Dewey council candidates discuss revenues, infrastructure, town manager

Dewey Beach commissioner candidates fielded questions on revenue streams, infrastructure needs and the search for a new town manager at a Sept. 6 forum that concluded with one candidate calling for an end to mudslinging.

Candidates David Moskowitz, Gary Persinger and Bill Stevens responded in turn to a series of queries posed by Dewey Beach Civic League President Bob Marshall on the Hyatt Place Dewey Beach Sunset Deck overlooking Rehoboth Bay. The forum was livestreamed on The Dewey Business Partnership website.

The scene was quintessential Dewey: two bikini-clad beachgoers spent about 30 minutes inflating and readying a raft behind candidates, dogs frolicked on the sand, a lifeguard zoomed around on an ATV, and live music played to the delight of boaters enjoying Sunday Funday while anchored just offshore.  

While the backdrop was festive, commissioners were serious in addressing the town’s needs. To balance revenue loss due to COVID-19, Persinger proposed the town borrow from reserves and pay back the loan to start a capital expense fund. Stevens said the town was in good shape with about $9.9 million in net fixed assets and a debt-free balance sheet. Moskowitz said the town could use savings but needs to plan for what could be a multi-year pandemic.

Stevens said the town can develop revenue streams that are not tax-based to pay for infrastructure improvements. Moskowitz said the town needs to explore grant opportunities. Persinger said the town allocated more funds to the infrastructure account and needs to apply for grants in partnership with state agencies.

Persinger said he would not vote to impose a tax on hotels at this time because businesses are hurting. Stevens said he believes in equal taxation; he said the town does a poor job enforcing the rental accommodations tax and that hotels shouldn’t pay more. Moskowitz said he voted against the ability to impose the tax, stating it was too punitive.

On public safety, Stevens said the town made a costly mistake not putting code enforcement on the streets; he said code enforcement should be placed under the police department. Moskowitz said commissioners need to prioritize and tackle issues found in the police consultant report. Persinger said police need training; he also said he leaned against folding code enforcement back to the police department.

Regarding handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moskowitz said commissioners faced a pandemic of unknown proportions and need to communicate better. Persinger and Stevens said wearing masks is the best way to protect others and stop transmission of the disease.

Persinger said past town managers have had problems working with department heads; he said the town manager has authority, and needs to be an effective manager and communicator. Stevens said problems have resulted due to a combative relationship between town managers and commissioners; he said the manager needs to be held accountable but needs support, too. Moskowitz said the town has 100 tasks to get done and needs someone who knows a little bit about everything.

In closing, Stevens said recent mudslinging involving candidates is uncalled-for.

“You’ve got three individuals who have stepped up in a volunteer capacity to run as commissioners, an unpaid role, and you should just say thank you,” he said. “There should not be anything said that's wrong about anyone. You should ask them about their policies, and you should vote based upon who you think is going to be best to run this town and to help the town manager do his or her job for the future.”