Statements by Robin R. Christiansen
206 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
I yield to Dr. Sudler.
Play from 1:03:40Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh as Ms. Kay indicated, we have been in constant uh conversation with Secretary Magkos, and they should have a plan, according to Senator Paradee, a plan with uh in the next week or so in regarding uh fast-tracking the Hope Center. Now, it has some deficiencies, but in an emergency, I'm sure that it could be used. But the entire program is going to be based on transportation for those who need it. It has 150 box springs that DelDOT state left the furniture uh there for whoever took it over. In addition to providing wrap-around services for the residents of the future Hope Center and also security, security being maintained for that facility. Also, several people from the IMA, the Interdenominational Ministers Association, are revisiting their participation in Code Purple. So, uh and I appreciate your uh your your uh information on the Morris Center and the Family Court building. At one time in a in a past life, I did have the opportunity uh that those were two of my accounts, and Family Court is very cut up. However, it would be usable. And the Morris Center does need some uh upgrades, and I'm not sure what those uh would be because this is 13 years after the fact, but I think that the fact that the IMA and Secretary Magkos are trying to fast-track something or get other people involved is the route we need to go, and we need to go in earnest. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Play from 1:11:30Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
So, our understanding of the preliminary plans uh are for uh folks with addiction to receive wrap-around services there. Uh it even has morphed into the fact that they hope to put that in place because they have a commercial kitchen there to provide job training and uh the whole gamut to get these folks back on the street. The Hope Center for Kent County, as as we've discussed it uh previously, and I don't think that model has changed yet, we've not received any notification, is to uh differ from the Hope Center in New Castle County. It is must not going to be just a warehouse, but it's going to be something that has meaningful services for folks that have drug addiction, alcohol addiction, uh mental health issues, and who are in need of job training uh so that they can go back and lead the the life that they really should be leading rather than uh being trapped in in whatever situation they are. So, that's the initial plan on it. I don't think that that has changed. I think it's just a It's just a matter of getting those uh those in place once the once the center gets up and running.
Play from 1:14:10Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
Yes, and uh I think that, in a humanitarian uh point of view, the uh National Guard could help us, maybe, if we reach out to uh Adjutant General Benson. But I will tell you that we are not going to bring or request troops to be on the streets in the city of Dover. We have a crime issue, we have issues, but it violates one of the tenets of this government or federal government, and that's posse comitatus. And uh I don't think that we need uh National Guard troops If we're if we're that bad, we are really in trouble.
Play from 1:26:16Oct 27, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole
But I think on the humanitarian end of it, uh I see no problem with us reaching out to General Benson to see what they might be able to help us with. But remember, posse comitatus. You can go to some of these other foreign countries, and the military is on the street all the time. We don't need that here. We have a competent police force that does the best that they can do every day, and the problem is up the food chain, not with Dover Police Department.
Play from 1:27:01Oct 26, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd just like to uh remind everyone that there's going to be a Veterans Parade on November 7th at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Dover, and on November the 11th there will be the Veterans Memorial Service at memorial service at the at the Vietnam Veterans uh monument at the uh county uh over by the county administration, and that's sponsored by Vietnam Veterans Chapter 850. Thank you, Mr. President.
Play from 37:18Oct 13, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Paul. Frank Paul.
Play from 2:18:15Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Come on down, Chief. I am honored, Chief, to have you here.
Play from 01:30Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Chief, before I present you the proclamation, in the Lenape tradition, when you get a compliment, it requires someone else to speak. So Mr. Rocha will take the pictures, then, Chief, we're glad to have you.
Play from 03:24Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
All right. Mr. President, this is my costume.
Play from 06:05Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Yes, uh, Jason, you're familiar with uh some sprinkler heads that have been, uh, sweated into domestic water to cover areas that needed to be covered, right? And, but it is not a costly a costly proposition, but there is a mechanism to sweat into domestic water, uh, sprinkler heads to do what needs to be done if it's required.
