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Record of Proceedings

Milford City Council Meeting: Swearing-In, Key Approvals, and Staff Reports (October 12, 2026)

City Council — Monday, October 12, 2026
BodyMilford, Delaware
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, October 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:08:59

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Do as we do with all council meetings.

0:02

We have a uh 15 minute public comment period, three minutes per person.

0:07

Has anybody signed up?

Speaker 2

0:08

Mayor, there is

Speaker 1

0:09

one person

Speaker 2

0:10

who signed up, Kathy Stetson.

Speaker 1

0:15

Please come to the podium, give your name, address, and you have three minutes.

Speaker 3

0:21

Thank you.

0:21

My name is Kathy Stetson.

0:23

I live at 311 South Walnut Street.

0:26

Um, I'm here because on October 1st, I emailed

Unassigned speaker

0:31

all

Speaker 3

0:31

of the council members and the mayor.

0:34

Um sent an email uh regarding the use of the automated license plate readers or flock cameras.

0:44

And as of today, I've not received any acknowledgement from anybody saying they got it.

0:50

So I'm here to publicly ask that this item be put on a future agenda and um that we can talk about

Unassigned speaker

1:00

it.

Speaker 3

1:02

That's my comment.

Speaker 2

1:04

Okay, thank you.

1:05

Mayor, there looks like there's a couple more people signed up.

1:08

The the first name I got to be honest with you, it looks like Janet.

1:13

And the last name I can't make out starts with an M.

1:19

Maybe that's it.

1:20

Yeah.

1:22

You want to come forward, ma'am.

Speaker 1

1:33

Up to the podium, please.

1:34

Thank

Unassigned speaker

1:35

you.

Speaker 4

1:37

Just uh

Unassigned speaker

1:39

I'm

Speaker 4

1:39

from Horston Manor.

1:41

And our concern is that

Speaker 1

1:43

I need your name and your address, please.

Speaker 4

1:44

Oh, one Eita Mitaro.

Unassigned speaker

1:47

Uh

Speaker 4

1:47

4502 E Summer, Brookway, Milford, Delaware, 1996.

Speaker 1

1:55

Thank you.

1:55

Good.

Speaker 4

1:56

And our concern is about Heart Stone Manor,

Unassigned speaker

1:59

uh,

Speaker 4

1:59

the HOA and COA.

2:01

We we have a terrible response rate on the problems in our our buildings and the maintenance.

2:09

And um, so I just want to see what we can do about getting things to move forward more quickly than what's happening right now.

Unassigned speaker

2:17

So

Speaker 4

2:18

it was changed over from Cscape to Premier.

2:22

And so Premier is a new management company.

2:27

Is there anything you want to ask?

2:29

Or

Speaker 1

2:30

no, just there's your chance for public comment.

2:32

Thank you.

2:32

Okay,

Speaker 4

2:33

thank you.

Unassigned speaker

2:34

Can

Speaker 1

2:34

you spell your last

Unassigned speaker

2:35

name?

Speaker 4

2:39

T like Tom, T like Tom, E like Edward or Robert O.

2:44

Oscar.

2:45

Okay.

Speaker 2

2:46

Thank you.

2:47

And ma'am, I did have your name correct.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Community Engagement██████████████████18%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Public Engagement████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Economic Development███3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Milford City Council Meeting (October 12, 2026)

The Milford City Council convened on October 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included the swearing-in of a new council member, public comments, departmental reports, and approvals for a shared-use path agreement, Halloween dates, and construction change orders.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the agenda as amended (removing the executive session) and the previous meeting minutes.
  • Monthly staff reports from the Police Chief, City Clerk, and City Manager and his direct reports were accepted by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kathy Stetson (311 South Walnut Street): Requested the council place an item on a future agenda to discuss Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs/Flock cameras). She noted she emailed the mayor and council on October 1st without receiving an acknowledgment.
  • One Eita Mitaro (4502 E Summer, Brookway): Expressed concern about slow maintenance response times at Hearthstone Manor following a change in the HOA management company from Cscape to Premier.

