Fred A. Neil elected Dover council president; appointments deferred

Fred A. Neil was elected council president at the Dover City Council's annual meeting after council members cast ballots, Mayor Robin R. Christiansen said. Neil, who was sworn in earlier in the evening as councilman for the Third District, takes over the council leadership as newly seated members began their terms.

Neil told the chamber he appreciated his colleagues' confidence. "I prefer to be called Fred before, and I still prefer to be called Fred now," he said, and thanked "the intelligent and dedicated councilman David Anderson," calling Anderson his immediate predecessor in the leadership role. Neil outlined priorities including public safety, homelessness and downtown redevelopment.

The nomination process began on the floor when councillors put forward David L. Anderson and Fred A. Neil for council president, ballots were distributed and tallied by the city solicitor. No tally for the president's ballot was read into the record; the mayor announced Neil as the winner and invited him to speak.

Shortly after his election, Neil said he would delay naming his council appointments so he could consult members about schedules and interests. Councilman David L. Anderson formally moved to defer the council president appointments; the motion was seconded and carried. Neil said he would present suggestions for appointments "as soon as possible." This deferral leaves the council president's committee and liaison assignments pending until the next meeting.

The election and the appointment deferral came amid the council's organizational business and preceded votes later in the evening on ordinances and resolutions.