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Record of Proceedings

Milford City Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearings - January 12, 2026

City Council — Monday, January 12, 2026
BodyMilford, Delaware
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:50

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:01

We begin it with a 15-minute public comment period.

0:04

And I'll hand it over to our city solicitor to uh lay out the rules.

Speaker 2

0:08

Good evening, Mayor.

0:09

This is uh a public comment period before the count council meeting in the city of Milford.

0:14

The city has set aside 15 minutes for public comment.

0:17

We allow three minutes per person.

Unassigned speaker

0:19

If

Speaker 2

0:19

the mayor fears it feels it is appropriate, he can extend that time.

0:23

Anyone who has wished to speak should have signed up on the comment pad.

0:27

We will also check with anyone online.

0:30

When your name is called, please come to the podium, give your name, address, and the topic which you want to speak.

0:36

Um looks like we only have one signed up on the sheet, and it looks like it's Scott Welch.

0:43

Mr.

0:44

Welch, you want to come forward to the podium.

0:47

Also,

Speaker 1

0:48

if if anything is on the agenda

Unassigned speaker

0:51

to

Speaker 1

0:51

be voted on tonight that you want to speak to, you

Unassigned speaker

0:53

can as

Speaker 3

0:57

you're

Speaker 2

0:58

looking

Speaker 3

0:58

at

Speaker 2

0:59

remember, give your name and address.

Speaker 3

1:01

Scott Welch, and I'm actually the owner of Mohawk Electrical Systems, you know, 251 South Robert Bullet.

1:06

Next, you came in favor of the Carlisle Fock Company in the rezoning.

1:11

Uh we're very happy to see them more as a neighbor as opposed to a development.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

So

Speaker 3

1:16

I saw the thing.

1:17

I so I definitely said I want to go and speak in that because I think that's a good thing for the town.

Unassigned speaker

1:21

Uh

Speaker 3

1:22

fire trucks go by all the time, and firemen are going the other way.

1:25

So I don't even need three minutes.

1:27

I just wanted to put my words in that we were in favor and glad to see it,

Unassigned speaker

1:30

and

Speaker 3

1:30

hopefully it's approved today.

1:32

Thank you.

Speaker 2

1:33

Thank you, sir.

1:34

Uh Mayor, there's no one else on the sign-up sheet.

1:38

I don't know if there's anyone online.

Speaker 4

1:44

Anyone online wish to make a comment, please come forward.

1:50

There's nobody coming forward, Mr.

1:52

Mayor.

Speaker 1

1:56

Uh, okay.

1:58

Um right, we'll go ahead and call this meeting to order.

2:04

Uh everybody is here except for Councilman Wilson.

2:08

Uh Councilman James is uh online.

2:12

So if everybody could please

Unassigned speaker

2:13

stand.

Speaker 1

2:20

Councilman James, did you want to give the invocation?

Speaker 5

2:27

Sure, can you

Speaker 6

2:27

hear me, Mayor?

Speaker 1

2:28

Yes, I can.

Unassigned speaker

2:30

All

Speaker 6

2:30

right.

2:30

Um, very

Speaker 5

2:31

helpful.

2:32

Thank you for this gathering tonight.

2:34

Let us all listen carefully to the information that's provided.

2:37

Let us thank you carefully all the things that are presented, that we make the best decision for your citizens of the city of Milford.

2:44

This is our prayer in Christ.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous██████████████████████████████30%
Public Safety███████████████████████23%
Procedural███████████████15%
Finance█████████9%
Capital Improvements██████6%
Information Technology███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Property Tax███3%
Human Resources██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Milford City Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearings - January 12, 2026

The Milford City Council held a regular meeting on January 12, 2026, beginning with a 15-minute public comment period followed by formal proceedings. The meeting included a public hearing on a conditional use application for the Carlisle Fire Company, reports from city departments, approval of funding requests, and discussion of property tax assessment updates. All council members except Councilman Wilson were present; Councilman James participated online.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda approved unanimously.
  • Previous meeting minutes approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Scott Welch (owner of Mohawk Electrical Systems, 251 South Robert Boulevard) expressed support for the Carlisle Fire Company's rezoning and conditional use application, stating he was "very happy to see them more as a neighbor" and that it would improve response times. He spoke during the initial public comment period and again during the formal public hearing.
  • No other public comments were made, either in person or online.