Discussion Items

  • Oath of Office: Judge Noel Easton Primos administered the oath of office to Joan King, the certified winner of the uncontested Ward 3 special election, for a two-year term.
  • Staff Reports Highlights:
    • Police reported 1,249 calls for service in September; the new evidence building is nearing completion.
    • Planning & Zoning reported 185 new dwelling permits issued year-to-date (72 apartments, 24 condos, 10 townhouses, 10 duplexes, 71 single-family homes) and a sharp rise in grass violations (452 open vs 235 in Sept 2025).
    • Public Works noted 400 utility locates in September and provided updates on the Wilbur Street storm drainage project stalled by gas line relocation.
    • Parks & Rec detailed progress on the Riverwalk fishing platform, the downtown restroom project (ordinance introduced), and soil borings for the Rehoboth Boulevard parkland.
    • Human Resources reported zero retirements in 2026. A concern was raised that some employees were not invited to service awards; the City Manager stated all employees were invited per department records.
    • Economic Development noted two Milford census tracts nominated for federal Opportunity Zone status and identified three vacant downtown storefronts.
    • Finance reported collecting $4.2 million in taxes.
  • Council Communications: Councilmember Medura clarified the city has no authority over HOA operations. Councilmember Jason raised concerns about abandoned shopping carts and noted the Public Safety Committee meeting on ALPRs did not meet quorum and is postponed.
  • Ordinance Introductions: Three ordinances were formally introduced: 2026-15 (Downtown Restroom conditional use), 2026-16 (Subdivision expiration amendment), and 2026-17 (Baltimore Air Coil pavilion). They will be heard by the Planning Commission on October 20 and return to council on October 26.

Key Outcomes

  • DelDOT Shared-Use Path Agreement (US 113): Council authorized the Mayor to execute the maintenance agreement. The city will maintain the path; DelDOT retains responsibility for the Route 113 roadway and drainage. Passed unanimously.
  • Halloween Resolution (Res. 2026-18): Trick-or-treating was officially set for Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Passed unanimously.
  • Milford Corporate Center Change Order #8: A no-cost, 30-day extension was approved for contractor George & Lynch to complete punch list items by October 30, 2026.
  • Police Evidence Facility Change Order: A $3,010 change order for breaker panel relocation was approved, funded from contingency.
  • Upcoming Events: A 4th Ward town hall was announced for October 13. Carlisle Fire Company announced an open house for its new Station 2 and its fire prevention open house on October 31.

Meeting Transcript

Do as we do with all council meetings. We have a uh 15 minute public comment period, three minutes per person. Has anybody signed up? Mayor, there is one person who signed up, Kathy Stetson. Please come to the podium, give your name, address, and you have three minutes. Thank you. My name is Kathy Stetson. I live at 311 South Walnut Street. Um, I'm here because on October 1st, I emailed all of the council members and the mayor. Um sent an email uh regarding the use of the automated license plate readers or flock cameras. And as of today, I've not received any acknowledgement from anybody saying they got it. So I'm here to publicly ask that this item be put on a future agenda and um that we can talk about it. That's my comment. Okay, thank you. Mayor, there looks like there's a couple more people signed up. The the first name I got to be honest with you, it looks like Janet. And the last name I can't make out starts with an M. Maybe that's it. Yeah. You want to come forward, ma'am. Up to the podium, please. Thank you. Just uh I'm from Horston Manor. And our concern is that I need your name and your address, please. Oh, one Eita Mitaro. Uh 4502 E Summer, Brookway, Milford, Delaware, 1996. Thank you. Good. And our concern is about Heart Stone Manor, uh, the HOA and COA. We we have a terrible response rate on the problems in our our buildings and the maintenance. And um, so I just want to see what we can do about getting things to move forward more quickly than what's happening right now. So it was changed over from Cscape to Premier. And so Premier is a new management company. Is there anything you want to ask? Or no, just there's your chance for public comment. Thank you.

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