Statements by Fred A. Neil
1,535 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
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Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, if you will, please.
Play from 1:16:53Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilman Lewis has...
Play from 1:19:29Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I will chair, Councilman Anderson. And we have, Mr. Hugg is going to... What? We have this... Who? Ms. Hall? Yes.
Play from 1:21:33Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Ms. Hall.
Play from 1:21:43Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes.
Play from 1:21:45Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Mr. Hugg.
Play from 1:22:54Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilman Boggerty.
Play from 1:25:37Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilman Boggerty, before he comes, I have a statement that I have to make. I'm requesting that the application submitted by the People's Community Center located within the People's Church for Economic Development funds be denied at this time based on multiple complaints regarding zoning violations arising from the activities at the center and the very real possibility of litigation. I also request the City Council consider restricting certain activities occurring there. These concerns include, but are not limited to, the presence of five convicted sexual offenders who list the People's Church as their residence while programs for children operate in the same building. There's no question that the individuals struggling for, with addiction or mental illnesses need services and support. However, their behavior has not improved in this location. The services offered at the center have become a magnet for individuals whose actions are systematically destroying the quality of life and devaluing the property for residents along historic Bradford Street, the rebuilt New Street corridor, Governors Avenue, Kirkwood, State Street, and the businesses in the downtown area. Streets, backyards, porches are used as toilets. Trash, needles, public sex acts, and solicitation are rampant. As we work to rebuild downtown, approximately 23 properties, including several stately homes converted to offices, are now being sold because we've been unable to change the conditions affecting the area. On December the 2nd, 2025, a 14-page formal complaint was submitted to the clerk's office, the mayor, and code enforcement. I did not see it, and I asked members of this council, did you see this document?
Play from 1:27:21Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
The document is a clear indication, indictment of the unintended consequences that arise when we attempt to do the right thing in the wrong location. On February 4th of 2026, attorney Kevin Baird sent a letter to the city clerk, the mayor, planning code enforcement, and the fire marshal, raising the same concerns and requesting a response within 14 days. I do not recall receiving it at that time. Did you?
Play from 1:29:26Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
When I received a copy, I asked the city managers about it and was told that on February 18th, the staff met and requested that our solicitor prepare a reply. The reply has not been shared with the city council, and we met with the solicitor today. Complicating the matter is the fact that three of our elected...
Play from 1:29:46Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
officials, who I hold in very high regard, serve on the board of that center, including member one member of this council. But they cannot control the behavior of individuals once they leave the facility. What will it cost to make the surrounding areas safe from abuses that are occurring? Are we preparing to raise taxes to pay for it? Or will we allow the destruction of these neighborhoods to continue unabated?
Play from 1:30:23Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
We have received a copy of the February 4th letter from Kevin Baird, and I requested the clerk to send the original, to add the original December 22nd, 2025 complaint to the record, and I sent to each member of the council that record, that letter we received on February 24th.
Play from 1:30:52Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I agree with the individuals served by the center need food and shelter, but nothing occurring there is changing the dynamics of their lives. We cannot allow the inability to act rationally to destroy the quality of life of others. The Attorney General's office is not expected to object to Dover re-establishing the Alderman's Court. It's not a panacea, but it will offer more responsive, community-based court that can help restore accountability.
Play from 1:31:15Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm requesting the staff to provide us with the cost of re-establishing the court. Now, one additional piece of information has come to me. There has been a complaint by the Delaware State Health Department about the kitchen that is being used to serve 75 to 100 people. Nobody is turned away. They pride themselves on the fact nobody's turned away.
Play from 1:32:11Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
That health report was given to our code inspectors, who turned it over to the family community police department. We have not seen what that report says.
Play from 1:32:31Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So there are constant problems with that building and the destruction, basically, of the area around there. It's our responsibility to find uses to make sure that we're not destroying the tax base for the people who need the money that we need money for to help them. And they cannot act rationally. So with that, I'm requesting that this be pulled from the agenda at this time and denied.
Play from 1:33:03Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Councilman Lewis.
Play from 1:42:24Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Mr. Hugg, can I ask what was the decision of the solicitor and what was supposed to happen in regards to the property in regards to zoning? Because there've been a lot of zoning exceptions to this. What was the decision that was made by staff in terms of what the solicitor said?
Play from 1:44:27Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, Councilman.
