Agenda

Bethany Beach

  • The Bethany Beach Communications Committee will meet on Saturday, July 31, at 10 a.m. at town hall. The agenda for the meeting includes a report from the Ad Hoc Survey Committee, among other business.
  • The Town of Bethany Beach recently sent a survey to all Bethany Beach residents regarding flooding and drainage issues in Bethany Beach. The purpose of the survey is to document damages associated with flooding and drainage issues so relative costs and benefits of a proposed flood mitigation project in Bethany Beach can be fairly evaluated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The town is asking all residents of Bethany Beach to fill out the survey. For any questions regarding the questionnaire, contact Gina Tonn at Duffield Associates Inc., at (302) 239-6634. The survey is available online at www.townofbethanybeach.com/forms.aspx?fid=56&admin=1.
  • Anyone wishing to file as a candidate for the town council election to be held Sept. 11, 2010, must have filed an application for candidacy at Bethany Beach Town Hall no later than 4 p.m. on July 27. There were four seats up for election this year, each with a two-year term. Candidates who had already filed as of July 16 included incumbent Mayor Tony McClenny, incumbent Councilmen Lew Killmer and Jack Gordon, and Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (CORC) Chairman and Planning Commission member Chuck Peterson. Incumbent Councilwoman Margaret Young had not filed for candidacy as of July 16 and said then that she was still deciding on whether to run, based on the slate of candidates. If more than four candidates filed by the deadline, voting will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at town hall on Sept. 11. Bethany Beach property owners who are listed on the town’s Property Tax List are not required to register to vote in town elections. Residents of Bethany Beach who do not own property must register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election. Residents may register at Town Hall or request a mailed registration form by telephone, mail or by e-mail. The last day to register to vote in this year’s election is Aug. 11. If only four candidates filed, there will be no election this year.
  • U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) announced on July 28 that the federal government has approved $8.172 million in funding to repair the Bethany Beach and South Bethany coastline, following damage from the nor’easter and Hurricane Ida in November 2009. The date to begin work on the coastline repair project has not been finalized but will not begin before October 2010, officials said.
  • “Come Meet the Nature Center,” a 45-minute program introducing the Bethany Beach Nature Center, located on Route 26, features walks through the nature center facilities and its trails and an explanation of its purpose, and will continue throughout the summer, every Monday at 10:15 a.m. The Nature Center is now open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Youth programs will continue through the summer months, every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For volunteer opportunities, questions or information, call the Nature Center at (302) 537-7680.
  • The Bethany Beach Town Council will meet next on Friday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m.
  • The Bethany Beach Planning Commission will meet next on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 9 a.m.
  • The Georgetown Shelter – Delaware SPCA is holding a special “Bethany Beach Getaway” raffle to raise money for the shelter and its homeless pets. The package, valued at more than $950, includes a two-night stay at the Addy Sea Bed & Breakfast; gift certificates to Studio 26 Salon & Spa, DiFebo’s restaurant, Bethany Blues restaurant, Harpoon Hanna’s restaurant, The Cafe on 26 Bistro and The Pottery Place; two prints from Carolina Street; and an ocean kayaking adventure. Tickets for the raffle cost $10 each, and the drawing will take place on Oct. 10. For more information, or to purchase raffle tickets, call (302) 541-4478.
  • The Bethany Beach Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee is requesting photos of the early years, 1960 or earlier, of Bethany Beach. Those who have photos that can be copied and returned are being asked to contact Gloria Farrar at (302) 539-8011.
  • Smoking is banned year-round in Bethany Beach’s town parks, playgrounds and boardwalk bandstand plaza area. Verbal warnings are being issued to violators before written citations are issued. The ban on smoking on the beach and extended boardwalk returned to implementation on May 15 and will end Sept. 15, 2010. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas along the beach. Parking meters and permit parking requirements returned to implementation on May 15 and will end on Sept. 15. Restrictions on dogs on the beach and boardwalk will began again on May 15 and will end Sept. 30.
  • The Town of Bethany Beach is looking for interested residents to volunteer at its Conservation and Nature Center. Volunteers can participate at many levels, from organizing and administering the docents, to organizing and arranging presentations or simply being a guide/docent for the center. Interested residents are being encouraged to contact the Town Hall at (302) 537-3771 or via e-mail at admin@townofbethanybeach.com.
  • The Town of Bethany Beach is offering a voluntary curbside recycling program. Participants in the program will receive a 65-gallon wheeled container, which will act as a common container for the recyclables. As of July 1, the town is collecting recyclables directly, on Wednesdays, instead of employing an outside contractor. Modifications have been made to existing trash trucks, and public works employees will collect the recyclables at the curb, as well as regular trash. Citizens may participate in the recycling effort by filling out an application and returning it to the town hall or mailing it to the address on the application. The application is also available on the town’s Web site at www.townofbethanybeach.com. The town is also considering trying out the same lift system for trash carts, in place of trash cans.
  • The Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s ambulance service assessment is levied with the yearly tax/sanitation/sinking fund billing each May. It is estimated to be approximately $30 for the 2011 fiscal year (June 1, 2010, to May 31, 2011, for the ambulance service), with the annual assessment changing based on costs and cost estimates. Business owners will be assessed at the time they renew their yearly business license. The assessment does not fund firefighting service.

