NCC Budget Address 5:30PM, Council Meeting 6:30PM Online Tonight; County Operations Update Under COVID-19 Emergency Orders

County Executive Meyer delivers budget address via Facebook Live, proposes over $2m in emergency COVID-19 response funding, policies

Tonight at 5:30 p.m., County Executive Matt Meyer will deliver his Fiscal Year 2020 budget to New Castle County Council via a council-hosted Zoom meeting, as well as through New Castle County’s @Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nccde. 

Please join us this evening on Facebook.com/nccde to watch live.

County Executive will unveil an additional $2 million COVID-19 emergency investment package including: 

• A $1 million emergency COVID-19 recovery supply purchase to buy personal protection equipment, test kits, technology and additional medical supplies to keep first responders, all county employees and county residents safe, healthy and, where possible, able to work.  

• A $500,000 investment in Delaware State Housing Authority’s Emergency COVID-19 Recovery Rental Assistance program.  

• A $500,000 investment for emergency COVID-19 recovery rapid response for those in the greatest need. This investment will supplement the existing efforts of United Way, Delaware Community Foundation, Longwood Foundation and Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement. Rapid response moneys are distributed weekly to organizations to provide goods and services to those with the greatest needs across Delaware. Our funding will provide additional support for New Castle County goods and services.  

• Emergency COVID-19 Recovery County Financial Relief. Relief on certain tax collections, penalties, fees as announced earlier this week.   

LOCATION: www.facebook.com/nccde or https://zoom.us/j/377322142

And NCC Council meets online with two meetings today. View their meetings' agenda HERE. Regular meeting agenda tonight HERE.



From NCC Councilwoman Dee Durham ~

THIS WEEK  Tuesday March 31, 2020Finance Committee  - 4:00 PMSpecial Council Meeting - County Executive Budget Address - 5:30 PMCounty Council Meeting - 6:30 PM 

In accordance with Governor Carney’s recently issued Proclamation, coupled with the Governor’s Declaration of a State of Emergency, New Castle County Council is holding these meetings as telephone and video conferences, utilizing Zoom Webinar. The link to join the meeting via computer, smart device, or smart phone is: https://zoom.us/j/377322142 

Meeting materials, including a meeting agenda, legislation to be addressed during the meeting, and other materials related to the meeting are electronically accessible at https://nccde.org/AgendaCenter/County-Council-1 

You may also call into the meeting (audio) using the following call in numbers: 1-312-626-6799 or +1-646-558-8656 or +1-346-248-7799 or +1-669-900-9128 or +1-253-215-8782 or +1-301-715-8592Then enter the Webinar ID: 377 322 142. 

If you do not have a good connection with one, please try the others. 

Members of the public joining the meeting utilizing the link or the call-in number will be provided an opportunity to make comments in real time. A comment period will be administered by a moderator to ensure everyone has an opportunity to comment. You will not be able to speak until called upon by the moderator. There are functions in the program that allow you to do this.

New Castle County Operational Updates (during COVID-19)

Department of Public Works:

• Public Works is continuing all services other than permitting at its parks. 

• Construction projects are moving forward. In fact, we are pushing to increase the number of projects going out to bid in the next few months. We are working with Purchasing to allow bid openings etc. to be done remotely. 

• County parks are open for exercise; however, accessory equipment has been closed off from the public.  

Department of Land Use: 

• Department of Land Use remains open for business during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 health emergency. 

• Every effort is being made to process land development applications and building permits,conduct inspections, and address property maintenance concerns in a timely fashion without sacrificing the health, safety, and well-being of our residents, customers, and employees. Understandably as the health emergency continues to evolve, our response times may be delayed. 

• Convenient ways to conduct business with the Department of Land Use: 

• Online: www.newcastlede.gov/186/Online-Services  

• Phone: Permits/Inspections/Planning (302) 395-5400 and/or Code Enforcement (302)395-5555o Email: General questions may be emailed to LandUse@newcastlede.gov

• Code Enforcement concerns may be emailed to propertymaintenance@newcastlede.govo Postal mail: All forms and fees may be postal mailed to the Department of Land Use,87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE  

• Seek an appointment: Please call the appropriate Land Use Division for guidance(telephone numbers listed above). A manager will determine if a meeting is warrantedor if the matter can be discussed via video or telephone conferencing. 

• If you must enter the New Castle County Government Center you will follow these procedures:

• Check in at the computer in the public lobby area.o You will then be directed to a conference room where you will be able to communicate with our staff via video conferencing. 

• If you are dropping off an application, fees, or other paperwork, please put your materials inside the blue mailbox located inside the Government Center Public Lobby. A staff member retrieves any materials submitted daily.  

