[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6185217,"mediaKeyId","5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db","parentId",5082741,"title","Council authorizes $75,000 change order for mid‑block pedestrian crossing near Milford school","audioSeconds",111,"startMs",7359000,"endMs",7470000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db&start=7359&end=7470","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db/thumbnail_7359000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6185217/Delaware/Council-authorizes-75000-change-order-for-midblock-pedestrian-crossing-near-Milford-school","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185217-08b442c1e9b30d49e76f894d49462b06/orig.mp4?Expires=1775504901&Signature=oXQ9qBHz49yTGT70CbrH7Di6hD1A2cnotGQVeeG5Vl9mIbnN5jG3HJQ5gQEHtPzgpx8tdhD8kpAgiKsTU1-MMIXu3RpX8b0NuoiuS6diM9~UaCvnCDdWesjZ899vVn9IqVNFD7wwYsbIZ9unpMSHSm~4giXVZJzzsU9hQ9MU-SONJLelduzAPUW7HT3XFs8nepeCAkWhGRe-i~k68sSGi4SQqn0KOTFQOxatGQ2k0MpPChBB~4HDhmkiyQ6Y3HZRKTzgP2Wa0neg4IMy0CodeSROcCUcN4GnRzYUfyF7TWU7MvYO-HjGIqVJ3UGVjIdVTzq3WvPdWyCtUb7yEvm12g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Milford DE","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","Milford City Council authorized a $75,000 change order to the city’s street rehabilitation contract to construct a mid‑block pedestrian crossing on North Rehoboth Boulevard, north of the intersection referenced in an MOU with the Milford School District.

Public‑works staff said the crossing includes a concrete median, curb ramps, a pedestrian refuge island, detectable warnings and signage. The change order will use the existing contractor (Eastern) under the city’s utility/street rehab contract; the Milford School District will reimburse the city for engineering and construction costs after project completion. Staff added the reimbursement is expected to be paid with CTF funds secured by legislators.

Council action: The council moved and seconded the authorization and approved the change order by voice vote.

Why it matters: The crossing is intended to improve pedestrian safety near the school; the city will front the construction cost and be reimbursed by the school district’s grant allocation.

Next steps: Public works will issue the change order to the contractor, proceed with construction scheduling and submit final invoices to the school district for reimbursement once work is complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - 4th Monday - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The city approved a $75,000 change order to construct a mid‑block pedestrian crossing on North Rehoboth Boulevard; the Milford School District will reimburse the city using CTF funds.","taxTitle","Milford, Sussex County, Delaware","taxId",79595,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6185221,"Council authorizes $311,000 retroactive electric-fund transfer to balance general fund",159,7211000,7370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db&start=7211&end=7370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db/thumbnail_7211000.jpg","/articles/6185221/Delaware/Council-authorizes-311000-retroactive-electric-fund-transfer-to-balance-general-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185221-76d59efbe4fa72639ce70d3254fa28a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775504901&Signature=TyuN4ToHJQy-Wix1MRoB8dmQfv4aQMXWrxaTLUwir1uTPH9s2Ab3jki3tSzoSIQqDoS44osiv7fFoKXks~vB2rojnjS8NgKl09~-ofkekWyiWBxHUNnJkMXVvc~~Q7cOHecwASfkHIoHFaGn0QhsZI-1tiFHs7kpsRMzbTmbo3orowM1NZFxNGcXeODOTNn0XwOtnEtCOOTWGEQHaNlPHMExF61Zh7U7yF6yWJrrQDsJWRpiz0WaV5qyc1wGb~c6h6XL~yQjGqZ-a6KbwD455n01bA-yHUi5~j083giYSjwV5Nxba8XRDn-RVU~Fa647E0wiEMq01JmyszXn9pSOUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milford City Council authorized a retroactive increase of $311,000 in the fiscal 2025 electric‑fund transfer to the general fund, to be carried forward into fiscal year 2026 to support general fund operations.

Finance director Lou told the council the additional transfer brings the electric fund transfer up to the 12.5% maximum and will generate funds available to balance the general fund budget. Council approved the retroactive transfer on a motion and voice vote.

Why it matters: The transfer is an internal fund movement to stabilize general‑fund operations and is separate from policy decisions affecting salaries or capital projects. Finance staff framed it as a standard tool to address short‑term operating needs while maintaining utility fund health.

Details and next steps: The transfer is retroactive to FY25 and will be carried forward into FY26. Finance said the step was one of the recommended balancing measures presented during budget development and is unrelated to the police pay‑study debate that occupied later portions of the meeting.

