County council members speak at NARFE luncheon
Three Sussex County Council members - George Cole, Joan Deaver, and Vance Phillips - attended the June lunch of local Sussex Chapter 1690 of National Active and Retired Federal Employees and donated a total of $700 from discretionary funds to the NARFE chapter's fundraising effort for Alzheimer’s research.
Each council member has discretionary funds to use for charitable donations and grants. For the NARFE Alzheimer’s research, Phillips donated $500, and Cole and Deaver each donated $100. The luncheon was held at 1776 Steakhouse, Rehoboth Beach.
Sussex Chapter 1690 is part of NARFE, a national organization that represents federal employees, retirees, and annuitants, promotes their general welfare, and provides advice and advocacy services with respect to their rights and benefits under federal and state retirement laws and regulations. Any federal retirees interested in joining the Sussex chapter should email Ron or Carol Weber at rjw98@mchsi.com for information.
In addition to making charitable donations, each council member spoke to the group.
Cole and Deaver engaged the NARFE group with questions about what they liked about living in Sussex County, and what they would like to see improved. Chapter members responded in favor of existing low taxes and commented that they would like to see better transportation, increased efforts to save farms, and better efforts to attract more medical professionals to the area.
Phillips briefed the group on this year’s council budget of $52 million. Revenues are up, he said, adding that if there is money left over at the end of the year, that money would go into a Capital Fund with the intention that future capital improvements such as paramedic stations and libraries could be paid for in cash.
