Statements by Fred A. Neil
1,535 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
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Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh, realtors have created a very high standard for professional conduct, but when a bump in the road does occur, the cost to the buyer who has bought a money pit of a house has has no real recourse. In Delaware, it's very hard to find an attorney to represent an unhappy buyer who discovered that they had acquired a mortgage, that they now own a lemon house and need a great deal of repairs and what- because what has not been disclosed.
Play from 1:58:00Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
If you sue and lose, you not only have to pay for the house, but you also have to pay for your attorney's fees and those of who you sued.
Play from 1:58:18Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
This ordinance is a result of referral from former Dover City Councilman Ralph Taylor. Uh, that stated- It, that started a journey down a rabbit hole for me and my co-sponsor, Councilman Gerald Rocha. Our guide was Deborah Butcher, who you heard momentarily, uh, briefly, in the opening remarks tonight.
Play from 1:58:24Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
She's a former federal investigator with a disability and two young children. As an investigator, she- you would think that she would have a mountain of evidence of wrongdoing, and she does: documents, photographs, repair bills, uh, correspondence with an alphabet of agencies such as DSHA, FHA, HUD, DOJ, plus elected officials, and Dover and State Police.
Play from 1:59:02Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
There's evidence of fraud, but, alas, the police and the DOJ consider this a civil and not a criminal matter. Even DSHA, that made the loan possible, has no interest in the outcome. It's a gotcha.
Play from 1:59:18Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Unfortunately, there's no restitution in this ordinance. What it does is make certain that the prospective buyer is allowed, is aware of the defects in the house prior to signing the mortgage papers and the financial hell that follows if the house is a money pit.
Play from 1:59:26Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
In the process, it uses documents that realtors already use and automatically changes when when and if the industry changes the standards. Here's how this ordinance changes the dynamic of purchasing a house in Dover. It requires a whole house, in-depth inspection with a licensed state inspector, and must- not a walk-through inspection. Well, this adds the closing- adds to the closing costs, it can save a fortune in costly, unexpected repairs.
Play from 1:59:36Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
It clearly identifies a house flipper. The industry requires the seller to reveal known problems with the house. The flipper, who has never lived in the house, can truthfully say they do not know of any problems. As in the Butcher house, repairs can be cosmetic. The buyer buys trouble.
Play from 2:00:07Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Every item that the licensed housing inspector lists must be acknowledged and initialed by the prospective buyer, showing that they know that the expense of the repair will be their responsibility, or they can demand that it be fixed before they buy, or renegotiate the sale price of the house, or walk away.
Play from 2:00:31Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Please note, in addition to the whole house inspection, there's an FHA appraiser--
Play from 2:01:11Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
where problems in certain areas are noted and must be fixed before the loan is signed. That didn't happen in Miss Butcher's uh state. Uh how can you miss that there's no smoke alarms when you say there are? It took and uh and required an individual to go back to school. Actually got a slap on the wrist by the governor agency uh dealing with appraisers. It didn't make Miss Miss Butcher financially whole or improve the condition of the house.
Play from 2:01:14Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
On behalf of uh I wish to thank uh Coun- Councilman Rocha and myself, I want to thank realtor icons To- Todd Stonesifer and Phil McGinnis, Chief Code Inspector Eddie Kopp, City Planner Dawn Melson-Williams, and Director Dover Budget for their help in crafting this ordinance. And I'd like to ask uh Councilman Rocha for any comments that he might have.
Play from 2:02:05Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
All right. We have uh Ms. Butcher. Do you have a few words for us?
Play from 2:03:54Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you, ma'am.
Play from 2:18:17Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Anyone have any questions? If not, uh, Councilwoman, uh, Arndt.