Play from 1:52:01Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Basically, you say you're compliant, we get sued, the city taxpayers have to defend compliancy, and there is a great deal of a question of whether it is or it is you are or you're not. There is a lot of law that says that is not a ministry that you're talking about. There's certain services you can have in there, but that is a different use for the property, and the law is there and will be determined by the attorneys. I have 17 articulate letters, one of them is seven pages long, detailing the problems of people who are coming there who you say are not yours. But they're drawn there because they eat there. They're drawn there because they can go to your place. And that is where we have a problem. It is a residential area that is bringing people to that area destroying homes. One of these letters is seven pages long and is very articulate, and really is detailed. So you're painting a wonderful picture that can be done elsewhere. It's simply that.
Play from 1:58:09Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So if that's the case, the city is going to have to defend you? The city is not going to defend you. The city is going to take a look at you and say, this, what's happening in there, it doesn't fit the code. It doesn't fit the forgiveness of having you do certain things, that you can be a a a different use, but not the use that it's become, including the fact that you have sex offenders in a building that has housing. And we've had that problem in other places with other organizations doing the same thing, and the schools were farther away than they are to your building. So you're painting a marvelous picture of what has to happen. It just doesn't have to happen there. And whether the Labor Secretary is here or not, the fact is, it is damaging to the property. 17 articulate letters, not something that was a form that somebody just sent in by email. This is going to go to the Secretary. This is going to go into the record. The names are going to be redacted simply because there is a fright factor, intimidation from the people who are hanging around, and they don't want to be intimidated. And so, while you paint this marvelous picture, it hasn't been marvelous for them. And you have to consider the quality of life that you can't say, "It's wonderful, we're going to do this," because it hasn't been wonderful. It has been terrible. And basically, what they
Play from 1:58:56Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
It's there, it's verified, and a lot of these people we haven't even been able to arrest because the Attorney General says, you can't arrest them, you can't put them in. You can't do that.
Play from 2:00:31Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So it's a problem that draws, because you have 75 to 100 people who you feed every night in a kitchen that may be a of the, of a great concern from the Health Department.
Play from 2:00:40Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And you're smiling and saying, "This is wonderful. We have to pull it together." Yes, we do.
Play from 2:01:00Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
But it doesn't have to be at your location. And that location basically is not, was not designed for that.
Play from 2:01:04Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
You want to have kids in there for programs? Great. You want to have some educations in there for something for Great. But what you've drawn is basically a destruction of the property
Play from 2:01:08Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
there, historic property, newly developed property, new homes on New Street, all through that area. And they come because they know they can dine at your place. They know that there's going to be food there.
Play from 2:01:18Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Do they need it? Yes, but they needed it there? Why don't you do, basically, have the dinners and lunches, whatever, and send them to another place? You've got the kitchen, send them out to someplace else where they can do the eating.
Play from 2:01:28Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
They don't have to do that. The education, they can go elsewhere. You've just heard the Councilman, Dr. Sudler, say there are other places.
Play from 2:01:41Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Neighborhood Good Partners has a place right down the street. Terrific place, really set up nicely. Lots of places to do that. It doesn't have to be there where it's destroying the homes and the lives of the people who are there,
Play from 2:01:50Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
who live there. And you can't deny that it's not there, because it's there. It's here, it's here, it's here. I yield.
Play from 2:02:01Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I believe they're facts verified by the people who are there.
Play from 2:02:21Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Could they operate from the Cure building, which is uh operated by the uh NC- Neighborhood Good Partners, which is just right down the street from there? Are you familiar with the Cure building?
Play from 2:06:56Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Very beautiful. Very nice. Lots of The Cure building is right there.
Play from 2:07:09Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Oh, hi there. How are you?
Play from 2:07:18Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I've been there.
Play from 2:07:39Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. Um I'm ready to for uh public hearing, let people who are here to talk. Um we have a number of people who have signed up. And Madam Clerk, will you please uh-
Play from 2:09:40Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I think we have to hear from the people who are from the area, who basically are extremely concerned, and therefore, it becomes that important to us because there's the people who, basically, their homes are being destroyed
Play from 2:10:28Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
because the people who are coming, I'm not I I'm delighted that somebody is being able to leave, unfortunately, not enough of them leave, and they cause a lot of problems.
Play from 2:10:44Feb 26, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And because they cause a lot of problems for the neighborhood, because they're drawn the food, there's no other reason for the food, so why should they leave for- from that? And the kitchen's got a problem, is does it not?
Play from 2:10:56