","To help balance the general fund budget, council authorized a retroactive increase in the fiscal 2025 electric-fund transfer of $311,000 to be carried forward into FY26.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6185225,"Council adopts Milford five-year CIP; members raise grant and scope questions on major projects",1566,5754000,7320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db&start=5754&end=7320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db/thumbnail_5754000.jpg","/articles/6185225/Delaware/Council-adopts-Milford-five-year-CIP-members-raise-grant-and-scope-questions-on-major-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185225-8b07b32fcd130458f9f6c994054755dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775504901&Signature=dsAs~egjELtBLm9LDv98~WzPxgziJHddT2tXrI7nth2qnkRBgfnLKWBCOLe2YEjEUpd4ekxtaf1G79K1BTYgPZUpX213IAVzRTfGlgXDMx5wfoibSY7GvG-wQijY0TBbptUViOWI6mhPdhO8aJXCfdpKvBPxfq4rbTfyEIrsakqfLFNRtw-C07MbWCv6DcYc15y2BZ2QDcnAhpkJXNP9-CblLr4DRKpVDvHZfDe2qBRPLGvj5OGe-lovNuh46WqxDp48X56l-9sq3ZFNonZbX0LRxhdA01z3XVtPknB1MghKPDF-ZPi5nIrKMhpSkM5OP~iC1JBkJ0XD5c8APJ91dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milford City Council adopted the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2026–2030 following questions about project scope, funding sources and grant dependencies for several large items.

Council members pressed staff about changed cost estimates and whether projects listed as “grant hopefuls” required additional council-level direction. Staff said the CIP is a planning document and that line‑by‑line funding for fiscal 2026 projects included in the operating and capital budget had been prioritized; projects that depend on outside grants remain subject to grant awards.

Project details and questions: Council asked why the Fourth Street pond project’s estimate increased to about $1.75 million from prior estimates that assumed deeper excavation. Staff explained engineers found groundwater limits that prevented the originally planned depth; the expanded scope requires either enlarging the pond footprint or looking for upstream impoundment options, which increased estimated cost. Staff said a congressional earmark request had been submitted and that early indications were optimistic but that the project remains contingent on state and federal approvals and DelDOT coordination.

On the North Washington / Park Avenue streetscape and parking‑lot work, staff said several previously separate projects were combined in the CIP for bidding efficiency; that aggregation accounts for a multi‑million‑dollar line rather than a single smaller line item shown in prior years’ CIP spreadsheets.

Outcome and implementation: Council moved to adopt the CIP as a planning document; the motion carried by voice vote. Staff committed to provide clearer labeling for grant‑funded or grant‑dependent projects in future CIP materials and to provide monthly reserve breakdowns if council desires.

","Milford City Council approved the capital improvement plan (CIP) for 2026–2030 after questions about project scopes, grant dependencies and schedule changes for the Fourth Street pond and North Washington streetscape.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6185229,"Milford adopts FY26 budget with police pay adjustments after weeks of debate",1349,2037000,3386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db&start=2037&end=3386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db/thumbnail_2037000.jpg","/articles/6185229/Delaware/Milford-adopts-FY26-budget-with-police-pay-adjustments-after-weeks-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185229-43d8cdc2b9f4345a66bfc9803958069e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775504901&Signature=Ya~KTnt7V7GtoT5IoW1uR5-0WoJv1qd2UyrfGSO3yW~SE-HOIkV8oqc~u9rcDES-SlMySJ2a59dY0omNKEZRGWCdU1634nc6~lXdM8CVNXc1DmpjHKS9LXlPFvjowoLwyqVgjzel2VaaXf0fzA8nC0QUmXzzTxbX0Q8245pOTzIsMqFzVhgW1PWvv5JeJSVGniL6K79ZYDVeqL2gVA7vpYervm7addTRha~ddMisCeDXSdfVkH45yWOtPl2onKUDstGawXPzTJjfFNEgr6yTf0ba0BpLmyvbRIyUJdw0gMh-4heSwE1vDkL~DUeRNsUCZliYVM5TKAoMi91PJV0tZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milford’s City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget (Option B), a measure that includes pay adjustments recommended by Police Chief Asha for the department’s command staff.

The council vote adopted Resolution 2025-B after extended discussion about the consultant pay study and the chief’s supplemental analysis; the motion to adopt Option B carried 6-1 with one abstention. The motion included direction to revert to the cuts identified in the council’s prior memo (from the Monday packet) and to consider further staff-provided data if council elects to revisit any pay adjustments later.

Why it matters: The budget contains what Council staff described as a significant pay allocation for employee compensation and specifically funds adjustments the police chief argued were necessary to address on-call time, overtime and recruitment pressures.

Key numbers and staff recommendations: Finance staff reported that Option B includes roughly $370,969 earmarked for pay increases affecting about 80 employees; two-thirds of that amount (approximately $247,255) would be spread among 75 employees while the remaining ~$123,714 would apply to five positions the chief identified as command roles. Staff also provided two budget scenarios and recommended adoption of Budget 1 (the conservative option) earlier in the presentation, but council moved forward with Option B after discussion and amendment.

Debate over pay-study methodology: Chief Asha told council she had conducted a targeted salary survey of comparable local agencies and said the consultant Evergreen’s study did not adequately include the police command staff, citing low response rates and methodology gaps. The chief said her survey produced a higher response rate and included local comparators she judged comparable to Milford. Several council members and department heads raised equity concerns for other supervisory staff (public works and utilities supervisors) who are on call and do not receive overtime; Willis (public works) and other supervisors asked the council to consider parity for non-police supervisors.