Discussion Items

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day Proclamation (2026-01): Mayor Collada read a proclamation declaring January 19, 2026 as a day of service in Milford, honoring Dr. King's legacy and encouraging community service.
  • Employee Recognition: Mayor shared emails praising Ashley Waller (permit technician) and Stacy Wilkins (customer service) for their professionalism and assistance.
  • Public Hearing – Ordinance 2025-20: Carlisle Fire Company Conditional Use: Planning Director Rob Pierce presented the application to convert an existing 2,400-square-foot storage building on R1-zoned property into a fire substation. The planning commission recommended approval (6-0) with conditions to combine parcels and establish a cross-access easement. Applicant Dwayne Fox (Carlisle Fire Department) stated the substation would improve response times in the southeast part of the city, noted community support, and confirmed no plans for a siren. The public hearing closed with no opposition. Council members expressed strong support, citing growth and safety benefits. A roll-call vote followed: 7 yes, 1 absent (Councilman Wilson). The motion passed.
  • Communications & Correspondence – Group Home Concern: Councilman Dan raised concerns about a group home on West Clark Street, noting that a state law allowed it without city discussion, potentially affecting property values. He requested a workshop to address the issue. Councilman James agreed and suggested the solicitor explain the state statute's requirements. No formal action was taken.
  • County Assessments Update: Susanna Frederick reported that Kent and Sussex counties have completed their reassessments, and the city is working to adopt those values, cleaning up data to align records. The adoption is expected by December 2026, which will save an estimated $347,000 compared to conducting an independent city assessment.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 2025-20 Approved: The conditional use for Carlisle Fire Company's substation was approved (7-0-1). Conditions include combining parcels and establishing a cross-access easement.
  • Carlisle Fire Company Enhancement Fund Request Approved: Council approved $33,000 from the fire enhancement fund (balance ~$76,000) for renovations to improve EMS quarters and create an ADA-compliant administrative office. Motion passed (7-0-1).
  • Verizon Utility Relocation Agreement Authorized: Council authorized payment not to exceed $79,485 for relocation of underground lines conflicting with the Milford Corporate Center project, using realty transfer tax reserves. Funds may be reimbursable through DelDOT TIF. Motion passed (7-0-1).
  • Riverwalk Lighting Project Approved: Council approved the project, accepting a Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) award of up to $160,000 and committing $160,000 in general fund reserves as match. The project advances to priority level one for the FY27 CIP. Motion passed (7-0-1).
  • Staff Reports Accepted: Police, city clerk, city manager, and all direct reports were accepted by unanimous vote.
  • Monthly Finance Report Accepted: Report showing stable cash and ahead-of-budget performance through five months was accepted.
  • Executive Session and Adjournment: Council moved into executive session and then adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

We begin it with a 15-minute public comment period. And I'll hand it over to our city solicitor to uh lay out the rules. Good evening, Mayor. This is uh a public comment period before the count council meeting in the city of Milford. The city has set aside 15 minutes for public comment. We allow three minutes per person. If the mayor fears it feels it is appropriate, he can extend that time. Anyone who has wished to speak should have signed up on the comment pad. We will also check with anyone online. When your name is called, please come to the podium, give your name, address, and the topic which you want to speak. Um looks like we only have one signed up on the sheet, and it looks like it's Scott Welch. Mr. Welch, you want to come forward to the podium. Also, if if anything is on the agenda to be voted on tonight that you want to speak to, you can as you're looking at remember, give your name and address. Scott Welch, and I'm actually the owner of Mohawk Electrical Systems, you know, 251 South Robert Bullet. Next, you came in favor of the Carlisle Fock Company in the rezoning. Uh we're very happy to see them more as a neighbor as opposed to a development. So I saw the thing. I so I definitely said I want to go and speak in that because I think that's a good thing for the town. Uh fire trucks go by all the time, and firemen are going the other way. So I don't even need three minutes. I just wanted to put my words in that we were in favor and glad to see it, and hopefully it's approved today. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Uh Mayor, there's no one else on the sign-up sheet. I don't know if there's anyone online. Anyone online wish to make a comment, please come forward. There's nobody coming forward, Mr. Mayor. Uh, okay. Um right, we'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh everybody is here except for Councilman Wilson. Uh Councilman James is uh online. So if everybody could please stand. Councilman James, did you want to give the invocation? Sure, can you

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