New Castle County Council approves HUD application, financial advisory contract and dozens of ordinances

The New Castle County Council voted July 14 to authorize several funding and procedural actions and adopted a broad set of ordinances and renamings.

In a roll‑call vote the council approved Resolution 26‑145 authorizing the county executive to file an application with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Cranston‑Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act referenced) to seek annual HUD funds. Council President Pro Tem (Councilman Hollins) said the application must be authorized by council for the county to receive those funds; the clerk recorded the vote as 13 yes and the resolution was adopted.

The council also approved Resolution 26‑146 to contract with PFM Group Consulting LLC for financial advisory services in a study and reporting effort described by a sponsor as intended to strengthen the county’s revenue base and reduce reliance on limited sources. The contract was described in council discussion as capped at $100,000; the resolution passed on voice/roll call (recorded as 13 yes).

Council members adopted several procedural amendments that adjust how grants and submission deadlines are handled. Resolution 26‑147 (amending Council procedural rule 13 on grant accounts) and Resolution 26‑148 (amending rule 2 on submittal deadlines for certain resolutions) were each amended on the floor and passed after roll‑call votes. The transcript records differing tallies for amendment and final passage (floor amendment to 26‑148 passed on an oral amendment vote; final passage recorded later as 11 yes, 1 no, 1 absent). Debate on the deadline change focused on fairness for members without staff and on timing for distribution of materials.

The council approved multiple honorary renamings and administrative resolutions, including Resolution 26‑149 to rename a portion of Albertson Boulevard in Council District 9 in honor of Corporal Matthew (application number cited); that item passed (roll call recorded as 12 yes, 1 absent). Other renamings (resolutions 26‑150 and 26‑151) were adopted as read.

On public‑safety planning, the council adopted Resolution 26‑152, the New Castle County multi‑jurisdictional all‑hazard mitigation plan 2026 update. A sponsor noted the update is FEMA‑approved and enables the county to apply for disaster assistance and mitigation funds.

The clerk read and the council approved a series of ordinances appropriating state and federal grant funds to county budgets — including FEMA EMPG funding, grants for senior services, a senior home repair program and funding for contracted paramedic duty operations — and several county‑initiated rezoning ordinances that were advanced after committee work and floor discussion.

The meeting closed after the council tabled one item pending a fiscal note and substitute and after a motion to adjourn. Several items were discussed at length by council members during the session; public commenters spoke in favor of expanded notice requirements for rezonings and supported earlier protections for parks and open space.