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News Briefs 07/07/17

July 7, 2017

Workshop on Cape Region bridges July 25
The Department of Transportation will host a workshop from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, at Cape Henlopen High School to discuss upcoming projects at the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal drawbridges on Savannah Road in Lewes and Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss proposed rehabilitation of the bridges, including schedule and traffic impacts. The work is necessary to extend the life of the bridges by upgrading and repairing electrical, mechanical and structural systems on the bridges.

Interested persons are invited to express their views in writing. Comments will be received during the workshop or can be mailed to DelDOT Community Relations, P.O. Box 778, Dover, DE 19903 or sent via email to dotpr@state.de.us. For further information contact Community Relations at 1-800-652-5600 (in DE) or 302-760-2080.

Rehoboth Beach to meet July 10
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold their monthly workshop meeting at 9 a.m., Monday, July 10, at the Rehoboth fire hall. The commissioners will discuss the status of the City Hall and wastewater projects, as well as creating a donor recognition tree within the new City Hall to recognize donors to the city's landscape and tree-planting efforts.

Historic Preservation to meet July 11 in Milton
Milton Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, at the Milton library. Commissioners will review three requests: To replace fencing at 311 Union St., to replace doors, windows and enclose a rear portion of the property at 422 Chestnut St., and to remove a rear porch and construct an addition at 417 Federal St. Commissioners also will meet with Milton Historical Society Executive Director Kim Fabbri. For more information or a full agenda, go to www.milton.delaware.gov or call 302-422-4110.

Bays group to discuss Coastal Zone Act July 11
The Inland Bays Foundation will meet at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, to discuss the recent Coastal Zone Act legislation with Ken Kristl, an associate law professor and director of the Environmental Rights Institute at Widener University. The meeting will be held at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach. For more information, call Dave Jaeger at 302-436-5173.

Milton to enforce cell phone laws
Milton Town Council voted 6-1 July 3 to install several signs along the town's entrances to warn drivers Milton police will enforce the state's hands-free cellphone law. Town officials discussed installing six signs at the main entrances to town, along Front Street, Atlantic Avenue, Route 5 and Route 16. The cost of the signs was not discussed, and no timeline for installation was announced. Councilman Michael Coté was the dissenting vote.

Milton adopts fee for water discrepancies
Milton Town Council July 3 unanimously approved adopting a $35 fee to deal with water discrepancy reports. The fee will be instituted when residents report problems with their water bills when none exist. The fee is intended to recover time spent by public works staff responding to unfounded claims. For more, call 302-422-4110.

Milton charter changes await governor
A bill with 23 changes to Milton's charter is awaiting Gov. John Carney's signature after passing through the Senate June 28.
The bill passed through the House June 6. House Bill 121, sponsored by state Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, and Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, increases compensation for mayor and council members attending public meetings. The mayor will now be paid $80 per regular meeting, a $5 increase, and $40 for each special meeting, a $10 increase. Council members will each be paid $60 for regular meetings, a $20 increase, and $30 for special meetings, a $10 increase.

Changes also include altering the number of members needed for a special review committee for annexations; unifying terms and language; reducing required legal notices to be posted in one newspaper and the town website instead of three newspapers; removing the term "town administrator"; removing taxes on vacant, commercial structures; removing the requirement of a full town-wide assessment every year; reducing a residency requirement to vote in elections from 60 days to 30 days; and updating some procedures, such as election procedures, to conform with state and federal statutes.

The charter amendment also makes minor changes related to the police department. It extends the department's jurisdiction to one mile outside town limits and clarifies the chief governs the department, and reports to the town manager for financial purposes. The state House of Representatives passed the bill June 6, and the bill was approved by the Senate June 28. It now heads to Carney for his signature.

Lewes city council set to meet July 10
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, July 10, at city hall. Officials will discuss amendments to maps and text within the 2015 comprehensive plan, a draft policy for the city's meeting room in the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center and the Highland Heights developer's agreement. Council will also award the bid for renovations to Lewes Beach restrooms and set public hearings for a rezoning request on Kings Highway and a conditional use request on Savannah Road. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Sussex council awards grants to nonprofits
Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its June 27 meeting: $1,830 to Lewes Historical Society for the new Lewes History Museum; $500 to AAU of the United States for building upgrades for the Woodbridge PRIDE Cheerleading program; $1,000 to The Music School of Delaware for Sussex County programming; and $8,000 to Seaford Historical Society for its new Ross Station building project.

 

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