Play from 22:17Oct 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting
Mr. President, thank you. Um, I'm just going to remind, uh, the, uh, members of Council and the citizens, uh, that that there is a planned Veterans Day parade on November 7th to honor our veterans, uh, here in the community, so be on the lookout for information for that. Thank you, Mr. President.
Play from 34:17Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Wilson.
Play from 15:38Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Good evening. How are you, sir?
Play from 15:40Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So, can you tell me the folks that you are reaching out to for job training and and the efforts that you're putting forward? The reason I'm asking that is because, you know, Dr. Sudler has chaired the Blue Ribbon Commission that the mayor established. I'm wondering if there's a possibility that if some of these folks are at risk, that they may come under the umbrella that they would seek an ongoing grant for your program with those funds, which should by all intent and purposes go back into the community to not only assist people who have these addictions, but also to establish programs so that they will not go back into addiction. My second question to you is, and you can answer this in two parts and Dr. Sudler chiming in wherever you feel so inclined to do. The Downtown Dover Partnership is part of a investment, long-term investment, for the revitalization of downtown Dover. Have have they been receptive to your program? And and I need to know what their response was. So, can you tell me about the folks that we are going to have in this program, if they might benefit from applying for the opioid This is what, round three, Dr. Sudler?
Play from 15:41Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
That's coming on on board, so that we might be able to get you more funding than what you are requesting through those opioid settlement funds. And then I'd like to know about the the Downtown Dover Partnership's response to your presentations and requests.
Play from 17:28Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. President. I will defer I'll yield to Councilman Boggerty as long as he gives me the microphone back.
Play from 54:31Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Mr. Wilson, as you know, uh I think that you understand that council supports uh the program that you've brought forth. Uh much to sometimes my dismay, we have process that we have to go through. And I think it would be in the best interest of your program, and its continuation as part of the uh the city funding it, that we follow the process. Much as we probably I think a lot of folks in the room would like to write you a check now, but the process doesn't allow us to do so. But I think if you follow through on the request that Ms. Arndt had, we we determine a source of revenue that is available for us to give you those funds, and that a a an appropriate uh committee action form put together by our staff based on the information that you give us uh that we can move forward on this project. So, uh don't be discouraged uh because we haven't said no, but we can't say yes. I yield the floor.
Play from 55:53Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. President. Mrs. Harvey, just for um the infor- information points, are the standards for everyone across the board the same as is there a maintenance of standards across the board for all CDG CD whatever it is?
Play from 1:36:11Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yeah. Say that 10 times real fast.
Play from 1:36:25Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Um Across the board, are the are the requirements the same? The reporting, the accountability across the board?
Play from 1:36:27Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And any other applicant that would come along, those requirements would be the same across the board, the time tables, um the information that was requested?
Play from 1:36:57Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
And this is public information?
Play from 1:37:26Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Councilman Lewis.
Play from 1:37:29Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you uh, Mr. Chairman. It would not be my intent to uh represent the Fire Chief or his opinions, but um uh as a firefighter from Robbins Hose Company for over 50 years, one of our uh rapid emergency response routes from fire station number one, downtown headquarters company, has always been uh to respond to Division Street to head east. Uh as a operator of a piece of fire apparatus, I think that uh, and this is my own personal opinion, uh the easier response route would be Division Street uh and swinging off of the side streets into uh the East Dover uh area. I think that uh successfully we've prevented uh traffic from going through there and I think that uh we probably should continue in that direction. Uh let me also reiterate, time is of the essence in in a fire call as Chief Johnson as a past chief of his own department, as an officer in Dover Fire Department myself uh many years ago. Uh, however, I think the the more rapid response uh would be for fire apparatus to respond to that area, and I'm not sure what the call volume is over there, I wish we would have been able to pull that up, uh would be to respond uh from the downtown firehouse uh head east on Division and swing in into that uh into that development uh. Just basically also because of the size of the apparatus that has to go through there. Uh and uh I'm not so sure responding down Loockerman Street, uh we've done that for years to get to um to southeast of town and uh because of the traffic situation uh we no longer respond down Loockerman Street unless it's absolutely necessary. So uh I think the uh Division Street response route is uh is more proper in my opinion, but let me let me reiterate that again that I'm not speaking for the fire chief nor am I speaking for the fire department, I'm speaking from personal experience. I yield, Mr. Chairman.
