The meeting convened at 6:00 pm.

In the police report by Chief Mackert, he indicated that special attention was being paid to stopping speeders on Route 1A as they were entering town. The Chief and commissioners also commended town officials, staff, and the lifeguards for the effective role they played in keeping things under control during the area-wide power outage the previous Wednesday.

Next there was a discussion of whether to hire an outside consultant to assist the Planning & Zoning Commission on various tasks related to implementating the Town Comprehensive Plan. URS Corporation did a power point presentation indicating that they had assisted numerous Delaware towns in such matters, including Rehoboth. For Dewey, they would help with such matters as compiling zoning requirements and regulations, developing maps, coordinating meetings, and the like. The estimated cost would be $21,000. P&Z Chair Harry Wilson said that the Commission needed such professional assistance since the commission was comprised of volunteers with little professional experience in such tasks. Commissioner Cooke and several in the audience questioned the need for a consultant, wondering why the resources of the Town attorney and building inspector would not be adequate. It was also noted that an outside consultant hired several years ago for P&Z had cost about $245,000 as a result of cost over-runs. Others said that if a consultant is hired, costs and activities would have to be carefully managed to avoid a repeat of this experience.

Next there was a discussion of recent enforcement of town ordinances on outside commercial signs and displays. Apparently there have been complaints that several vendors were displaying large inflatables and other merchandise in violation of town ordinances and in a manner that was blocking the sidewalks and creating a safety problem for pedestrians. The town, after issuing warnings, had been authorized by the town attorney to issue citations to several businesses costing several hundred dollars each. In spirited presentations, several vendors complained to the commissioners at the meeting that they had been given citations even though they weren’t creating problems or doing anything differently than they had in the past. The town attorney responded that all vendors had to be treated the same but that there was perhaps some need for clarifying and re-writing the signage laws. In the end, there was a consensus that enforcement should be less aggressive for the time being and that a committee, headed by Commissioner Walsh, be formed to study the matter over the winter and make recommendations on how to solve the problem.

Next there was a discussion of a proposal by Commissioner Eisenhauer that commissioners not be permitted to spend more than $200 per occasion of town money on expenses without the approval of a majority of the Council. Various uses of expense money to attend conferences and training sessions were discussed, and it was agreed that such expenses were generally modest and worthwhile. After some discussion and suggestions from the audience, it was decided to refer the matter to the Committee on Budget and Finance to determine whether and how expense spending should be controlled and supervise, using practices from the private sector and other governmental bodies for guidance.

There was then a discussion of a proposal to send to referendum in the September elections the question of whether gambling should be permitted in Dewey Beach at charitable events and prohibited on all other occasions. The town attorney was asked to study the matter further to determine whether it is possible to include this matter in the election at this late date.

Finally, there was a discussion of certain ethical restrictions on members of town committees and commissions expressing personal views on issues that are under consideration by those bodies. Certain members have been the subject of complaints and public criticism about this, and some expressed the view that this had resulted in some unfairness and overly critical press for such individuals, which might deter citizens from volunteering for town service. The question will be further discussed at future meetings.

The next meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission will be on August 23, where it is scheduled to consider the Ruddertowne redevelopment project.