News Briefs
Cape Henlopen school board meets April 25
The Cape Henlopen school board will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Beacon Middle School.
The board will discuss school choice policy and task force recommendations regarding the distict's elementary schools.
Library has vacancies for Teen Advisory Board
The Lewes Public Library has vacancies for its Teen Advisory Board. The board will help with collection development, selecting books, magazines and other audiovisual materials for the teen collection. In addition, the Teen Advisory Board will help create library programs for teens.
The library is hoping to fill three positions with candidates age 13 and older. Meetings will be held monthly from 6 to 7 p.m. on a Thursday night. The exact Thursday of the month has yet to be determined and will be decided once all candidates express their preference. For more information contact Teen Services Librarian Lea Tomer at 302-645-2733.
Lewes BPW to discuss improvement projects
The Lewes Board of Public Works will meet at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, in City Hall. Agenda items include discussion of capital improvement projects; consideration of moving bad debt collection efforts contract from Miles and Miles Collections to attorneys Baird Mandalas LLC; and general discussion of the electric rate’s current negative purchase power cost adjustment.
The panel will also review UBS-Chesapeake Group’s first-quarter reserve fund investments; scheduling swearing in of A. Thomas Owens; discuss receiving 2012 Safety Award Honorable Mention from the American Public Power Association; and presentation of a proclamation declaring Drinking Water Week, May 5 through May 11. For a complete agenda visit City Hall, the Lewes Public Library, or go to ci.lewes.de.us.
Lewes issues trash can reminder
Lewes City Manager Paul Eckrich says the city is receiving phone calls about trash cans being left out for an extended period of time after trash pickup. “Our code requires cans to be removed or taken back within 24 hours of pickup,” Eckrich said.
Sussex council awards nonprofit grants
Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its April 16 meeting: $500 to Woodland Ferry Association for its September festival; $1,000 to Laurel Independence Day Committee for fireworks; and $2,500 to Rehoboth Little League toward a $20,000 field renovations project. Council presents grants to nonprofit agencies providing services to county residents.
Absentee voting bill falls short in House
A bill to expand absentee voting was defeated by House Republicans April 16.
House Bill 20 would extend absentee voting to all eligible Delaware voters by removing requirements that limit who can vote absentee.
Under current law, absentee voting is allowed only for residents who are physically unable to make it to their polling place on Election Day.
HB 20 is the first leg of a constitutional amendment.
The bill needed a two-thirds majority, or 28 votes, to pass the House; it died in a vote of 27-14, with the entire Republican caucus opposing the measure.
Three Democrats – Rep. Earl Jaques, D-Glasgow, Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark South, and Rep. Dennis E. Williams, D-Talleyville – introduced HB 20 to increase participation in elections.
“It’s clear that access to absentee ballots is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. This bill is about increasing access to voting for all Delawareans,” Jaques said in a press release. “We teach our children that voting is a fundamental component of our democracy.
“Allowing any Delawarean to request an absentee ballot gives everyone an equal opportunity to have their voice heard.”