Play from 2:26:47Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
We'll run We'll run through it.
Play from 2:33:11Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So in regards to a k- uh thank you, Dr. Sudler. In regards to a a gate that would be operated by remote control, each pieces of fire equipment and the ambulances are equipped with Opticons, and that is how they get access onto the various different parts of Route 1. So that might be something that would be doable with the Opticon system that the fire trucks already have in place and that we have on many of our streetlights to allow us to turn the lights to, you know, make our emergency response. So that might be an option. Yield, Mr. Chair.
Play from 2:37:31Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Opticon.
Play from 2:49:50Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
We can get to you.
Play from 2:49:58Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Can I cut the ribbon on it?
Play from 4:28:30Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I won't be here. Bring him back Bring him back from retirement just for the ribbon.
Play from 4:28:37Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I have discussion.
Play from 4:58:15Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I think what I have to say is kind of pertinent to this, but go the hell ahead.
Play from 4:58:24Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, uh, Councilman Acting Council President Anderson. You know, last night, we had some accusations made on this floor that uh, the chief and myself had violated some ethical codes. It has been investigated numerous times by the Department of Justice, internally, and through this uh, investigation that the city paid $70,000 for. I need to remind council that the terms and the conditions of Chief Johnson's employment were approved by this council after a committee, made up of city staff and members of council, recommended his hiring, and it was brought to the council floor. Let me reiterate to you that uh, I don't take my job as willy-nilly. I have asked and received on a weekly basis, an accountability of the chief's activities, and emails, rather detailed, of his work product. I believe that this resolution is premature. I concur with Councilman Lewis that the public has a right to know. Uh I have no shield from what was in that report, and I insist that before this resolution is acted on by council, we have an obligation to the public and to the people who are investigated in that report to release it, and I will settle for nothing less. I believe in transparency. If I have done wrong, hold my feet to the fire. If I haven't, then don't hold my feet to the fire. In a resolution that's brought to this floor without transparency to the public, and questioning, at the end of the day, don't question the chief. He reports to me, so I take responsibility of what was in the terms of his hiring, and how he has performed his duties and jobs. But I insist, along with Councilman Lewis, that the city pay for this report, transparency must prevail, and I have nothing to hide. I have acted within the confines of that of the hiring agreement that the committee made, and we brought to a recommendation to a previous council. We have an obligation to maintain those standards for the current chief. You want to change them after he walks away, do it. But at the end of the day, it's imperative that if this report and DOJ investigations, and council's are well aware that we discuss this in executive session probably two or three times, two years ago, and no action was taken then, it is imperative for transparency that this report be given to the people that paid for it. I rest my case.
Play from 4:59:12Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I think it would be very prudent, and I've been known to be wrong, that this resolution be tabled for further consideration, and that this council uh, act in the manner to which it should be done, which will not be costly to the city. But I insist on the release of the report on my end.
Play from 5:04:19Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
On advice of my attorney, because I have nothing to hide, Mr. Chairman.
Play from 5:04:54Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I wish you'd take my receipt.
Play from 5:10:18Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
It's 11:00 at night. Would you answer your phone at 11:15 at night? Hell, man, he's asleep.
Play from 5:13:28Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I would just caution council to walk softly on this one. I think you need to table this. You need to get more information, and I sure as hell wouldn't call the attorney at 11:15 at night, because he's where we all should be, home in our bunks.
Play from 5:14:55Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
But I think it's important that there be transparency. I have no issue with it. Whether other folks have an issue with it or not, that's for them to choose the right direction that they have to do.
Play from 5:15:10