Statements by Roy Sudler, Jr.
1,283 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
So I want to offer that to you and say thank you. Um, both of you did an excellent job. You all did an excellent job, uh, and and we also thank you for, like I said, uh, bringing up the fact that you acknowledge that we do have some monetary challenges. Um, but, you know, uh, we can help you in any way we can. I'm sure we will. I yield. Thank you for recognizing me, Chair.
Play from 4:13:27Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'll second it.
Play from 4:58:05Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. I want to say thank you to the Mayor uh, for reiterating uh, transparency. Uh, my only concern is, uh, being that you have, in my view, implied that you are giving authorization or you are in agreement with releasing the full report, my only concern is is that also the sentiment of Chief uh, uh, Thomas? Thomas Johnson, right. Is that his sentiment? Because I want to make sure that if that is done, that the constituents will not be in harm's way of a potential lawsuit uh, for releasing it, so that's my only concern. I yield.
Play from 5:02:57Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. Um, in regards to the the motion, and and I understand and I have the same sentiment concern. Is there anyway we can get our city solicitor uh, at you know, on the on the line or I mean, is there any way to have legal advice before we take this? I was hoping that he would be here tonight on something as crucial and essential as this. But nevertheless, we're here now. Um, is there anyway that we can send some type of communication to let him know that what is transpiring now, and how he would advise us? He's already aware of the situation and the entire dynamics, and so, you know, in the fairness of other councilpersons feeling comfortable with making a decision, um, or not a decision, I think we need to have the legal advice of our city solicitor, that's what we pay him for. I yield.
Play from 5:12:17Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Just just for clarity, I think the motion on the floor was to release the entire report, which is, am I understanding, separate from um the item, the resolution. So, just for clarity, uh Chair, are we are we voting on the resolution, which was what? To to release the recommendations, or are we voting on, from what I heard, this this is not the resolution, this is the actual report, separate. I just uh If we could just get clarity. Um, I'm not too sure what I heard, so it's been long. It's 11:00 something at night, right? So, my bad. So, if you can if you can um bring us some clarity
Play from 5:25:04Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Because the motion is on the floor as a motion as I think is to release the entire report,
Play from 5:26:30Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
not the resolution.
Play from 5:26:37Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Which means that item is still standing on
Play from 5:26:39Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Right.
Play from 5:26:43Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thanks for recognizing me. Um, for the record, um, I I too appreciate the mayor's willingness to be uh transparent, and I think that as we are servants of the public, that is imperative that, regardless whether uh there's a bill of a bill of rights, I think transparency and to who you serve, and constituents, being a public official, a public or appointed public official, um, you're open to public scrutiny. I've had to go through public scrutiny. Other individuals have had Other council persons have had to go through public scrutiny, whether it's in their personal life or in their professional life. I think as a public servant, when it comes to the people's especially when it comes to the people's money, that that there is no shield. Um, that's just part of the job. You know, being a public servant is not easy. You're always underneath a microscope. No one has walked on this Earth in my view other than Jesus Christ who is perfect. We all make mistakes. I made mistakes, but I think that the bottom line is for us to heal and move forward, accountability and recognizing that you made that mistake, and moving forward helps the entire city, the constituents, and the cohesiveness of council to move forward, because no one's perfect. I don't hold no grudges against anyone regardless of that report. I I, you know, whatever it is, I let the Lord deal with it. I'm not the judge and the jury. But I do believe as a public servant, you have a fiduciary duty of care to be as totally transparent as you can be. And I think that if I wasn't the chief, I would just be I would just give permission for it to be released. After all, after my superior, um, the mayor, and the mayor, you know, I I I concur and I appreciate and value your leadership on this matter and in other matters as well. And uh, you know, it takes a lot for someone to say, you know, it is what it is, I'm open to public scrutiny, and it says a lot about you. And I too, as Councilman Lewis has stated earlier, um, respect that and respect you for that and and, you know, do not be
Play from 5:33:18Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
are covered when it comes to any legal ramifications from making a decision tonight. I'd rather make sure that they are covered, um, because I think it would be selfish of me if I voted on this tonight. And I do want to vote on it tonight to get it over with, because it's been lingering over head for a long time. Um, think for council, especially one that's been, you know, named, but like I said, I've already turned it over to the Lord, so I'm good with it. But the bottom line is, I think for our constituents' sake and for the city's sake, I concur with Councilwoman Arndt. And I think that, I think that it would be in the best interest of the city and our constituents to just get the legal advice, opinion first, and and defer or or, you know, come back and revisit it. But I would ask that we would come back and revisit it within have a special meeting then. We would have a special meeting which you can call within seven days, post it, and have a special meeting so that we can put this to rest, because the constituents and all parties, we need to put this to rest. All right.
