am, can you use the microphone so people can hear if they're listening from from
Play from 39:08Jan 21, 2026, Dover Human Relations Committee Meeting
I can hardly hear you over here, ma'am, no disrespect.
Play from 39:12Jan 21, 2026, Dover Human Relations Committee Meeting
I just want the public to hear if they are listening in, that's all, ma'am.
Play from 39:16Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Ms. Arndt. Ms. Williams, um first question I have is, do you know why the developer decided to revise the plans?
Play from 1:26:29