News Briefs 02/07/20

Lane closures on Rt. 1 in Bethany start Feb. 10
The Delaware Department of Transportation announced that intermittent lane closures will occur starting Monday, Feb. 10, on Route 1 northbound/southbound between Ashwood Street and Ocean View Parkway, Bethany Beach, for street light installations. Work will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, pending weather, through late June. Flaggers will be on-site to direct motorists at intersections. There may be possible nighttime work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays.

Transportation group to meet Feb. 7 in Rehoboth
The Rehoboth Beach Streets and Transportation Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 7, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion on LED lights at the Rehoboth Avenue circle, a city bike loop, and crosswalks on King Charles Avenue.

The agenda also includes new discussions on speed bumps for Lake Drive and new crosswalks on State Road. For more information call 302-227-6181. See the full agenda at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Dewey board of election to meet Feb. 8
The Dewey Beach Board of Election will meet at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will discuss status and upkeep of voter rolls, and may vote to recommend changes to absentee voting procedures. The Dewey Beach municipal election is set for Saturday, Sept. 26. The full agenda is available at www.townofdeweybeach.com.

Lewes mayor, council to meet Feb. 10
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10, at city hall. Officials will consider a plan for refurbishment of the Canalfront Park tennis, basketball and pickleball courts. Council will also consider rental concessions at Roosevelt Inlet, partial relief for building permit fees for the Dutchman’s Harvest workforce housing project on Savannah Road, an amendment to the noise ordinance related to landscaping hours, and a letter to Sussex County regarding the proposed rezoning of the Mitchell Farm on Kings Highway.

The group will also discuss a waiver request from the developer of Lewes Waterfront Preserve for dead-end streets longer than 200 feet. To view the full agenda, go to www.lewes.civicweb.net.

Dewey Beach board to meet Feb. 8
Dewey Beach commissioners will hold an executive session, public hearing and monthly town meeting on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Executive session, which is closed to the public, will begin at 8:15 a.m., when commissioners will hold a strategy session involving legal advice with respect to pending litigation. The public meeting will commence at 9 a.m. with public hearings on temporary expansion applications for events at The Starboard and Gary’s Dewey Beach Grill. Following the hearing, commissioners will possibly vote to authorize reasonable reimbursement of legal fees incurred by indemnified Commissioner Paul Bauer and to amend town code relating to parking fees. The full agenda is available at www.townofdeweybeach.com.

GA OKs alternative to rabies vaccine
A bill that would allow a test used to determine rabies antibodies in lieu of a vaccination passed the Senate Jan. 28 by 20 votes with one absent. The bill unanimously passed the House June 30 – the last day of last session – and now awaits Gov. John Carney's signature.

The bill gives veterinarians and pet owners the ability to exempt an animal from mandated rabies vaccination based on infirmity, disability, illness or other medical consideration. Instead of a vaccination, a Titer test, which measures a pet’s antibodies to combat rabies, can be used if a veterinarian deems it necessary to protect the animal’s health. A similar bill had been tabled in 2018 following a public hearing in which several veterinarians voiced their concern over substituting a Titer test for a rabies vaccine.

Al Casapulla, a proponent of the bill, which is named Maggie’s Pet Vaccine Protection Act for a pet he lost after she was over-vaccinated, said he is pleased owners now have an option other than a state-mandated vaccine. 
“HB 214 takes the state out of the equation and allows the vet to use his or her professional judgement on what the proper thing is to do,” he said.

Sussex teenage Republicans form club
Teens, ages 12 to 17, and parents gathered at the Ocean View Town Hall recently as members of the newly formed Sussex Teen-age Republicans, the first teenage Republican Club in Delaware.  The members will be assisting with campaign activities, learning about the political process and the rich history of the First State as well as field trips to legislative bodies and important government buildings.

38th District Representative Ron Gray spoke with the teens about his entry into politics.  He encouraged the group to remain involved and consider political careers themselves. Gray also gave the group an overview of some of the issues associated with the controversial Skipjack Wind Farm to be erected off the coast of Fenwick Island.  
Robert Arlett, President Trump’s Delaware campaign manager, spoke with the teens about the upcoming election and how they can play an active role. For information see the club’s Facebook Page or email sussextars@gmail.com.

Sussex council not meeting on Feb. 11
Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, Feb. 11. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

Henlopen Acres applies for permit to dredge marina
Henlopen Acres has applied for a dredging permit from the state for the town’s marina.
According to a Feb. 5 public notice from Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the town has submitted a subaqueous lands permit application to mechanically maintenance dredge 6,500 cubic yards of material in the marina. The applications calls for disposal of the dredged material by using a water-tight dump truck to an existing confined disposal area located off Anglers Road in Lewes.

Documents for the application are available for review by contacting Gayle Calder, Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, at 302-739-9943 or by Fax at 302-739-6304. Comments on these applications need to be returned by Tuesday, Feb. 25. A public hearing on the above applications will not be held unless DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin determines one is in the public interest or if a written meritorious objection to the application is received.

Rehoboth Beach cancels two meetings
Due to a lack of quorum, the regular Rehoboth Beach commissioner workshop and a special budget meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10, have been cancelled. The meetings are not expected to be made up.
As of press deadline, Feb. 6, there is a commissioner meeting and budget workshop scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17. For more information call 302-227-6181. Agendas can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth environment committee to meet Feb. 11
The Rehoboth Beach Environment Committee has scheduled a meeting for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion on single-use products, a presentation on 5G findings, a discussion on a sustainability plan and a discussion on impervious surfaces. For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Milton historic commission to meet Feb. 11
Milton Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Milton library.
The commission will designate two members to attend training offered by the National Preservation Institute on Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22, in Richmond, Va. 

Water committee to meet Feb. 12 in Milton
Milton Water Committee will meet at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Milton library to discuss current and future water infrastructure projects. The committee will also discuss back-flow prevention and rates and fees.

DMHOA to meet Feb. 24
The Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association will host its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24, at Angola Beach and Estates Clubhouse, 22971 Suburban Blvd, Lewes. Admission is free and open to anyone living in manufactured housing on leased land. For more information go to www.dmhoa.org or call 302-945-2122.