Department of Community Services: 

• All buildings are closed to the public.o Gilliam Building: providing a drop box for the public for any paperwork, forms,payments, etc. Drop box available during normal business hours Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

• Advertising/Marketing 

• Posting resources for children, adults and families on website and social media.  

• Creating and posting virtual tools for the public such as tours of Rockwood Museum, Gardens, story times, etc.; along with links for fitness, chess, books,languages, etc.  

• Current hold on advertising for any upcoming programs/events. 

• New Partnerships 

• Worked with City of Wilmington to offer the homeless with portable toilets and hand washing stations. 
• Worked with City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation to offer Woodlawn Library parking lot as a location for food distribution site for youth.  

• Worked with James Parker to provide parking lot at Route 9 Library as a food distribution site due to displacement from Rose Hill Community Center  

• Worked with Delaware Red Cross to provide blood drive donation site at Brandywine Town Center.  

Division of Libraries 

• All New Castle County Libraries are closed to the public. 

• Book drops are locked; however, fines and fees are being waived. 

• Patrons can visit https://lib.de.us/emedia/ for: 

• eBooks and Audiobooks through Libby/Overdrive 

• ebook, eAudiobooks and streaming movies, tv shows, and music through hoopla. 

• Online magazines through Flipster. 

• Research databases. 

• Ask librarians questions by visiting https://answers.delawarelibraries.org/ 

• Learn another language by visiting https://nccde.org/387/Online-Resources 

• Virtual Programs including story times can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ncclibraries/.  

Division of Community Development and Housing 

• Housing Choice Voucher Program 

- Document drop off service is being provided in front of the Gilliam building.  

- All appointments are being done by email or phone.o Housing Assistant Payments (rent payments) are being processed on time. 

• Focus has been on landlord payments and utility checks for clients. This will be done on April 1st 

• Initial move-in inspections are being maintained. This allows clients with a voucher to move into a vacant unit. All recertification inspections (already housed clients) are on hold. 

• Emergency inspections will be reviewed case by case.• Clients with vouchers searching for housing are being extended 60 days. 

• Voucher terminations proceedings have been suspended until further notice. 

• Owner Occupied Home Repair/Down Payment Settlement Assistance/Affordable Housing Programs: 

• No new owner-occupied home repair applications are being taken with the exception of emergency owner occupied home repairs.  

• All emergency home repair cases will be reviewed case by case and will be completed as a grant (not a loan).  

• Payments to owner occupied home repair and Neighborhood Stabilization Program/Strong Neighborhood Housing Fund contractors are being processedelectronically.  

• No inspections are being completed on occupied homes. Contractors are self-certifyingand sending photos of completed work on occupied homes. For vacant properties,Housing Rehabilitation Specialists are continuing to inspect.  

• Settlements documents and checks for the County’s first-time homebuyers downpayment and settlement assistance programs are being processed electronically. 

•  Settlements for the County’s NSP/SNHF homes are moving forward.o Settlement documents needed for the County’s Workforce Housing Program are moving forward. 

• Five Year Consolidated Plan: 

We anticipate the 30-day comment period for the 5 Year Consolidated Plan beginning Friday, March 27th. We will be conducting public hearings electronically ensuring access to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) clients as well people with disabilities.  

Division of Community Resources 

• Ab Jones Senior Center Center closedo Meals being delivered to seniors 

Referral services provided 

• Youth Development Programo Summer Youth Employment. 

- Youth employment applications submitted on line, documents being submitted via email.  

- One of two application events were held.  

- Most youth employment sites have been suspended. 

• Rockwood Museum 

- Tours and programs suspended. 

- Park and gardens open. 

• Carousel Park Equestrian Center. 

• All programs, lessons, equestrian courses are suspended.  

• Park, bark park, walking trails, fishing pond open.

• Community Intervention and Outreac 

All outreach activities have been suspended.o Currently investigating outreach options to engage youth thru social media apps and virtual programs. 

• After school Programs 

- Cancelled thru May 15, 2020 at Redding Middle School and Absalom JonesCommunity Center. 

• Sports: 

- All spring leagues (March – May) have been cancelled (soccer, flag football,volleyball, and spring skateboard youth camp).  

- Plans are underway for condensed schedule for spring/summer softball.  

- Plans continue for summer leagues and camps. 

• Art Studio. 

All programs suspended. 

• Recreation Centers at Hockessin PAL, Garfield Park PAL and Appoquinimink Library. 

All programs suspended and buildings closed. 

• Farmers Markets. 

Opening delayed until after May 15. 

• Glasgow Park Hermitage Buildings. 

Programs suspended and buildings are closed.