Council direction and transparency: Councilmember Jason and others pressed for transparency; at the end of the vote council asked that Chief Asha’s supplemental study be added to the public packet. Council also flagged the option of a follow‑up pay study by a different consultant if members remain unconvinced by the existing data; council agreed to leave room for adjustments later rather than delay adoption of a budget for fiscal operations.

Outcome and next steps: Option B was adopted by council (6-1, 1 abstention). Staff will add the chief’s supplemental materials to the agenda packet and the council may revisit pay adjustments after reviewing the supplemental data or commissioning another pay study.","The Milford City Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 operating budget (option B), which includes pay adjustments for police command staff. Council approved the resolution after debate about the Evergreen pay study’s methodology and with direction to make the police chief’s supplemental study part of the public packet.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6185234,"Milford council approves $18,000 retainer cap for former city manager Mark Whitfield",2137,50000,2187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db&start=50&end=2187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082741-06d0a9972da3a1b6600f1b73b8af41db/thumbnail_50000.jpg","/articles/6185234/Delaware/Milford-council-approves-18000-retainer-cap-for-former-city-manager-Mark-Whitfield","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185234-c9f79a67a07a7825c0dba4f2bf740bd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775504901&Signature=cWCrSHckuuyGUyJ7fILh8xCPwmeJb-nuzBdzjEDO2CaEes20vEsrIrTNk~9K6KtOdgOuzVMBO8dwkYqepy29fNwdUvWRzLbIikAFYnCs6G0ZX5O4IDApkGOCBUm8ZkA2qiOfQdrIJZa3fzWWKul3qWHaeu6Qph1tdjdUoSNUtHGYA-rpv8Pel5EJjEDkXKc2KlsSqnCI4B88i-1RIk-9RXpAJkKyGiJk3h2cdmTaF8ICSirNJmNVm~a7lw8rohWw2wCfu5SUihweR2eCQpFAY7E4VConjejXvKKmtv8dXq6mXkfrQCb6cjt7XKeh-vSRxAt2u~CkkNFgpOwtc6DbOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milford City Council voted to approve a retainer agreement for Mark Whitfield, the city’s most recent city manager, with a not-to-exceed dollar cap of $18,000 and billing measured in tenths of an hour.

The council’s action followed public comment urging limits on the contract and a lengthy council discussion about oversight, reporting and insurance. Councilmember Laurie moved the amendment that added the $18,000 cap and the ten‑minute (0.1 hour) billing increment; the amendment was seconded and the motion passed on a roll-call vote, 6-1 with one member absent.

Why it matters: Council members and public commenters said they wanted transparency and fiscal limits during the transition to a new city manager. Several speakers said the retainer should be structured so Whitfield is available for transition and questions but that staff and council remain the primary daily decisionmakers.

Council discussion and staff clarifications: During public comment, Trish Marvel, 6525 Shawnee Road, Milford, urged that any ongoing consulting arrangement include a cap and clear invoice descriptions. Kim Wills of Tucson Sunset Lane recommended documenting Whitfield’s role and adding oversight such as requiring department‑head or council sign‑off on invoices.

Councilmember Laurie (first reference as Councilmember Laurie) moved to add the $18,000 cap after stating she had confirmed that $18,000 had been set aside in the budget for the contract. Councilmember Jason illustrated the math for the cap, saying, “If Mr. Whitfield were not to exceed 12 hours per week at $150, that would be $1,800 a week … at $18,000 that would give 10 weeks.” Several council members asked for a reporting mechanism so council would be aware of when department heads requested Whitfield’s assistance; Katrina (city staff) was identified as a possible point of contact to help log requests and notify council.

Whitfield’s status, insurance and contracting questions: The council discussed whether Whitfield would be treated as a contractor needing a Milford business license and whether liability coverage should be provided. Whitfield said he could be covered as a rider under the city’s insurance when acting under city authority but that when acting only as a consultant he could carry his own liability cover. Council members clarified that acts amounting to official decision‑making or signing would be covered under the city’s insurance if the city designated him to perform those duties.

Outcome and next steps: The approved retainer includes the $18,000 cap and billing in tenths of an hour; council also directed that invoices list hours and specific tasks and that department heads limit use of the consultant to preserve the budget for transition work needed once the incoming city manager begins. The contract will be updated to reflect these terms before it is executed.

","The Milford City Council approved a retainer agreement for former city manager Mark Whitfield with an $18,000 not-to-exceed cap and billing in tenths of an hour; council also required line-item reporting and an invoice sign-off process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes $75,000 change order for mid‑block pedestrian crossing near Milford school

Council authorizes $311,000 retroactive electric-fund transfer to balance general fund

Council adopts Milford five-year CIP; members raise grant and scope questions on major projects

Milford adopts FY26 budget with police pay adjustments after weeks of debate

Milford council approves $18,000 retainer cap for former city manager Mark Whitfield