Play from 5:34:14Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm going to say no due to the fact that we need to get legal advice to shield the constituents from harm's way.
Play from 5:36:59Sep 29, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I want to say yes, but I'm I I have to say no because it's bigger than me. I have to I have to make sure my constituents are shielded, so I have to say no.
Play from 5:37:57Sep 17, 2026, Historic District Commission Meeting
Thank you very much for receiving me. I am Dr. Roy Sudler, Jr. I am the District 4 Councilman. Uh New Street, uh downtown Dover, the majority of downtown Dover is my district as you know. Thank you for your work that you do here. I concur with uh the sentiment of the committee. Um it's excellent work. I tip my hat off to you if I had a hat. Um I do believe that is very in you mind if I speak? It's very imperative that um the front sort of aligns with the back so that the community will feel that they weren't um give a perception that maybe they weren't felt as important as the other street. That's always been a concern and issue that New Street is always less important or less valued um than the other streets, and I know that is not the case here. I know the work that you all are doing is excellent. If you hear from me, it's it's good. I would just uh maybe recommend uh maybe like the the majority of of the committee has already expressed, maybe wrapping some of the uh the front decor to the back a little bit and maybe deleting um the the mirror component, because the first thing I think about is uh, "Are we going to watch the NFL football game on the big screen?" I'm sure they probably would like that. It would be a whole party. What, you know, I'm sure they would like that, but that's the first thing, like at the rail house, you know. But um, it's it's beautiful. I support all of the improvement, and I just want to say thank you, and thank you uh to the committee and commission for what you're doing. I appreciate it, and uh thank you for your your consideration, and you know, the the constituents uh in that area. I yield. Thank you for recognizing me. I yield. I support uh the initiative, but if we can make some adjustments according to um amendment according to the commission, I'm in agreement with that as one of three of the councilpersons that represent that district. Thank you for your work. I yield.
Play from 1:02:32Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me and thank you for the Dover Human Relations Commission having this meeting, uh, with City Council. I just wanted to ask the mayor a question. Um, I know the origin of the Dover Human Relations Commission, being one of the founding members back in 2000 and 2001, knowing its initial, um, aim and duty. Um, I just wanted to know from the mayor, um, what does he and what does his vision, uh, entail with his wisdom of many years, uh, on City Council? Uh, what does his vision entail, uh, or his perception entail when it comes to independence...
Play from 05:43Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
have been free from the independence uh to report to City Council and being an autonomy body, independent body. I just want if you quickly elaborate more on that, just so um those who are not familiar with the origin and the background of why the Dover Human Relations Commission was orchestrated from the beginning, uh I just want to see if you can shed some light on that, and to, you know, to show how imperative and important is of the work of the Dover Relations Commission and it not being um, you know, stagnated. Thank you.
Play from 06:33Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Oh, thank you. I just wanted to know, Mayor, if you could just elaborate on your vision or your perception of of what you feel as though um the autonomy should be for the Dover Human Relations Commission, knowing the origin of when it was uh orchestrated back in 2000, 2001 under the Peace Harmony panel. I don't know if you were on that panel back then.
Play from 07:06Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Yes. And and so um being as one of two here, original members, myself and the Mayor, I want to know what do you feel as though uh 20 years some later, what do you feel as though should be uh their charge and what kind of autonomy, when you said free from you know the independency, can you just elaborate more on that?
Play from 07:55Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Play from 09:47Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
And then final, my last question is, uh this to the Council President, uh Council President Neil, do we have, for the Dover Human Relations Commission, do we have an itemized list of what the state Human Relations Commission is charged with and and how it varies uh
Play from 09:49Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
from what the Dover Human Relations Commission was charged with because the State Human Relations Commission was the entity that that um trained and helped put together the Dover Human Relations Commission. That's why so many of the charges were aimed, are duplicated because we were supposed to be able to be independent, as the mayor said, to do fact-finding investigation, holding hearings on, you know, do that in our own capacity on a local level. That was the initial uh origin of the of the conceptual model. So I think they need to know, and I think also Brother Flemming, he was here at the beginning as well. I think he can speak to that and witness to that as well. So in my view, I think in order for the Dover Human Relations Commission today in 2026 to be a little bit more progressive uh and have some idea of what their charge is and not duplicate and spend time on duplicating and finding out, oh, you can't do this cause the state does that. I would like to know, do we currently have an itemized list of what the state does versus what the city's charge is so that they can, that would help expedite the time they would uh be spending, you know, sorting through and guessing uh whether or not this is their purview. Do we do we have that? Because I know that's been an issue throughout the years.
