Councilman Bob Weiner

Open-records policy puts Coons on hot seat. It is unconscionable that council members should be required to file FOIA. News Journal

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Delaware government: Open-records policy puts Coons on hot seat

BY CHAD LIVENGOOD • THE NEWS JOURNAL • JULY 16, 2010

Councilman Bob Weiner says he wanted the records to educate his constituents.

New Castle County Executive Chris Coons is facing political criticism for his administration's new policy that requires council members to file formal records requests and pay for more than 20 copies of public documents.

"It is unconscionable that council members should be required to file FOIA requests to get basic information about the government they are elected to oversee," New Castle County Republican Party vice c

Councilman Weiner obtained documents for community to expose irregularities. "Its my duty" News Journal

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Delaware government: NCCo Council must pay for records

High costs prompt county to require FOIA requests

BY CHAD LIVENGOOD • THE NEWS JOURNAL • JULY 14, 2010

Councilman Bob Weiner is said to have racked up $1,200 in copying costs.

New Castle County Executive Chris Coons' administration has tightened access to public records for County Council after one councilman racked up $1,200 in copying costs.

The administration has created a temporary policy requiring council members seeking public records to file formal Freedom of Information Act requests and charging for "onerous" requests, County Attorn

Stoltz' Greenville plans advanced with last minute assistance from State Dept of Transportation - The News Journal

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Developer survives legal snarl 2 a.m. accord keeps Greenville plans on track
BY CHAD LIVENGOOD • THE NEWS JOURNAL • JUNE 30, 2010

A Pennsylvania-based developer's path to approval for two large commercial properties in New Castle County was nearly derailed last week during a middle-of-the-night hearing in Legislative Hall.

Two lawmakers had proposed stricter requirements before the state could sign off on traffic-impact studies, potentially adding millions to the developer's plans at Greenville Center and Barley Mill Plaza, a prime piece of former DuPont property.

Alerted to the legislative maneuver, the Delaware Department of Transportation forged a compromise about 2 a.m. Friday, when most political observers were sound asleep

George Loss�, long time Claymont civic activist, steps down - Delaforum.com

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

MEMOS AT RANDOM www.Delaforum.com 6/22/10

George Lossé, a principal founder of the movement to revitalize Claymont, will relinquish the presidency of the Claymont Community Coalition, the 'umbrella' civic association he has led for 16 years.

Lossé said his personal battle with cancer will restrict the extent of his future involvement even as the apparent early success of the Darley Green redevelopment project indicates that the movement is on its way to achieving its original goals. At a meeting of the association on June 17, Lossé appointed a nominating committee to produce a slate of officer candidates for an election to be held in August. Meanwhile, vice president Babak Gogolab will take the helm whi

Claymont property values reach a high for the decade "just as we predicted", according to Councilman Bob Weiner, who spearheaded the Claymont Renaissance - Delaforum.com

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jim Parks www.delaforum.com 6/9/10

Average residential property value in Claymont in May was $240,000, up 21.7% from a year earlier. That easily topped value at the peak of the real estate boom in 2005 and set a new high for the decade. Statewide, average value in May was $244,500, up 16.4% from a year earlier. That data, from the Home Value Index maintained by Zillow.com, a national real estate tracking service, was provided by Commonwealth Group and made public by County Councilman Robert Weiner, who said the trend was "just as we predicted ... at the onset of the Claymont Renaissance." The index placed average property value in Claymont in 2000 at $124,000. Commonwealth apparently is successfully marketing townhouses in t

Councilman Weiner's Citizen Anti-graffiti Brigades tackle "NERD HUMOR" & other graffiti on Route 141 railroad bridge in Greenville - News Journal

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Delaware volunteer brigade cleans up a taggers' paradise

Graffiti on Del. 141 to be painted over

BY CHAD LIVENGOOD • THE NEWS JOURNAL • JUNE 6, 2010

A group of New Castle County residents and businesses will begin removing "NERD HUMOR" and other graffiti that's defaced the railroad bridge for years over Del. 141 this week.

Volunteers with the Citizens Anti-graffiti Brigade Program began repainting the substructure of the bridge Saturday.

Starting tonight, one lane of the highway will be shut down at 8 p.m. and remain closed until 5 a.m. while overnight crews repaint the bridge.

