News Briefs 10/17/17
Assisted living project gets final approval
Work can proceed on the The Farm at Truitt Homestead Assisted Living Facility along Shuttle Road near Rehoboth Beach. At its Oct. 12 meeting, the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a final site plan for the project that includes 88 residential units with 120 bedrooms. The facility is part of a larger project to provide residents with a continuum of care. It will be surrounded by 90 single-family, age-restricted condominiums and cover 2.5 acres of the total 23 acres of the parcel. Among the planned features of the facility will be an indoor pool, shuttle service, wellness and fitness centers, a theater and rehabilitation center. Construction of Phase 1 housing is under way.
Lewes Mitigation Planning Team to meet
The Lewes Mitigation Planning Team will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18, at city hall. The group will discuss the decommissioning of paper streets along Cedar Street, the status of possible annexation, and local and state events that could better educate the public about hazard mitigation. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.
Lewes annexation committee to meet
The Lewes Annexation Regulation Review Ad Hoc Committee will meet at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17, at city hall. The group will discuss the establishment of alternative zoning for newly annexed, undeveloped land. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.
Lewes Planning Commission to meet
The Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18, at city hall. The group will discuss implementation of the comprehensive plan and consider material related to marine area planning programs. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.
Henlopen Grange Community Booster Night set Oct. 17
Henlopen Grange No. 20 will hold its annual Community Booster Night at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 1528 Savannah Road, Lewes. There will be a covered dish dinner with chicken and dumplings served; attendees can bring vegetables, salad or dessert. The program with membership award presentations will be held following dinner. All are welcome. For details, call 302-645-8098.
Wagner to speak to Republicans Oct. 23
Delaware State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. will be the guest speaker at the 38th District Republican Club meeting Monday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m., at the South Coastal Library, 43 Kent Ave., Bethany Beach. Wagner has served as Delaware's auditor of accounts since 1989 and was re-elected to this position for seven four-year terms. He will speak about the auditor's office stance on fraud and identifying cost savings to taxpayers. State 38th District members Rep. Ron Gray, R-Selbyville, and Sen. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, will also report to members regarding the latest issues that are on the state Legislature calendar.
All those interested are encouraged to attend and admission is free. For more information contact Drew Sunderlin, 38thdrcp@gmail.com or Diane Meyer, diane@marketingbydm.com.
Pettyjohn to hold monthly coffee
Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, is holding a constituent coffee Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Jimmy's Grille, 18541 S. Main St., Bridgeville. Pettyjohn will give brief remarks on issues affecting citizens in the 19th District and then will discuss questions and concerns with members of the public attending. Pettyjohn holds coffees on the third Saturday of every month, except December, and rotates them to different locations throughout the district. For more information or to sign up to receive notifications via email of upcoming coffees and other news from Pettyjohn, contact Keri Rapa at Keri.Rapa@state.de.us.
DelDOT workshop set on Park Avenue
The Delaware Department of Transportation will have a public workshop on the Park Avenue relocation project. The workshop will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18, at DelDOT's south district office, 23697 DuPont Blvd. in Georgetown. The purpose of the project is to improve traffic operations and safety of the Route 9 truck bypass from east of Georgetown to Route 113.
Attendees will have an opportunity to review the preferred alternative and provide comments to DelDOT representatives. Comments will be received during the workshop or can be mailed to DelDOT Community Relations, PO Box 778, Dover, DE 19903 or sent via email to dotpr@state.de.us. For further information, phone 1-800-652-5600 or 302-760-2080.
Donated leave policies for workers improved
Two bills were signed into law Sept. 28, expanding Delaware's donated leave program to help new parents as they navigate the birth or adoption of a child. House Bill 258, introduced in June by Rep. John Mitchell, D-Elsmere, allows state workers to donate either sick leave or vacation time without having to donate both in equal amounts. State law previously required a person wanting to donate leave to give up both sick and annual leave – for example, two weeks of sick time and two weeks of vacation.
House Bill 255, introduced in June by Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Bellefonte, amends the state's donated leave policy so that state workers, including school district employees, would be eligible for up to 12 weeks of donated sick and annual leave upon the birth of a child or adoption of a child under 6 years of age. That eligibility would expire six months after the birth or adoption.
DelDOT announces A Litter-Free Day
The Delaware Department of Transportation is asking Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and others to help clean up Delaware's roadsides during the department's 13th annual Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware event, which will be held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. The rain date will be Oct. 28-29.
DelDOT is encouraging current Adopt-A-Highway groups and volunteers to participate in the event, and it's not too late for new volunteers to adopt a Delaware roadside for cleanup. If anyone would like to adopt a roadside, he or she can contact April Sammons in Sussex County at 302-853-1315.
Participants in Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware should wear safety vests that DelDOT has provided to Adopt-A-Highway volunteers. For more information, go to www.deldot.gov/Programs/adopt/adopt_a_hwy.
Customer-friendly legislation made law
Two bills enhancing the customer service experience for Delaware drivers were signed into law Sept. 21. House Bill 146, introduced in April by Rep. Edward Osienski, D-Newark, removes the requirement for signatures to be in pen and ink when provided for driver license, identification card, or registration application processes. As a result of this law, the division will be implementing the capability for customers to renew their driver's license online by the end of 2017.
House Bill 246, introduced in June by Osienski, increases the exemption from inspection from five years to seven years for all new vehicles, applying to all new vehicles purchased after Jan. 1, 2012. Currently, vehicles in the five newest model years are exempt from inspection. DMV has a biennial inspection for vehicles under 8,500 pounds.
DelDOT vehicles can now use shoulders
Senate Bill 97, which allows Delaware Department of Transportation authorized vehicles to use the shoulder of the road when responding to emergencies, was signed into law Sept. 21. By allowing the use of the shoulder of the road, DelDOT will be able to respond in a timely manner when responding to emergencies along the road to assist police, fire and paramedics with fire control.
Carney appoints board of partnership
Last month, Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 226, creating the Delaware Prosperity Partnership and a new division within the Department of State to support small business growth. According to a press release, the public-private partnership will lead business marketing efforts for the state, with a focus on attracting early-stage and technology-focused businesses, recruitment of large employers, and expansion of international business opportunities for Delaware companies. The state will jointly fund the partnership's operations with private business.
Carney announced Sept. 22 appointments to the board, which represents a cross-section of representatives from Delaware's financial industry, leading corporations, the nonprofit sector, higher education, and the legal community. Carney will co-chair the partnership's board alongside Rod Ward, president of Wilmington-based Corporation Service Company.