Play from 09:49Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Okay, so as the solicitor have an itemized list of what uh, you know, what the state does versus what our local government does so that they won't duplicate services and not be guessing? Because I think that's imperative for clarity.
Play from 11:36Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Uh thank you. I I yield.
Play from 13:04Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Uh, thank you for recognizing me. Um, it's not more so a a comment, I do have a motion which I would like to move that the City Council direct the Clerk's Office to aid the Dover Human Relations Commission with coordinating and facilitating the areas requested for training within a period of 60 days from today. I believe training is imperative.
Play from 38:26Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Discussion?
Play from 39:16Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Well, that can take place in regards to money and who's actually going to conduct the training is part of the coordinating and facilitating the areas we requested. So that would be part of the coordinating and facilitating. So, they could come back to city council and say, you know, it's going to cost this amount of money to do the training and that this entity is going to facilitate the training. But I do believe that the training itself is imperative in order for our commissioners to reach their full potential in serving this great city of Dover.
Play from 39:28Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Subpoena powers.
Play from 44:00Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Thank you for recognizing me. Initially, the Dover Human Relations Commission had subpoena power and we also had a hearing as well. But in regards to the training for ethics, I believe that it would be appropriate to have the to have the Human Resource Department, who does our training for ethics currently, to train our commissioners. And I don't think it would cost that much because I do believe it's through modules where you come in and you sit and you do training via the computer in a module. And I think that's how we've we've been conducting our training, you know, annually. Is that correct, Madam Clerk Bennett?
Play from 44:12Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Right, so I think I thank you for that, Madam Clerk Bennett. And I think that's the best approach to expedite the training and to also to justify the you know the cost
Play from 45:43Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Thank you, and if Council President don't mind me commenting to that. Um, I have spoken with Dr. Hollingsworth recently and she did express that she would be willing to come and do additional training. Um, she didn't specify the cost, but I wouldn't think it would be that much because that's something that she loves to do, but I can't speak for, you know, for her purse wallet. So, um, we can definitely reach out to her and we can forward that request to the chairman, Dr. Travis-Nixon, if she would like, and or have the, you know, clerk's office help me coordinate that that inquiry. Thank you.
Play from 46:30Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Uh thank you for recognizing me. Uh I just wanted to also specify that uh Ms. Cooper, who's also a a commissioner for the State Human Relations Commission and Civil Rights Committee, has stated that they do provide training and that they would be willing to train our commissioners in regards to what the State Human Relations Commission does. And and which is uh which they do have a component of mediation. Uh so um I concur with uh Councilman Rocha in regards to mindfulness mediation that
Play from 55:09Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Yes. Yes, Madam Clerk? Madam Clerk, would you feel comfortable restating the motion? I didn't write it down. I want to make sure I didn't get it wrong. But I can I can try. I can definitely try.
Play from 59:26Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Actually, I'm sorry. I did write it down, so I can I can read it. Let me read it. Okay. So, um, I move that the City Council direct the clerk's office to aid the Dover Human Relations Commission with coordinating and facilitating the areas requested for training within a period of 60 days from today.
Play from 59:55Sep 14, 2026, Special Council Meeting
Uh, I just before we close, I just wanted to say, um, thank you to the Dover Human Relations Commissioners
Play from 1:01:33Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
Call to order the City of Dover, Delaware's Code Appeal, Code Board Appeals. The Chair will now entertain a motion for the adoption of the agenda.
Play from 00:00Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
It's been It's been properly moved by Councilwoman Pillsbury to adopt the agenda, and properly seconded by Mr. Spain.
Play from 00:16Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
Is there any discussion on the motion?
Play from 00:26Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
Is there any discussion on the motion?
Play from 00:32Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
All those in favor, please state by saying aye.
Play from 00:37Sep 10, 2026, Code Board of Appeals
Those opposed, please state by saying nay.
Play from 00:41