Dewey to enforce rights-of-way this summer

When Dewey commissioners passed an ordinance in February requiring all residential properties in town to use the town’s contracted trash vendor, three of four goals were accomplished: the number of trucks will decrease, recycling is weekly and pricing is competitive.

Officials say their fourth goal – removing trash, trash can enclosures and commercial dumpsters from town rights of way – will be accomplished when residents learn the town is enforcing the rule.

“This is the year we’re going to take care of it,” said Town Manager Marc Appelbaum during an April 8 town council meeting.

As part of the meeting’s discussion, commissioners agreed to send a letter and post a message on the town’s website reminding property owners and businesses of the enforcement. The letter is expected to be put in the mail the week of April 10.

“We want to make sure we do this right. I don’t want to have somebody say they didn’t know,” said Mayor Dale Cooke. “You have to know.”

Appelbaum said for two weeks, beginning Monday, April 24, his staff will issue warnings to residential properties and businesses with trash or trash-related objects in town rights-of-way at times the trash is not allowed to be there for pickup. Trash pickup in Dewey is Monday and Friday; trash is allowed in rights of way from noon, Sunday, through 8 p.m., Monday, and 5 p.m., Thursday, through 8 p.m. Friday.

Appelbaum said he spoke with representatives of Dewey Business Partnership, which represents the majority of businesses in town. He said businesses moving their dumpsters onto their property will not be a problem.

It’s not fair to ask residential property owners to do it and then not ask businesses, he said.

The town’s commissioners changed the fine structure in 2016 from $10 a day to $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second, and $100 for the third.

Under the February code change, Dewey will have twice weekly pickup for trash and once weekly for recycling, from May 1 through Sept. 30. It is up to the property owner to contact the town’s vendor, Millsboro-based Waste Industries, to establish service.

The in-season rate is $27.32 per residence, per month. There will be a charge of $16 per month for each additional trash can; $4 per month for each additional recycling can. Valet service, required for all residential rentals, is $15 per month.

The rest of the year, Oct. 1 through April 30, the service is $23.32 per residence, per month and includes trash pickup once a week and recycling once every two weeks. Additional cans are $11 per month; $3.75 per month for each additional recycling can. Offseason valet service is $10 per month.

Fiscal Year 2017 ends with surplus

Appelbaum began the council meeting with a financial update for the fiscal year that ended March 31.

He said with above-the-line and below-the-line revenue taken into account, the town saw a $684,000 surplus. That’s after a $22,000 contribution to the town’s rainy day fund, he said.

“It was really a strong financial year,” said Appelbaum.

Appelbaum said in the next couple of months he would come back to the commissioners with recommendations on what to do with the excess funds. He reminded commissioners that three to four years ago, some people believed the town had a $400,000 structural deficit, and the town needed to have a property tax.

“That notion is debunked,” he said.