Statements by Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.
552 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
Okay. So, but what I, from an IT perspective background, when it comes to permissions, um, number one, I, I can't see, other than the breakdown in communication, how that couldn't be resolved. And I don't know where the breakdown in communication is, um, but that should be an easy fix. Um, I think that Ms. Poole
Play from 1:31:24Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Uh, Council President Neil.
Play from 1:41:29Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Thank you, Mr. Hugg. And and thank you for the briefing. One of the things in your briefing that piqued my curiosity is the the expanded digital services portion of it. Is there any possibility—I know you're working with DelTech, but is there any possibility or have you explored working with Delaware State University to see that to see if any of their students could take on a project for us to maybe develop an app for the members of our community?
Play from 1:56:07Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
And thank you for that. Myself and Dr. Sudler could probably try to beat the bushes and maybe, you know, one of my other colleagues might be able to help you set up a meeting for that.
Play from 1:57:10Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
The next question in in reference to replacement, is it still the replacement of technology, is it still a rule of thumb that we should be looking to upgrade every three years, or what what kind of Is there a system in place right now that you're going by, or is that something you've got to develop from scratch?
Play from 1:57:17Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Okay, yeah, that sounds good. Thank you. Um, and then as far as devices, are we okay with with our uh device upgrades?
Play from 1:58:36Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Awesome. Thank you very much, I appreciate that. I yield.
Play from 1:59:42Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
to um with the accessibility. Cuz people want to access uh government today um differently than they did 20 years ago. They want to be able to access it on their phone, on their TV, you know, where they are, and interact um with us um that way. They didn't have that interaction expectation. Um and that that's important. Um and I I just uh want to thank you all for making sure that that that's a priority in upgrading because uh that's what the public's demanding.
Play from 2:01:14Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
library seems every time I go seems to be running well, and it seems to be a safe, secure environment. Um what what what has the feedback been, um, from the customers to you? Um it I know you've implemented some new security and other things. Um are people feeling that that's um been effective or
Play from 2:11:04Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
My question is, since, you know, this is a budgetary workshop is, uh, you were allocated money, okay, your department was.
Play from 2:14:20Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Uh, so what's going to happen with that money?
Play from 2:14:28Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
All right. No further questions.
Play from 2:14:57Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
All right. Um, and, uh, I also, uh, thank the crews for the great job they've done as well as the the others as well. Um, MS4, uh, permits, um, are there any surprises that we have, uh, cuz that that obviously can have a budgetary impact. Are we are there any surprises you foresee for us on that regarding the, uh, the the Municipal Storm Sewer, da-da-da, MS4, right?
Play from 2:59:38Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
Yeah, I I I agree. We need to be telling people how great we how well we're doing what we're required to do, how efficiently we're doing it, and how effectively we're doing it. Um, because whoever made the point earlier, they simply don't understand. And Mark made that point too, that, you know, most people don't have a clue what we actually do. They just know that the trash doesn't get picked up or, you know, whatever it is. And I agree. Maybe that's a new assignment for Kay now that she's a department head.
Play from 4:05:04Jan 30, 2026, Council Workshop
I mean, I think back to Paul made the point, our our electric system has gotten award after award after award for being reliable,
Play from 4:05:39Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Rocha moves for the adoption of the agenda.
Play from 00:20Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Aye.
Play from 00:30Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, uh Council President. Um, Mr. Wilson, I uh, I just wanted to get some clarity on or you know, figure out what what exactly Booted and Suited is doing in reference to the uh Downtown Vision like up in Wilmington, correct? So is this program going to be part of the workforce development for Booted and Suited?
Play from 18:42Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm I'm well aware.
Play from 19:44Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
All right, let's let's stick to
Play from 25:46Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
You know what I mean? Cuz we got we got three other
Play from 25:49Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Understood.
Play from 25:55Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you.
Play from 26:05Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Uh thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing me. Great presentation. Um it sounds like and looks like it's going to be a definite bonus for us, and and uh I know that there's there may be some hurdles. But I think uh, you know, Andre, if you want, you know, I'll I'll participate with you to help get over those hurdles. And I'm sure Councilman Anderson with the conduit bonds, even though he brought it up, he's somebody you could talk to to figure out how to do it. And um, but my my question is as far—it looks like I can answer the question, but I just want to make sure that the age groups that you're targeting for for this for this project.
Play from 47:15Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Understood, yeah.
Play from 47:59Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And will the mentorship for the older ones, cuz I know when I was a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, I my student aged out at like eighth grade going into high school. Yeah, this was a few years ago, I don't want to date myself, but [laughter] but I couldn't follow that person. [laughter] Yeah, I got this gray hair right here. But um, yeah, so they, you know, they didn't have a high school program at that time. So you're saying that now you do?
Play from 48:08Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Awesome. I like it. Thank you. I yield.
Play from 50:10Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah, quick question. Thank you, Council President. Great presentation. One of one of the programs in here that that I connected with is is the RACE program. Cuz when I was growing up, RACE was a big deal in my community. But one of the things that I participated was in was the Summer Olympics.
Play from 1:07:11Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I don't know if they still do that anymore, but that would be nice to bring that. Because that was that it was a competition, but it was also an outside activity and barbecue where the community all came together. And, you know, I'm from Long Island originally, so we competed against other towns on Long Island, and we met in a central location. And Dover is a is a central location to Delaware. I think that would be an awesome opportunity to bring and and also bring the community together, and offer the physical fitness of it and that kind of thing.
Play from 1:07:35Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
That's awesome. That's awesome. Love to hear more.
Play from 1:10:46Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Absolutely. Thank you.
Play from 1:10:50Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, sir, thank you. Really, you know, with the holidays and everything, just, you know, venturing out for
Play from 1:15:14Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Rocha moves to uh adopt the agenda for for Parks and Rec and Community Enhancement Committee.
Play from 1:21:23Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Aye.
Play from 1:21:29Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Second.
Play from 1:29:25Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Aye.
Play from 1:29:29Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm very familiar. May I—
Play from 1:54:23Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Um I think it's it's going to be um it's enhance that area, and you know I've I've DJ'd there before. It's a high traffic area, so the grass probably, you know, is going to be an issue. I think that grade, and I think between the different seasons, it's just going to, you know, enhance it for outdoor activities no matter what time of the year it is. I you know, I'm I'm fully in support of what what is being presented tonight, so with that said, I I yield.
Play from 1:54:28Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Uh just one more thing also, um in reference to the downtown district and what is getting ready to happen on on Loockerman Street, I think once we see the full uh you know, by 2030 or whatever that takes place, you will see the connection between where the beer garden is located and the proximity of Lock- Lockerman I know I'm saying that wrong, but I you know, for for all intents and purposes, Loockerman Street. Um I think that the development is going to extend and around to your location, which will be embraced by the foot traffic that's going to be in that area. So you are included, as you said, in the downtown uh district. Thank you, I yield.
Play from 1:55:42Jan 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And I believe Mr. Garfinkel, he had a comment.
Play from 1:56:37