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News Briefs 8/12/22

August 12, 2022
Lewes Line frequent rider cards 50% off

The City of Lewes has discounted the price of the Lewes Line frequent rider card for the rest of the season.

The card is now $5 instead of $10 for 12 rides.

As of July 31, card sales total 32, with 10 of those sales in July.

City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said the pilot program saw a significant increase in ridership during July, and the discount is to encourage people to continue using the service.

A total of 1,513 passengers rode the Lewes Line during July, bringing the 2022 number as of July 31 to 2,599.

Lewes Parks and Rec meeting Aug. 15

The Lewes Parks & Recreation Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15, at the Rollins Center.

Updates will be given on the public art committee, Friends of Canalfront Park and the community garden, along with discussion and possible action on the Great Marsh Park draft concept master plan.

Find the agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes athletic courts reopened

The City of Lewes basketball and tennis courts were reopened Aug. 8 following the repaving project that began in July.

Officials delayed the reopening by a few days to allow the surface to settle.

Lewes short-term rental group to meet

The Lewes short-term rental ad hoc committee will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 16, at City Hall.

Members will discuss possible regulations in remaining city residential areas and begin reviewing the draft ordinance framework.

Find the agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Larry Adams appointed to HPARC

Phil Franz recently stepped down from the Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission. Mayor Andrew Williams said Franz filled the very specific role of architect/building designer, and during mayor and council’s Aug. 8 meeting, Williams nominated Larry Adams to fill Franz’s unexpired term.

Adams was approved unanimously by council.

Bowman, Jaber join Lewes Board of Ethics

Toni Bowman and Calvin R. Jaber have been appointed  by Lewes Mayor and City Council to serve on the Lewes Board of Ethics.

Mayor Andrew Williams nominated Jaber to fill the unexpired term of Mark Harris, who is stepping down, and Bowman to fill the unexpired term of Rick Grier Reynolds, who now chairs the board of adjustment.

Council unanimously approved Williams’ nominations.

BPW gives update on Donovan-Smith

Lewes Board of Public Works General Manager Austin Calaman told mayor and city council Aug. 8 the BPW is prepared to close on the Donovan-Smith Manufactured Home Park loan agreement.

Calaman said they are set to bid out in September and award a contract in October.

Milton council to meet Aug. 15

Milton Town Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15, at Milton library, on the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget.

The nearly $5 million town budget includes a proposed 18 percent property tax increase, the third such hike since 2015. Mayor John Collier has said the increase will help the town keep up the level of service residents have become accustomed to.

Following the public hearing, council could possibly vote on the budget, or make additional changes and hold further discussion before a vote at a later time. Council has until Friday, Sept. 30, to have the budget in place.

In other old business, the council will discuss home sprinkler guidelines.

In new business, council will schedule a public hearing on three amendments to the zoning code dealing with fence orientation, wireless communications towers and amending the historic district boundary.  Finally, council will discuss four future phases of Heritage Creek along with a bond reduction request.

Milton parking committee to meet

Milton’s Parking Ad Hoc Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, at Milton library.

The committee will discuss its mission, review town parking code and come up with topics for its next meeting.

Rehoboth green meeting canceled

The Rehoboth Beach Green Infrastructure Committee’s Friday, Aug. 12 meeting has been canceled due to lack of a quorum, according to a city notice.

For details, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County Council presented the following councilmanic grants during its Aug. 9 meeting: $1,500 to Milton Community Foundation Inc. for a plastic water bottle refill unit; $1,000 to CHEER Inc. for its 12th annual car, truck and bike show; $1,500 to Bridgeville Apple Scrapple for its 30th annual Apple-Scrapple Festival; $2,000 to Cornerstone Community Center in Bridgeville for its holiday extravaganza; and $1,000 to Operation Seas the Day for operating expenses.

Sussex council not meeting Aug. 16

Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, Aug. 16. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

Primary candidates’ forum set Aug. 18

The Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce will host a Republican primary candidates’ forum from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 18, in Sussex County Council chambers, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Invited to attend are Sussex County Council District 5 incumbent John Rieley and challenger Keller Hopkins. Also invited are register of wills candidates incumbent Ellen Megee, Greg Fuller and Candice Green Wilkinson.

For details, call 302-856-1544 or email director@georgetowncoc.com.

Dewey commissioners to meet Aug. 19

Dewey Beach commissioners will hold public hearings and the monthly town meeting at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave.

Hearings will be held for restaurants that have applied to expand their conditional uses to allow outdoor dining on their premises; outdoor seating expansion permits granted during the pandemic are set to expire Oct. 31. A public hearing will also be held on a conditional-use permit to construct a new Grotto Pizza restaurant at 1509 Coastal Highway.

Members may also vote to accept the 2022 fiscal year audit, to remove equities from the short-term fund, and to refer to the planning commission an application to rezone a property at 106 Read Ave. from business to residential. The full agenda and meeting link are available at townofdeweybeach.com.

Dewey charter & code committee to meet

The Dewey Beach Charter & Code Review Committee will meet virtually at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15. Members will possibly vote on a request for town funding to support hiring an outside expert to review and provide guidance on the Dewey Beach town code.

For a meeting link, go to townofdeweybeach.com.

LWV Delaware offers online election guide

The League of Women Voters of Delaware now offers access to Vote411.org, a nonpartisan tool for residents seeking information for the Sept. 13 state primary.

The Vote411.org website offers side-by-side comparisons of the backgrounds and positions of each candidate and will empower voters to be fully informed as they cast their ballots during these critical elections.

The league’s purpose is to provide a one-stop place for voters to learn about candidates in their districts and get up-to-date information on registering to vote, which now can be done on the same day as the election.

Voters can also learn about the different options for casting their ballots, which now include vote-by-mail and early voting in addition to absentee voting and in-person voting in district polling places.

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