Painting will continue each night until the project is complete Thursday, said Mike Ansul, the project manager and owner of Ansul Construction Co.<

Cauffiel Parkway Yard Waste permanent shut down scheduled for June 27/ DNREC still negotiating with DuPont in hopes of using site on Hay Road near Edgemoor - Delaforum.com

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New yard waste site still not determined www.Delaforum.com June 2010

It now appears all but certain that Brandywine Hundred residents will be hung up for a free and convenient place to dispose of yard waste for, at least, most of the summer. The state Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control is still negotiating with the Du Pont company in hopes of using a site on Hay Road near Edgemoor to replace the one off Cauffiel Parkway, Marjorie Crofts, acting director of the department's Division of Air & Waste Management, told Delaforum. Meanwhile, the present site, which has drawn considerable public criticism, especially from residents of nearby Delaire, will be permanently shut down as scheduled on June 27. A provision in last ye

Citizens Anti-graffiti Brigade tackles Greenville eyesore with fresh coat of paint. - Community News

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Adam Zewe

Community News

Posted Jun 03, 2010 @ 05:57 AM

Greenville, Del. —

Speeding through southern Greenville along Route 141, it’s hard not to notice the graffiti words “Nerd Humor” splayed across a rusty, green railroad bridge.

But there’s nothing funny about it, according to a group of legislators, community leaders and volunteers. Starting Sunday night, they will mark the beginning of a five-day project to paint over the graffiti that has marred the railroad bridge for at least a quarter of a century.

“We don’t know anybody who remembers when [the graffiti] wasn’t here,” said Deborah Hudson (R-Fa

Bob Weiner & other Brandywine legislators underwrite cost of Brandywine High School May 21 field day

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Councilman Bob Weiner, Senator Michael Katz, Senator Cathy Cloutier and Representative Greg Lavelle each contributed $250 to help finance Brandywine High School’s “Great Bulldog Day”. Additionally, Brandywood Civic Association contributed $70.

Under the leadership of Brandywine High School English teacher M. Dwayne Caldwell, Esq, Brandywine High School organized a field day, called "Great Bulldog Day," as a way of bringing students, faculty, and the community together, to foster school and community spirit on May 21, 2010.

The contributions financed the purchase of tents, game supplies, balloons, eggs, rope, face paint, and prizes, snacks and drinks; made available throughout the day. The funds als

DuPont Company Consolidation of Chestnut Run & Barley Mill Plaza Sites Commences - News Journal

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BY JONATHAN STARKEY • THE NEWS JOURNAL • MAY 18, 2010

The construction motorists shuttle past each morning and evening at DuPont's Chestnut Run Plaza along Del. 141 is not a sign of coming growth at one of the state's largest employers.

The company is building an everyday, run-of-the-mill parking lot -- but a parking lot with a purpose.

Construction of the parking lot is the first visible sign of a major consolidation of DuPont's suburban offices at Chestnut Run and Barley Mill plazas that has been planned for years but held up by economic conditions.

The lot is being built to replace parking spaces DuPont will lose when construction of a 222,000-square-foot office building gets under way next month. A groundbreaking ceremony is sched

Councilmen Weiner & Cartier help Brandywine Little League to finally get approval to open concession stand - Community News

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
Posted May 13, 2010 @ 06:22 AM
www.communitypub.com

A lot can happen in a week.

What started out as a something of a spat between the Brandywine Little League and New Castle County regulators ended with smiles and handshakes at a Tuesday meeting organized by Brandywine Hundred's two local councilmen.

At long last, the league had the go ahead to open up its concession stand.

The stand was closed for the first month of the season, as the league was unable to get a Certificate of Occupancy from the county because certain components of the site plan for the Naamans Road complex were incomplete.

That prompted an angry email from Vice President Dick Moore to county

Proposed Stoltz Development Will Destroy Bucolic Greenville - News Journal letter to the Editor

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Letter to the Editor May 7, 2010 News Journal

I am a 13-year resident of Wilmington and live in the Greenville area. The pastoral nature of this area, part of the Del. 52 historic National Scenic Byway, is being threatened by the proposed expansion of the Greenville Center and proposed redevelopment of the former DuPont Barley Mill Road property by Stoltz Realty, a real estate developer.

Stoltz Realty at Barley Mill Plaza plans to build a 2.8 million-square-foot shopping center with a hotel, multiplex movie theater, stores, offices and apartments up to 11 stories. The existing two-story office buildings, at 1 million square feet, fit well into the community. In contrast, the proposed shopping center would be three times the size of Christiana Mall.

Traffic would likely

Councilman Weiner proposed Resident Curatorship program to save our historic homes in 2002. New Castle County finally implements program to make this dream come true - News Journal

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Curators can live in a fine old house, but it's not exactly free
ROBIN BROWN • APRIL 13, 2010

A handful of historic houses, owned by New Castle County, stand vacant, long boarded up and deteriorating day by day.

But folks with the patience -- and bucks -- to restore them could live in them for the rest of their lives, rent-free.

To jump-start its stalled Resident Curatorship Program, the county plans an open house Saturday at two such sites.

The Bechtel House or "Ivyside" in Bechtel Park, 1301 Naamans Road, will be open 9 a.m. to noon and the Talley House at 1300 Foulk Road in Talley Day Park will be open 1 to 4 p.m.

