News Briefs 8/17/21

August 17, 2021

SDARJ hosts local police forum Aug. 24

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will present a virtual public forum on community policing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 24, via Zoom. Featuring a panel of law enforcement experts, this is the third session in a series on Racial Justice Through Reimagining Policing.

The panel includes Capt. Alice Brumbley of Delaware State Police Troop 5; Chief Patrick Ogden, associate vice president and chief of police of the University of Delaware; Rehoboth Beach Police Department Chief Keith Banks; and Lewes Police Department Chief Thomas Spell.

The first two parts of the series have been recorded and may be viewed at youtu.be/4OqjUWwA4eU and youtu.be/NT3gIH8Mw4g.

To register for the forum, go to sdarjpolicing3.eventbrite.com or for details, go to www.sdarg.org.

Rehoboth tree committee meeting Aug. 20

The Rehoboth Beach Trees & Green Infrastructure Committee will meet virtually at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 20, with public access via the city’s civic web portal.

The agenda calls for discussions on mapping trees for the city’s commemorative tree program, reviewing priority plantings for the fall and proposed revisions to the city’s tree ordinance, and examining the criteria and selection process for contractors who work on planting trees.

People wishing to speak must preregister by emailing City Secretary Ann Womack, awomack@cityofrehoboth.com, at least 24 hours before the meeting. A full agenda and meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Rehoboth commissioner meeting Aug. 20

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will meet virtually at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 20, with public access via the city’s civic web portal.

The agenda calls for a status update regarding hiring a consultant on wireless technologies and the possible approval of uses for roughly $417,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Lewes BPW meets Aug. 19

The Lewes Board of Public Works will meet at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Lewes City Hall. Directors will receive an update on the Donovan Smith mobile home park water and sewer project, discuss a request for proposals for a battery energy storage solution project, and consider projects to be submitted to the state for funding.

Also on the agenda are discussions on the Lewes BPW bylaws, formation of a finance committee, and a discussion on automated metering. The meeting is also available to watch via Zoom. A link can be found at lewesbpw.delaware.gov.

Lewes Planning Commission meets Aug. 18

The Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Rollins Community Center and online via Zoom. Commissioners will consider a recommendation on a request for a minor subdivision at the corner of Oregon Avenue and Bay Avenue. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes African American Heritage Commission meets Aug. 19

The Lewes African American Heritage Commission will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 19, at Lewes City Hall and online via Zoom. The group is expected to take formal action on a recommendation to mayor and city council to rename Beach 2 after Johnny Walker.

Other topics on the agenda include updates on a historic marker and on volunteer research. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Cape school board meets Aug. 19

The Cape Henlopen school board will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 19, at the Sussex Consortium, 17344 Sweetbriar Road, Lewes. Information will be presented regarding the 2021-22 school year opening COVID protocols, including mitigation strategies, COVID data regarding positive cases, vaccination efforts, quarantining information and extracurricular activities.

Members may vote on a school facility name, to revise marking periods for the district calendar, on a board policy on enrollment of typical peer students at Little Vikings Learning Center, and on several financial reports. The full agenda is available at capehenlopenschools.com.

Sussex council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Aug. 10 meeting: $4,000 to First State Community Action Agency for building repairs at its Walker's Mill Community Center near Bridgeville and $3,500 to the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary for an ecotourism investment strategy for the Mispillion and Cedar Creek watersheds between Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges along Delaware Bay.

Mailey appointed Dept. of Correction deputy commissioner

Marvin Mailey, former Bureau of Community Corrections chief, has been promoted to deputy commissioner of the Delaware Department of Correction. The rank of deputy commissioner is the department’s second-highest position, with responsibilities for supervising the department’s four bureaus and setting direction through policy development, strategic planning and decision making. As chief of community corrections since 2019, Mailey oversaw probation and parole, pretrial services, the community work-release program, electronic monitoring and other supervision programs for more than 10,000 individuals statewide who are housed in work release and violation of probation facilities or are serving probationary sentences in the community.

“Marvin Mailey brings to his new position deep knowledge, unique skills, and results-driven leadership from his 35-year career in law enforcement,” said Commissioner Monroe B. Hudson Jr. “As DOC’s chief of community corrections and as Dover Police chief, he has led efforts to reduce crime by embracing proven public-safety best practices, and by building relationships between officers and community stakeholders. I will rely heavily on his support [as deputy commissioner] for our dedicated officers and staff, and his willingness to strengthen our public safety and community engagement strategies as we continually work to meet our dual public safety and reentry mission.”