Votes at a glance: New Castle County Council approves grants, budget amendments and personnel resolutions

New Castle County Council approved a series of resolutions and ordinances at its April 2025 meeting. Most measures were approved by unanimous roll call (13 yes, 0 no where recorded). The council approved grant appropriations, pay-plan amendments, several budget realignments and a tax-refund resolution. Below are the items, outcomes and key details.

Votes at a glance (key items)

- Resolution 25-054 — Approve refund of duplicate tax payment on tax parcel number 11018.00059 to LPC First State Holding Company. Amount: $26,575.05. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Resolution 25-055 — Approve revised class specification for coordinator of emergency planning pursuant to New Castle County Code section 26.03.0.105 f. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-035 — Appropriate $39,201 in program income to the Senior Home Repair Program (Dept. of Community Services). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-036 — Appropriate $216,910.42 in program income to the Down Payment Revolving Loans/DPS grant (Dept. of Community Services). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-037 — Appropriate $11,181 in program income to the Absa Jones Senior Center Recreation Grant (Dept. of Community Services). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-038 — Appropriate $70,780 for the Delaware Community Foundation Special Events fund (Dept. of Community Services). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-039 — Appropriate $41,706.96 in Emergency Illegal Drug Enforcement (EIDE) funds from the State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security to the EIDE FY2025 grant (Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Police). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-040 — Appropriate $77,170.44 in state aid to local law enforcement (State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security) to the State Aid to Local Law Enforcement FY2025 grant (Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Police). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-041 — Appropriate $125,000 from DNREC (Division of Parks and Recreation) to the Knollwood Park Court Improvements Grant (Dept. of Public Works). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-042 — Amend pay plan/rates of pay for class and service professional employees represented by AFSCME/DPE Council 81, Local 3109 for class specification Planner 1 (Dept. of Land Use, Division of Planning). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-026 — Amend County Code Chapter 13 stormwater maintenance districts for stormwater maintenance in the Village of Bayberry South. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-027 — Appropriate $39,600 from the State of Delaware Department of Justice Special Law Enforcement Assistance Fund to a technology upgrade grant (Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Police). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-028 — Appropriate $45,000 in program income to the Community Policing Grant (Dept. of Public Safety, Division of Police). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-029 — Appropriate $20,000 from the New Castle County Housing Trust Fund for tree removal for seniors (Dept. of Community Services). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-030 — Realign $190,000 in Department of Community Services for Hope Center emergency repairs (FY2025 operating budget). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-031 — Amend pay plan and rates for nonunion classified service employees and create separate class specifications for Benefits Administrator and Pension Administrator (reflects prior ordinance reallocation). Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Ordinance 25-033 — Appropriate $900,000 from the sewer fund tax stabilization reserve: $400,000 to plant operations (pump station electric service) and $500,000 to sewer fund debt service. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Resolution 25-056 — Congratulating Michael R. Berry on 37 years of service with the Delaware National Guard. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

- Resolution 25-057 — Recognizing April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month. Outcome: approved by roll call (13-0).

Withdrawn items

- Ordinance 25-002 — Council announced this ordinance has been withdrawn from consideration.

Notes on process and public comment

Most items were presented by title and approved with no public comment recorded. Ordinance 25-032 (the $700,000 realignment) prompted extended discussion and public comment and is covered in a separate, full article. Public commenters included community representatives who urged cost controls and transparency for uniform procurement and other materials.

Full actions and motions are recorded in the council minutes and the meeting transcript.