The Talley House was built in 1847, says program manager Robert Merrill, and Ivyside dates fro

Councilman Weiner organizes dog-lovers to clean up Talley Day County Bark Park - Community News

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
www.communitypub.com
Posted Apr 08, 2010 @ 10:06 AM Brandywine Hundred, Del. —

The term Bark Park took on new meaning on Good Friday, as volunteers and dog owners spread mulch - and some love for their four-legged friends - at Talley Day Park.

Nearly 50 volunteers showed up, rakes in hand, to help spread new mulch in both the large and small dog areas of the wildly popular dog park.

In one corner, members of Girl Scout Troop 783 - most of which attend Lombardy and Brandywood elementary schools - worked diligently in the unseasonable heat. It's one of several service projects the girls are doing throughout the community as they work toward earning their Bronze

With the feds watching, NCCo focuses on storm water. 5 things your community can do to reduce runoff and improve water quality - Community News

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Landscaping, 'bio-swales' and other newer technologies mimic nature's way of dealing with storm water.

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
Posted Apr 07, 2010 @ 11:24 AM
Wilmington, Del. —

New Castle County wants residents to do their part to reduce erosion and flooding, with a newly issued federal permit requiring improvements to area ponds, rivers and streams.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requires local governments to screen illegal discharges from its storm sewers, regulate construction runoff and inspect storm water ponds.

How can you help? Properly disposing of hazardous household waste (motor oil, antifreeze, old paint) goes a long way, as does recycling yard waste an

Councilman Weiner's Citizen Brigade to remove Route 141 graffiti - News Journal

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Volunteer painters all will be working professionals directed by Mike Ansul, of Ansul Construction, who is a captain with the Citizens Anti-Graffiti Brigade organized by Councilman Bob Weiner. Rep. Deborah Hudson, New Castle County Councilman Bob Weiner and Sen. Michael S. Katz have recruited a team to paint over the graffiti at the end of May. Weiner plans to use part of a New Castle County police grant that he spearheaded to help underwrite the out of pocket costs.

Brushing away a longtime eyesore
Graffiti-marred rail bridge slated for painting
BY IRA PORTER • THE NEWS JOURNAL • APRIL 6, 2010

For Greenville-area residents traveling along Del. 141, seeing NERD HUMOR and some other undecipherable graffiti in large letters on the

WDEL VIDEO: Spring clean-up at Talley Day Bark Park

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The beautiful weather draws dozens to the annual Spring clean-up at the Talley Day Bark Park in Talleyville.

WDEL's Amy Cherry was there.

Man's best friend and their faithful masters work hard on this picture perfect Friday spreading mulch to preserve their favorite place.

County Council Bob Weiner (R-2nd District) organizes the

A year later, Farow anti-graffiti machine to be street legal. Liability, insurance issues finally resolved - Community News

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
Posted Mar 29, 2010 @ 02:20 PM
Brandywine Hundred, Del. —
Imagine being given a new Porsche - and then not being able to put the top down and take it out for a spin. For a whole year!

That's more or less the situation faced by dozens of volunteers throughout New Castle County who have banded together to fight graffiti.

Last April, a West Chester, Pa., company donated a patented machine that literally blasts away graffiti. But aside from a single demonstration, it's never been used.

Because of insurance and storage issues, none of the volunteers felt comfortable keeping the machine - which sits on a trailer and is about the size of a large jet ski - at their homes.

That's when the Departme

County Administration proposed budget includes layoffs but no property tax - News Journal

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

3/17/10

County Administration proposed budget includes layoffs but no property tax - News Journal

Coons' budget includes layoffs
No property tax hike in NCCo executive's proposal
BY ADAM TAYLOR • THE NEWS JOURNAL • MARCH 17, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

NCCo Executive Chris Coons proposed a budget including "dozens" of layoffs to address the county's "structural deficit."

Highlights of the budget proposal presented by New Castle County Executive Chris Coons (above) for the fiscal year that starts in July:

• Layoffs of dozens of employees who have refused to continue with a 5 percent salary rollback they agreed to for the current fiscal year.
• No property tax increase
• A 4 percent sewe

Residents question Stoltz plans; Hockessin neighbors object to traffic from Barley Mill Plaza project - News Journal

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New Castle County Councilman Robert Weiner, whose district includes the neighborhoods around Barley Mill Plaza, has opposed the project because, he said, it will not be a walkable community. Weiner has suggested that citizens take legal action against Stoltz.

Residents question Stoltz plans
Hockessin neighbors object to traffic from Barley Mill Plaza project
BY IRA PORTER • THE NEWS JOURNAL • MARCH 16, 2010

Residents at Monday's meeting of the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association voiced objections to the proposed redevelopment of Barley Mill Plaza while others asked questions of Stoltz Real Estate Partners about their plans.

Stoltz Chief Operating Officer Brad Coburn told audience members worried about traffic congestion the developme