News Briefs

Milton council to discuss 2012 audit

Milton Town Council will meet with officials from Pigg, Krahl & Stern CPA to discuss its fiscal year 2012 audit at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4, at Milton Public Library. Council will also hear a presentation from officials from Sussex County Habitat for Hu­manity regarding its Brush With Kindness project. A public hear­ing on the Community Block Grant program will be held and town council will consider three resolutions to participate. Of­ficials will also continue to dis­cuss reaching out to the Inter­national Association of Chiefs of Police to evaluate the town’s police department. To view the full agenda, go to milton.dela­ware. gov.

Rehoboth panel to discuss parking

The Rehoboth Beach Streets and Transportation Committee will discuss bicycle parking for the upcoming summer season at the committee’s 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1 meeting in the city com­missioners’ room. The commit­tee will identify areas that could be upgraded to include bicycle lanes and will also continue to discuss scooter parking.

Rehoboth panel to discuss agendas Feb. 1

The Rehoboth Beach Commu­nications Committee will dis­cuss items related to supporting documents and formatting for city agendas at the committee’s 1:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1 meeting in the city commissioners’ room.

The committee will consider finalizing a recommendation that will make sure all available supporting documents relevant to city commissioners’ agenda items are available to the public prior to the meeting. Also to be discussed is the clarity of agen­das and when the public is al­lowed to speak. The committee will continue discussion of a communications plan and steps to advance con­cepts such as how and when to make presentations to the city commissioners.

Boardwalk at Cape closed for construction

The main beach boardwalk at Cape Henlopen State Park was closed to pedestrians starting Jan. 28, when construction be­gian to replace the boardwalk’s decking for most of its length.

The project will be complet­ed by park staff. Depending on weather conditions, comple­tion of the boardwalk project is expected to take at least 10-12 weeks. Any inquiries about the project should be directed to Paul Faircloth, parks superin­tendent at Cape Henlopen State Park 302-645-8983.

Surplus discussion on Sussex council agenda
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the county administration build­ing on The Circle in George­town. Agenda items include discussions on surplus options and sign, flag and banner regula­tions, and a six-month financial report. Among the public hear­ings starting at 1:30 p.m. is a re­quest for a zoning change from AR-1, agricultural-residential to CR-1, commercial-residential, along Route 9 near Harbeson for a mini-storage facility. See a complete agenda at sussexcoun­tyde. gov.

Gina Jennings named Sussex finance director

Sussex County Council has unanimously voted to appoint Gina A. Jennings as the new fi­nance director, effective May 1. Jennings, who is being promoted from director of the county’s ac­counting division, will replace Susan Webb, who will retire in May after 20 years of service.

As finance director, Jennings will oversee the county’s entire financial system, including over­all annual budgeting, account­ing, purchasing, tax assessment and collection, and all other fi­nancial affairs. Jennings holds a bachelor’s degree in account­ing as well as a master’s degree in business administration and public administration. Jennings has been employed with the county since March 2006. Jen­nings, 34, grew up near Mills­boro and attended Sussex Cen­tral High School in Georgetown before moving away to enroll at the University of Delaware.

Upon graduating, she worked in the private sector as an accoun­tant for the prestigious Ernst & Young firm in Philadelphia before moving back to Sussex County to be closer to family and friends. Following a stint as a public school teacher instructing high school students on account­ing and business practices, she went to work as finance director for the Town of Milton before joining county government as an accountant. She was promoted six months later to director of the accounting division.

Jennings lives with her hus­band, Rob, and their two chil­dren near Milton.

Learn about amateur radio volunteering

The Sussex County Emergen­cy Operations Center will hold an informational meeting in Feb­ruary for amateur radio opera­tors interested in volunteering their services during disasters and other large-scale events.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb 19, in the training room of the Sussex County EOC, located at 21911 Rudder Lane, east of George­town. EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas will lead the informa­tional session describing the du­ties of the emergency center and how volunteer amateur radio operators serve a critical role in crisis situations.

Amateur radio operators, also known as “hams,” regularly sup­port the EOC during weather emergencies and large public events, providing both tactical and backup communications, particularly when conventional means such as telephone and internet services are down. Ra­dio operators often relay infor­mation from fellow hams in the field about weather conditions, property damage and other ob­servations - information that is vital as emergency planners co­ordinate their response.

This meeting will be a great opportunity to learn more about the EOC’s public safety role and get a behind-the-scenes look at the center. Guided tours of the EOC will follow the informa­tional meeting. The event is free, and no reg­istration is required. For more information, call 302-855-7801.