New Castle County Council adopts multiple budget, personnel and land-use measures; one ordinance tabled

New Castle County Council on Sept. 9 adopted a series of resolutions and ordinances that included a land‑use consolidation, a new retirement plan administrator contract, several grant appropriations and pay‑plan adjustments. One ordinance addressing residential rental‑property rules was tabled by request.

The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution R25‑154, which consolidated two parcels at “6060 Mill Creek Hundred, west side of Limestone Road, 865 feet north of Mendenhall Mill Road,” to facilitate construction of a three‑story, 83,050‑square‑foot institutional residential Type 2 facility (Council District 3). The council also approved Resolution R25‑155, authorizing the county executive to execute a master services agreement with Empower Retirement LLC to administer the county’s 457(b) deferred compensation plan and the 401(a) defined contribution element of the County 2011 plan. Council members said the Deferred Compensation Committee and the Pension Board of Trustees recommended the change, and the move comes as the current contract with MetLife nears expiration.

Other adopted items included: the revision of the class specification for Geographic Information Systems manager (R25‑156); three FY2026 budget transfers to support rodent control and vacant‑property services (Ordinance 25‑103), emergency telecommunicator training (Ordinance 25‑104) and uniforms for the pipes‑and‑drums band (Ordinance 25‑105); an $8,917 state grant appropriation for the Absalom Jones Senior Center (Ordinance 25‑106); acceptance of $115,089.15 in FEMA federal funding for donated equipment to the Department of Public Safety (Ordinance 25‑109); $250,000 from the New Castle County Housing Trust Fund for Hope Center security (Ordinance 25‑110); state Department of Labor funds for youth employment programs (Ordinance 25‑111); and a substitute ordinance increasing the pay grade for the master mechanic classification in Public Works plant operations (Substitute No.1 to Ordinance 25‑112).

Councilman Koneko asked that Ordinance 25‑107 — an amendment to New Castle County Code Chapter 19 concerning landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities — be tabled; the motion to table was seconded and carried. No public testimony was recorded on the items that were adopted; roll calls recorded the votes listed below.

Votes at a glance (key items): - R25‑154 (land‑use consolidation for 6060 Mill Creek Hundred) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - R25‑155 (authorize master services agreement with Empower Retirement LLC) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - R25‑156 (GIS manager class specification update) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑103 (budget transfer: rodent control and vacant properties) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑104 (budget transfer: emergency telecommunicator training) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑105 (budget transfer: pipes & drums uniforms) — Adopted; roll call recorded 12 yes, 1 absent (roll call summary: 12 yes, 1 absent). - Ordinance 25‑106 (appropriation $8,917 to Absalom Jones Senior Center) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑107 (amendments to rental code) — Tabled on motion of Councilman Koneko. - Ordinance 25‑109 (FEMA funding $115,089.15 for DPS equipment) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑110 (Housing Trust Fund $250,000 to Hope Center security) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Ordinance 25‑111 (Department of Labor youth employment funding) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes. - Substitute No.1 to Ordinance 25‑112 (master mechanic pay grade increase) — Adopted; roll call recorded 13 yes.

What the measures do and context: - Land use: R25‑154 consolidates two parcels to allow construction of a three‑story, 83,050‑square‑foot institutional residential facility under zoning application 2023‑0586SS in Council District 3. Councilwoman Kilpatrick noted the plan had been presented at the Land Use meeting and described the council’s vote as ministerial to send documents for recordation.

- Benefits and pensions: R25‑155 authorizes a contract with Empower Retirement LLC as the plan administrator for the county’s deferred compensation and a component of the County 2011 defined contribution plan. Councilman Cartier said the Deferred Compensation Committee and the Pension Board supported the change and that Empower would offer “better service at a lower cost” as the existing MetLife contract approaches expiration.

- Budget transfers and grants: Several ordinances move existing appropriations within FY2026 operating lines to fund rat control/vacant‑property response, training for emergency telecommunicators, uniforms for the county pipes and drums, and a small senior‑center grant. Ordinance 25‑109 accepts FEMA funds for donated equipment; Ordinance 25‑110 moves $250,000 from the Housing Trust Fund to the Hope Center for security.

- Personnel and classification changes: R25‑156 updates the class specification for the GIS manager; Substitute No.1 to Ordinance 25‑112 raises the pay grade for the master mechanic classification after review and recommendation by the chief human resources officer and the union representative listed in the ordinance.

Next steps: Adopted ordinances and resolutions will be reflected in county records and the county executive may execute contracts authorized by the council. The tabled ordinance (25‑107) will be scheduled later per council procedure.

(See actions[] for the formal motion texts, roll‑call tallies and transcript evidence excerpts.)

Ending: Council adjourned after a public comment period that addressed separate community concerns (see separate articles for public‑comment summaries).