While the City of Lewes is in the midst of two separate, independent investigations into conduct at city hall, the mayor is focusing on the start of the summer season. 

In an open letter to the citizens of Lewes, sent exclusively to the Cape Gazette, Mayor Amy Marasco said she could not talk about either investigation, but will not shy away from her responsibility.

"I am committed to investing whatever time and effort is needed to help steer our city through these challenges, restore organizational health and ensure that we emerge stronger than before," the letter said. "I am paying close attention, asking hard questions and remaining fully engaged every step of the way."

The tone of the mayor's letter was that the focus should be on the beauty of the Lewes community, not the recent controversies at 114 E. Third St.

"As summer begins in full swing, I hope you continue to enjoy everything that makes Lewes such a special place. Spend time with family and friends. Support our local businesses. Welcome our visitors. Enjoy our beaches, parks and historic treasures," Marasco said in the letter.

Max Walton, an attorney from Connolly Gallagher, is leading the investigation into City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe's order to remove the May 7 historic preservation architectural review commission meeting video from the city's website the day before the election. McCabe released a statement in which she said she did it to protect an employee's rights.

At the end of the HPARC meeting, former Chair Kevin Mallinson made comments critical of Councilman Joe Elder, the HPARC ex officio member, and city building official Jon Ward. Elder was running for re-election.

Ward admitted that he asked that the video be removed to protect his rights, because he had an active complaint against Mallinson.

Marasco said council tasked her with finding the attorney for that investigation. She said Walton expects the probe to be finished by the Fourth of July.

The second ongoing investigation is regarding a formal complaint filed by McCabe and Assistant City Manager Janet Reeves against Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba. They accuse Saliba of bullying, harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Saliba denies all of the accusations.

McCabe and Reeves have called for Saliba's resignation.

Marasco said the city's Human Resources Department has the lead on finding a law firm to head that investigation, and she does not know if one has been hired.

Councilperson Tim Ritzert said he expects both reports will uncover the facts and be made public.

"There has been no discussion of the reports being made public, but we are spending taxpayer dollars," he said. "I'm familiar with the city charter, and I don't see anything that would give council the authority to withhold them."

In her letter, Marasco said she is concerned about the costs of the external investigations. But she did not offer a ballpark figure as to how much they might cost the city.

During the budget process earlier this year, council discussed the rising cost of legal services. They approved $375,000 for legal services in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which is $100,000 more than in Fiscal Year 2026.

Marasco said she did not think the twin investigations will exhaust that budgeted amount.

She said attorney Luke Mette of Baird Mandalas Federico will review the city's 2025 legal expenses, pro bono, to learn if the city can reduce costs going forward.

Marasco's letter to the Cape Gazette was hers, and hers alone. She said she did not have any input from council. She said her letter was vetted by an attorney.

Marasco said council made its statement by voting unanimously to approve both investigations. She said it shows there is a cohesive council that wants to find the truth in both cases. Marasco insisted that the investigations are not distracting from the day-to-day operations in city hall.

The city rejected, in its entirety, a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Cape Gazette seeking all emails sent on city accounts by McCabe, Reeves, Saliba, Marasco and anyone else involved in the complaint against the deputy mayor. It also asked for video or transcripts from any meetings that might have been recorded in the city hall conference room about the complaint.

In denying the request, Ashley Akgoren, city clerk and FOIA coordinator, cited a line in Title 29 of Delaware code, claiming the information is not in the public record.

The code states: "Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person which is of a privileged or confidential nature" does not have to be released.

Former employee: No chain of command in city hall

A former city employee has come forward with the claim that the turmoil inside city hall goes beyond the investigations.

Alison Kirk spent a decade working for the city. She quit in February, burnt out and frustrated by the politics that she said eroded the environment in the building.

"It was a good place to work when I started," Kirk said. "Now, when you walk into city hall, you can feel the tension. It's not a jovial place to be. People whisper, afraid of who's coming around the corner."

Kirk said she raised a long list of concerns during her exit interview with the city's human relations manager and has nothing to hide about her experience.

She began as the parks and marina administrator before becoming the facilities foreman in the Maintenance Department.

Kirk said the environment in city hall changed when Mayor Ted Becker left office in 2022.

Kirk credits then-City Manager Ann Marie Townshend for having a buck-stops-here management style that kept council apart from day-to-day operations.

"Everybody [on council] has their own agendas. They want to get things done for constituents," Kirk said. "Ann Marie had council go through her, not directly to staff. She told them to come to her first and she filtered out and prioritized projects."

Townshend resigned in 2023. McCabe, who was assistant city manager, took over on an interim basis. She was hired permanently in June 2024.

"Council failed in not interviewing anybody else for the job," Kirk said. "If they wanted an open and transparent process, they should have conducted a search to see what candidates they had."

Kirk is now a facilities manager in Key West, Fla.

McCabe was asked to comment on the city hall chain of command, but did not respond to the request. 

McCabe also has not commented on an open letter sent by a current city employee to council and city management, claiming that a toxic environment exists in city hall.