Finance Committee approves multiple community grants, tables capital program and hears DelDOT pass-through for Silverside Road

The New Castle County Administrative Finance Committee approved a slate of community grants and recorded several procedural actions on April 14, including a motion to table the county capital program and a withdrawal of an internal-procedure resolution.

During review of Ordinance 26-030, staff explained the county will accept a DelDOT Community Transportation Fund pass-through grant of $142,800 to support work on a retaining wall on Silverside Road. Parks Division Manager Kendall Summers said the project will include a mural whose subject will be determined by the artist and that the county negotiated the contract so the county will not assume maintenance obligations once the mural is installed.

Councilman Street raised concerns about distributional fairness, saying some parks in his district lacked funding while this DelDOT-backed project had legislative support; that complaint was recorded in the discussion but no formal action followed.

Grants approved by voice vote (selection)

- Friends of Mount Olive Burial Grounds — $2,500 (motion: Councilwoman Durham; second recorded)
- Epilepsy Foundation of Delaware — $2,000 (moved on behalf of Councilman Sheldon)
- Police Unity Tour (Chapter 9) — $2,500 (Councilman Toole moved; multiple council members pledged co-sponsorship)
- Town of Townsend fair — $500 (moved by Councilman Carter)
- Church On Main (Code Purple energy costs) — $650 (moved by Councilman Carter)
- Delaware ********* and Gender Collective (historic market) — $2,000 (moved by Councilman Koneko)
- Bear-Glasgow Family YMCA — $2,000 (moved by Councilman Tackett)
- Pike Creek Little League — $2,500 (moved on behalf of Councilman Sheldon)
- Southern New Castle County Rotary Foundation — $600 (moved by Councilman Koneko)

The committee recorded one withdrawn item (MC 917 Foundation) and approved travel-request amendments for committee members attending NAECO and NACO conferences.

Procedure and calendar

Councilwoman Durham said she would withdraw Resolution 206-684 (changes to Council Procedure Rule 14.1) to rework it before reintroduction. Councilman Smiley announced he would move to table Resolution 206-685 (the FY2027–2032 Capital Program) to a day certain — the item was scheduled to be tabled to the May 26, 2026 council meeting.

Public comment and next steps

A member of the public, Shannon Tiberi, expressed interest in applying to a county board vacancy; Councilwoman Durham directed residents to the county's online application for boards and commissions. The committee adjourned following procedural business.