In Dewey, Redefer is named mayor

Nearly 100 years after his great-grandfather started the land-lease company Rehoboth By the Sea that encompasses much of the northern part of town, John “TJ” Redefer is the new mayor of Dewey Beach.

It’s overwhelming, said Redefer after the town’s organizational meeting Sept. 23. Redefer’s uncle, Dave Vaughn, was one of the town’s original council members after Dewey incorporated in 1981.

The meeting was Redefer’s first as a Dewey commissioner. Redefer, Paul Bauer and former Mayor Dale Cooke were elected during the Sept. 16 municipal election. They defeated incumbent Diane Hanson, who was on council for 10 years – 6 of them of as mayor, and non-resident Jill Compello.

During the election campaign, and prior to the completion of an investigation into employee complaints against Town Manager Marc Appelbaum, Redefer had harsh words for how council had handled the situation.

“We each decided to run after seeing the council delay action for weeks, then never do the responsible thing to immediately suspend the town manager with pay, remove him from town hall and prohibit access to all records and potential evidence,” wrote Redefer, Bauer and Compello in a letter to the editor.

Redefer said he still has those same feelings, but he said because the 112-page investigation report was made public the night before, he hadn’t had time to fully digest the document. Looking forward, he said, Commissioner Gary Persinger is going on a two-week vacation, and there will be a meeting as soon as all commissioners are available.

“I want to have everyone around for that,” he said.

The nomination, and then vote, to make Redefer mayor was quick; there was no discussion of Cooke remaining in the top seat. Redefer said he had spoken privately with Cooke, the town’s mayor for the past year, about really wanting to be mayor, because, he said, he thought he would be best to move the town forward. Council also elected Bauer as council secretary.

Following the swearing-in, Cooke, who nominated Redefer, said it’s best to move forward as a town and come together.

Council indemnifies Appelbaum, Dunmyer

The night before the three candidates were sworn in, Sept. 22, town council voted unanimously to indemnify Town Manager Marc Appelbaum and former Commissioner Mike Dunmyer. The decision was made after an hour-and-a-half-long executive session.

In addition to the indemnifications, the agenda for the meeting also called for a discussion and possible vote to adopt the recommendations of the independent investigator looking into the allegations by town employees against Appelbaum, but that agenda item was unanimously removed.

Cooke, who was still mayor at this point, said council had received the 112-page document Sept. 21 and had not had enough time to fully look it over. He also said a full, redacted copy of the report is available on the town website.

Not everybody in attendance agreed with council’s decision.

Rick Cross, the attorney representing the current and former employees, called the move to indemnify Appelbaum outrageous. He then threatened council by reminding them he and his clients could refile a Chancery Court lawsuit.

Former Commissioner Joy Howell scolded the commissioners for having the meeting in the first place. She said she couldn’t remember a time in town history when a meeting with such substance was being held the night before new council members were being sworn in.

Compello said indemnifying Appelbaum was akin to sanctioning his behaviors.

Property owner Elaine Boyle was the lone voice of support for council. She said it shows council will support the town’s public servants when needed.