South Bethany

  • The Richard Hall Memorial Park Committee will meet on Thursday, July 29, at 4:15 p.m. at town hall. The committee is set to develop a written referendum on the subject of citizens’ wishes in regards to the Richard Hall Memorial Park. Additional information on the funding methods for the possible purchase of the revision clause for the park property adjacent to town hall is also available on the town’s Web site at www.southbethany.org, under “South Bethany News Update.7.27.10.”
  • U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) announced on July 28 that the federal government has approved $8.172 million in funding to repair the Bethany Beach and South Bethany coastline, following damage from the nor’easter and Hurricane Ida in November 2009. The date to begin work on the coastline repair project has not been finalized but will not begin before October 2010, officials said.
  • The South Bethany Town Council will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. at town hall. The council’s next special meeting/workshop is set for Thursday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m.
  • The South Bethany Beach Patrol will host its Beach Party Fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 7 to 10:30 p.m., on the beach at the south end of Ocean Drive in South Bethany, with an offering of hot dogs, hamburgers and non-alcoholic beverages, followed by a free family movie. Admission is with a donation of $20. Children younger than 10 will be admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased from the lifeguards or at Town Hall. All proceeds will go to the South Bethany Beach Patrol’s National Competition Fund, to send five lifeguards to the 2010 national competition in California. Donations are also being accepted. Make checks payable to South Bethany Beach Patrol Donation Fund, South Bethany Beach Patrol, c/o Captain Ben Chandlee, 402 Evergreen Rd., South Bethany, DE 19930, and include the donor’s name, address and phone number.
  • South Bethany Town Council members on June 11 approved the appointment of former town council member Bob Cestone to complete the final year of the term won in 2009 by former councilman Jay Headman, who resigned that seat this week to become mayor of the town. The council seat will be up for election again next May, for a full two-year term. Cestone was sworn in on June 11 and immediately joined the council.
  • Those who still have a DSWA recycling cart (the cart with the yellow lid) or who have not received a new Allied Waste recycling cart (the cart with the gray lid) should contact Town Hall at (302) 539-3653, Ext. 218, or e-mail townhall@southbethany.org. The Town will contact Allied Waste, and they will exchange the recycling carts.
  • Those who are not currently participating in the recycling program may sign up for recycling on the Recycling Sign Up page of the town Web site. Allied Waste will not, however, be offering the 35-gallon container to new applicants. Contact Town Hall with any questions.
  • Honorary/memorial bricks for the area located around the flagpole at South Bethany town hall can now be ordered. For details, refer to the town’s Web site and its forms page and click on the honorary/memorial brick order form link.
  • Any citizen of South Bethany who would like to receive the Zephyr newsletter via e-mail instead of through the U.S. Postal service is being asked to complete and submit the Homeowner Contact Information Sheet online at: www.southbethany.org, on the Homeowner Contact Information Sheet/Email Registration page.

Fenwick Island

  • The Fenwick Island Town Council election scheduled for Aug. 7 has been canceled. Only one person filed for the three open seats – incumbent Councilman Gardner Bunting. Both Diane Tingle and Bill Weistling Jr., whose seats were also up for re-election, declined to re-file; but since there were no other interested parties, they will continue to hold their positions until formally resigning, if they so choose. At that time, the sitting council would make a special appointment to fill any vacant seat.
  • Parking passes for the 2010 season are now available at town hall.

Ocean View

  • The Ocean View Town Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4, to consider the possible hiring of a new police officer for the Ocean View Police Department.
  • The joint meeting between the Ocean View and Millville town councils on the issue of public safety, set for July 19, was canceled.
  • In the 2010-2011 council year, the Ocean View Town Council will hold regular town council meetings on Aug. 17 (changed from the traditional Aug. 10), Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14, and Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8 and April 12, 2011. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at 32 West Avenue in Ocean View. A workshop will be held on Tuesday, July 17, at 3 p.m.
  • The Town of Ocean View plans to spray for mosquito control between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from May though October. Residents who do not wish the area in front of their homes to be sprayed are being asked to go to the second floor of the Wallace A. Melson Municipal Building on Central Avenue, and the town will provide them with the appropriate markers.

Millville

  • The joint meeting between the Ocean View and Millville town councils on the issue of public safety, set for July 19, was canceled.
  • The July meeting of the Millville Town Council was canceled. The council will meet next in August.
  • The Millville Historic Preservation Commission is asking anyone with old photographs, stories or historical information about Millville to share their memories for documentation and preservation purposes.
  • The Millville town Web site is located at www.millvillede.us.

Sussex County

  • The Sussex County Council will meet next on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. in the County Council Chambers, County Administrative Office Building, on The Circle in Georgetown.
  • Sussex County has published a list of its top 100 delinquent taxpayers. The list is available online.
  • Sussex County is inviting the public to offer suggestions for its upcoming 2011-2017 Capital Transportation Program requests, an annual plan that details improvements to local roads, pedestrian walkways, public transportation and other related infrastructure and services throughout Sussex County and the State of Delaware. Submissions will be accepted through July 30. Sussex County will review all suggestions, and then compile a draft report for County Council’s consideration in late August. The County’s formal request will be submitted to the Delaware Department of Transportation this fall. For more information go online to http://sussexcountyde.gov/contactSpecial.cfm.
  • All dogs 6 months or older on or before March 1 must be licensed within the county in which they reside. Licenses are valid for the calendar year in which they are purchased and must be obtained by March 1. License fees for calendar year 2010 are $10 for spayed/neutered dogs, $15 for unsterilized dogs. Seeing-eye, lead or guide dogs or dogs that have previously served in a branch of the United States armed forces must be licensed but are exempt from the licensing fee. Current rabies vaccinations are required for licensing. The expiration date for the rabies vaccination must occur after March 1 of the year for which the dog license is valid. One-, two- or three-year licenses may be purchased, dependent upon the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. If a dog license is not obtained on or before March 1, a fine of $50 is possible. Subsequent offenses within 12 months of a prior offense could result in fines of $100. Lost tags require purchase of a new license. For questions regarding licensing, call (302) 855-7380.

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