As I prepare to leave my role as Lewes city manager, I would like to thank the many people who have been a part of my time here. I have been honored to work with dedicated city staff, elected officials, volunteers and community members over the past six years. We have worked together and helped the city navigate tremendous change and a global pandemic. We all know that Lewes is one of a kind, and while there may be diversity of opinion on how to proceed on an issue, there is no doubt that everyone I have worked with is committed to helping Lewes thrive while preserving its history and charm.
We have assembled a team of competent and dedicated professionals who have embraced the challenges of a changing and growing town. Our team has worked tirelessly to improve work processes to provide high-quality services to the community. As we have experienced change and growth, our staff has maintained a strong commitment to public service excellence. I am confident this commitment to serving our residents, businesses and visitors will continue.
There are many accomplishments we have made together through the collaboration among our elected officials, staff and many volunteers to enhance the quality of life in Lewes. I am proud and honored to have been a part of these achievements. While there are too many to name here, there are a few of which I am most proud:
- Dutchman’s Harvest - The affordable housing challenges require creative thinking and public-private partnerships. In this case, the city, a private developer and a nonprofit housing developer worked together to make this project feasible. Mayor and city council agreed to reduced building permit fees and allocated ARPA funds to make some of the units affordable to low-income households. My hope is that this collaboration will be replicated elsewhere
- COVID-19 - Lewes was a leader in Delaware in transitioning to virtual meetings. We invested in technology upgrades to make our meetings accessible and interactive to keep the city business going. We continue to utilize the technology and the virtual meeting platform to serve the community by making meetings accessible to the public
- Menhaden net reel - The location of the net reel in downtown Lewes was a source of spirited disagreement. Through listening and compromise, we were able to develop a resolution that respected the municipal laws yet allowed this important artifact to remain in a prominent location to tell the story of our special relationship with the sea and with each other
- Lewes Line - For many years, the idea of a shuttle service seemed unattainable due to start-up costs associated with purchasing buses. Through partnership with the Delaware Transit Corporation and a lot of extra effort on the part of some of our staff, we successfully completed year two of the Lewes Line. Regardless of whether this public transit service continues in the future, we were able to pilot the shuttle without large capital costs.
While I am excited about my next chapter, Lewes will always hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to seeing you in the shops and restaurants, at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market or on the area trails and beaches. Thank you to mayor and city council and to the community for allowing me to serve this special, one-of-a-kind community.
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