Chambers still off limits to Sussex council

When will Sussex County Council be able to return to council chambers for meetings?

Council's last in-person meeting took place March 17 and has held teleconference meetings since April 7.

Councilman Sam Wilson of Georgetown appears anxious to get back to a near-normal schedule. During council’s May 19 meeting, Wilson asked Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson when council can begin meeting in person again.

Lawson said several factors enter into that decision, including the fact that only 20 to 25 people can sit in council chambers while practicing 6-foot social-distancing recommendations.

“Right now, the limiting factor is no more than 10 people at once. Once that is lifted we can allow more people in to conduct business,” Lawson said.

However, the unpredictability of crowds attending public hearings can be an issue, he said. “We want to open up as soon as we can, but we can't keep the public from participating in meetings,” he said.