News Briefs 03-03-17

One files for Cape school board seat
One candidate so far has filed for the Cape Henlopen school board seat that will be vacated by Jen Burton, who decided not to run for re-election. Julia Derrick filed March 2 for the seat that represents area D, covering Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and the area south to the Indian River Inlet.

A candidate must live in the area D geographic area, but all residents of the Cape Henlopen School District, no matter where they live, can vote in the school board election. The deadline to file for the 5-year school board seat is 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 3; the school board election will be held Tuesday, May 9 A candidate filing form can be filled out and signed at the Sussex County Department of Elections, 119 N. Race St., Georgetown.

Milton water committee to meet March 6
Milton Water Infrastructure Land Acquisition Committee will meet at 2 p.m., Monday, March 6, at Milton Town Hall for an executive session. For more information or a full agenda, go to www.milton.delaware.gov or call 302-684-4110.

Milton Town Council meeting March 6
Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 6, at the Milton library. Mayor and council are expected to discuss a citizen of the year program, a sidewalk waiver for 108 Walnut St. and ordinances amending town code. For more information or a full agenda, go to www.milton.delaware.gov or call 302-684-4110.

Hall-Long to address Democrats March 9
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long will be keynote speaker at the next Eastern Sussex Democratic Club meeting, Thursday, March 9, at Bethany Blues in Lewes, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Hall-Long was unable to give her keynote talk to Eastern Sussex at its February meeting due to the prison outbreak, but she came to the meeting to briefly stress the importance of the Stephanie Hansen campaign for Senate in Middletown. She insisted on coming to the March meeting, to present her entire keynote and to facilitate discussion of the Hansen victory.

"I want to speak to this active and expanding club as the voice of Delaware Democrats," she said. After the keynote, there will be discussions and announcements by various special interests and then break-out into groups to work on strategies and organization for those who are interested. The buffet lunch costs $15. Membership costs an additional $20. Checks and cash are accepted. RSVP to liseshaupt@yahoo.com.

Three public hearings on Sussex agenda
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.
Included on the agenda are recognition for retired Clerk of the Peace John Brady and the following public hearings: a conditional-use application filed by R&K Partners for a medical office complex at 1537 Savannah Road, Lewes; a conditional-use application filed by Cape Henlopen School District for a new Sussex Consortium school on a 25-acre parcel along Sweetbriar Road near Lewes; and a conditional-use application filed by Delmarva Power and Light Co. to expand its Midway substation along Route 1 near the Dartmouth Drive intersection near Lewes. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

Sussex P&Z meeting has full agenda
Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 9, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are the following public hearings: a conditional-use application filed by Rudolph Joseph Johnson for a workout studio at 34001 Clay Road, Lewes; a rezoning application from medium density residential district to medium density residential planned community filed by Liborio Ellendale LLC for a 141-acre parcel along Old State Road, Lincoln; and a rezoning application from AR-1 to CR-1 filed by Two Farms Inc. for a 3-acre parcel at 24616 Lewes-Georgetown Highway near the Harbeson Road intersection. Also on the agenda is a discussion on the 2018 comprehensive plan and time for public comment. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov. Meetings can be monitored at the same website.

Lewes HPC meets March 7
The Lewes Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 7, at city hall. The group will consider requests for an addition and exterior renovations at 321 Savannah Road, removal of a screen porch and an addition at 32 Shipcarpenter Square and a rear addition at 114 Monroe Ave. The commission will also discuss proposed changes to city code regarding financial hardships. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Lewes Finance Committee to meet
The Lewes Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, at city hall. The group will review city investments and consider a recommendation to transfer additional funds into the investment account. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Carney creates GEAR Board
Gov. John Carney signed an executive order Feb. 17 establishing the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board to identify opportunities for cost savings in state government. The board, which will begin meeting in the next month, will develop annual recommendations for increasing efficiency and effectiveness across state government. Its members will explore ways to improve the strategic financial planning process, and expand the use of metrics in determining how to allocate state resources.

By Dec. 1 each year, the board will submit a report to the governor, including recommendations that could be be included in the recommended state budget. By May 1 of this year, the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the secretary of Finance will produce a report for the governor, including recommendations for the General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee to review as its members finalize the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget. Annual reports of the GEAR Board will be made public.

Briggs King appointed to NFWL
The National Foundation for Women Legislators announced recently that Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, has been appointed to serve on the foundation's 2017 Bylaws Committee. The committee reviews existing bylaws, recommends changes, presents changes at the annual general membership meeting in November, and ensures the organization is in compliance with the bylaws. Briggs King begins serving in her new position immediately and will hold this office through the end of 2017. The National Foundation for Women Legislators is the nation's oldest nonpartisan organization addressing the needs of elected women at the city, county, and state levels of government.

Carney orders anti-discrimination policy
Gov. John Carney signed an executive order March 1 establishing a uniform anti-discrimination policy across state government. The executive order calls for the creation of a new policy by April 1. Developing a consistent anti-discrimination policy was recommended by the transition team set up by Carney after his election in November. The uniform policy will include statewide anti-discrimination guidelines and complaint procedures to be followed by executive-branch agencies.