Play from 2:18:19Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
If, on direct sales, I think that what's going to happen is, uh, I believe you diff- differ. Uh, and my sense that uh, what to do really quick, uh, in this uh, document, and is his uh, proposal, it's my understanding, which means that if if a house is being bought uh, in, let's say, uh, uh, a repossessed, re- repossess a house, uh, or or any other circumstances where it has to be fixed up, uh, then
Play from 2:19:13Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
uh, the person who was who's responsible is going to be one of the realtors who basically does not get the rest of the check-off. And he has to have Whoever's handling the sale would be the one who says, "Okay, here is a You have to have a whole house uh, examination, and the person and the uh, buyer has got to uh, sign off on anything that's found that is not correct." So there's no question about it, it would be that individual. And it would be that individual who would lose her license to work within the city.
Play from 2:19:37Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
And I'll second that. So basically if somebody is uh, going to uh, pick up the property because it's been repossessed by uh, a a bank or any other circumstances where that
Play from 2:20:44Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
person is not going to be living in that house, but is going to be selling that house, then they don't need they don't need the inspection. And it'll be that their option to sell it uh buy that house as is, and then uh go on. Only when the person is when the house is fixed up, that's when the inspection has to take place under under your amendment.
Play from 2:20:53Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes, and we do have Rajat Stone-Seufer here who was very helpful in working out uh or helping to create this ordinance uh to make sure that we that what we do will be the right thing to do.
Play from 2:23:07Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Anybody else have any additional questions?
Play from 2:23:23Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Mr. Anderson. Councilman Anderson.
Play from 2:23:30Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh, I do have firsthand information. She has tried that, and she's not considered eligible for it, unfortunately. Anyone else? If not, uh, I call the question. Please call a roll call vote.
Play from 2:24:20Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Eddie Kopp's in the back. Oh, well, yes. Eddie. Mr. Kopp.
Play from 2:24:34Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
As a sponsor, I don't really have a problem with that. Councilman Rocha?
Play from 2:30:06Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Because the problem that we also have, the the scenario that we can add into that, uh to at the same time, so if a person is buying really an as-is house, wants to sell an as-is house, the end product, it doesn't hurt the end product. To that to the person who is going to live in that house, that this this ordinance really, that's where this ordinance takes effect, would have it. And we did have the city solicitor take a look at it, so that has been done. Yes, sir.
Play from 2:30:21Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Council, yes.
Play from 2:30:55Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. Um yes, Councilwoman Hall.
Play from 2:31:02Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yeah. to the other member of council. Uh so we we do have an amendment on the floor. Do we adopt that amendment and then then then recess and bring this back with your comments?
Play from 2:31:18Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yeah. Uh let's vote on that, and then we we know that the amendment is in there and then basically uh return it to staff. Um can we uh do we need a voice vote? May we have a voice vote on the amendment? All in favor?
Play from 2:32:06Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any opposed? None opposed. Now, Mr. Neil, a motion to uh to defer to return, yes.
Play from 2:32:19Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
It's been uh made, motion made and seconded. All in favor, please say aye.
Play from 2:32:58Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any opposed? It's passed unanimously. And it is delayed until the next council session. Thank you.
Play from 2:33:02Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh we have uh number, I believe it's uh 20, right?
Play from 2:33:06Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh setting a property uh assessment appeals. Staff recommendation is that 2000 uh 20 26 property assessment appeals to be scheduled for June 1, 2026, through June 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in one evening if needed. Uh hearing times are subject to change. Anyone have any questions?
Play from 2:33:14Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Hearing no questions, I'll entertain the motion for the property assessment appeals as
Play from 2:33:54Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
recommended by staff.
Play from 2:34:00Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Second by Arndt, probably made by Arndt, seconded by uh Rocha. Any questions? All in favor, please say by uh say aye.
Play from 2:34:04Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Any opposed?
Play from 2:34:11Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
None opposed, it passes. Uh now, the last item on the agenda uh was from February 25th, 2026, the Consent Agenda uh number 14, Animal Control Officer Briefing, uh and uh on that uh it was pulled from the record uh because of uh clarification need for clarification. Tonight, I shall permit it to go forward with the comment that the miscommunications have been resolved, and vote uh to pass it. Uh all in favor?
Play from 2:34:12