Ezra J. Temko

+Council voted to increase parks and recreation fees.  This proposal will raise fees 25% for residents and 33% for non-residents.  The principle is that the fees would continue to raise annually until they met specific objectives in terms of cost recovery for resident youth programs, resident adult programs, and nonresident participation in city programs.

Councilman Pomeroy and myself voted against this fee increase.  While I would be willing to support a one-time reasonable increase, that was not what was on the table.  First, there was a one-size fits all approach to the increases that did not necessary make sense when you looked at how it affected the actual programs.  Second, the proposal is part of a larger effort to continue making the same percentage increases each year for perhaps 4-5 years - I believe doing this would gut our Parks & Rec program which is such an integral part of the fabric of our community.  These programs have traditionally been cost-neutral from a direct cost perspective but not when you calculate in other overhead and salary expenses such as for the department head and financ director.  I also want to point out on this proposal that while the Newark Post’s article said, “Councilman Ezra Temko suggested keeping the fees the same for both residents and nonresidents”, I was speaking in this comment specifically to the Turkey Trot 5K and not as a general principle.

+Council unanimously adopted a proposal to prohibit towing one hour prior to businesses opening.  When the city first passed its anti-predatory towing ordinance, towing was prohibited in private parking lots one hour after businesses closed so that if someone patronized a business, walked down the street to patronize another business, and came back their car would not be towed.  Based upon incidents that have occurred on the other side of operating hours, this ordinance will also allow patrons who come within an hour of a business being open to patronize that business to not have to worry about being towed if, for example, they grab a coffee or tea down the street first.  I originally brought this up after hearing about an incident and thank the Downtown Newark Partnership for their thorough review of this proposal.

+Council tabled the request to modify the deed restriction at 162 S Chapel Street, known as Holly Woods, to allow five unrelated tenants instead of four unrelated tenants.  There were issues regarding on-site parking that the applicant is taking a closer look at prior to a council vote.

+Council approved three apartments on the upper floor  of the two story building at 44-46 East Main Street.  The first floor currently contains Peace of Pizza and the Marine Recruiting Office.  Please note there are existing apartments here but they have been vacant for 12 years.  I think it is good for our downtown core that they are being redeveloped to be habitable.

+Catherine E Rooney’s is coming to Newark.  Council approved a special use permit for the sale of alcohol until midnight.  Catherine Rooney’s will be located in the Bank of Newark building, 102 East Main Street.  You can visit the website for their Wilmington location at http://www.catherinerooneys.com/