Highlights:
1.
Highway One announced its plans to tear down the Ruddertown complex
and Venus on the Half Shell, and replace them with
condominiums.
A committee was formed to try to formulate compromises on the nature of
this plan, and the town comprehensive plan will have to be re-examined.
2.
John Brady, Esq. was appointed to be the new town attorney, replacing
Rob Witsil.
3.
There was an active discussion of town finances and suggestions that
expenses are too high and that the town should make greater use of part
time employees and independent contractors.
4.
The previously discussed proposal to allow for a public referendum,
enabling the citizens to overturn town council ordinances under certain
limited conditions, was approved and sent to the state legislature for
approval. It would be voted on by the citizens in the 2007
municipal election.
5. The proposed 2007 Town budget
was approved.
Proceedings:
1.
The Commissioners Voted unanimously (5-0) to appoint John F. Brady,
Esquire as Town Solicitor .
2. Police
Report by Chief of Police, Sam Mackert
Year-to-Date through November
Number Of Complaints benchmarked against the previous year:
|
|
2006 |
2005 |
|
Disorderly
Conduct |
362 |
376 |
|
Criminal
Mischief |
22 |
46 |
|
Loud
Noise |
39 |
70 |
|
Business
Noise |
4 |
6 |
|
Assaults |
16 |
25 |
|
Burglary |
13 |
2 |
|
Theft |
22 |
32 |
|
Public
Assistance |
176 |
252 |
|
Assist
other depts |
178 |
112 |
|
Parking
Complaints |
5 |
9 |
|
Traffic
Accidents |
40 |
72 |
3.
Lifeguard Report by Dewey Beach Patrol Captain, Todd Fritchman:
Todd
estimates that approximately 3,500 to 4,000 people per day visit
our 1.1 mile beach. In 2006 his team had 20 open water rescues, 32 open
water assists, 29 lost children, and 8 beach evacuations due to
weather. There were 160 First Aid cases as well as 68 Major Emergency
Response Cases that included 20 Cervical Spine injuries. None of these
68 injuries resulted in a Loss of Life or any permanent paralysis.
Each Staff Member completed training and was certified in the following
areas:
-30 days of
“open water” instruction
-21
days of Rookie Training that includes intense physical training and
physical test
-CPR, standard
First aid and C-Spine stabilization
-First Responders certifications
|
4.
Treasury Report by Don Ziegler
The
Town’s accounting firm has completed their audit of its 2005
financial statements. There were numerous delays on their part, which
the commissioners deemed unacceptable. Don has recommended the Town to
hire a Full Time Accounting Manager.
The town has
$4,558,094.61 in Total Cash
$2,124,901 is available for general disbursements
$2,267,401.02 is available for Beach replenishment
$48,070.03 is cash restricted to specific Grants
$117,722.56 is cash restricted to Special projects
Anna
Lagates expressed concern over the amount of expenses the town has for
a 1.1 mile town that only has 1300 properties with under 400 year round
residents. She suggested the town look at replacing some full time
positions with part time contractors especially because the full time
employees do not have that much to do in the “off-season”.
|
5.
There was a discussion regarding a land use application submitted by
Highway One Limited for the Ruddertown complex and property located on
Dagsworthy Avenue at the Bay, known as Venus on the Half Shell
Restaurant. Jim Baeurle spoke on behalf
of Highway
One Partnership.
Since
the moratorium has expired, he has given notice to the
Commissioners that he will be picking up their permits to begin
construction at these two sites. After multiple delays on this project,
his organization can no longer wait to proceed with their plans. He
said they are exercising their property right and are within the
current zoning restrictions.
The plan as it stands
today is for
a complete teardown of the Ruddertown complex with the exception of
the physical Lighthouse (not the Bar/Restaurant but the actual
Lighthouse). The plan is for 46 Townhouses at Ruddertowne and 8
Townhouses at the Venus location.
Highway One will
have to meet and comply with DENREC and DELDOT regulations.
The
Town’s Building Inspector has been reluctant to issue these permits
although checks have been dropped off.
Jim
Baeurle and his partners are amenable to discussing and compromising on
these plans but not without getting the permits issued on Monday
morning.
Phase One will have 4 to 6 units at the
Ruddertowne complex.
Vivian
Barry, Diane Hanson, Anna Lagates, and Paul Bauer have volunteered to
comprise a committee to work with Highway One on some compromises. More
on this issue will be released shortly.
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6. Next there was
a discussion and
Vote to approve an ordinance for a Binding
Referendum
to Authorize the Commissioners to send to and request the Delaware
General Assembly to approve certain amendments to Section 23 of the
Charter of the Town of Dewey Beach, Delaware, entitled "Enumeration of
Powers", by Adding to theprovisions of Subsection 13 the power and
authority to conduct Referendums on certain ordinances adopted by the
Town Commissioners.
This
was Unanimously approved by
our Commissioners 5-0.
It
will be brought to
the Voters in September to approve or Reject.
If
a majority vote approves it, it will then go to the General Assembly so
it can be written into the Town Charter. It would then go into effect
sometime in 2008.
What
the citizens will be asked
is if
we want the right to bring to a public referendum any issue that has a
signed petition of the Greater of One-Third of the Voters in the “last
Municipal Election” or 300 Signatures. The Town Manager will determine
if there are enough signatures. |
7.
Next there was a discussion and vote to amend the Municipal Code of the
Town of Dewey Beach, Delaware to provide for the prohibition of the
conversion, dedication or Declaration of existing hotels or motels to
fractional time unit ownership,
commonly known as timeshare
ownership.
| After
discussion it was moved to
have a public hearing at the next Town council meeting. |
8.
Next there was a discussion and Vote on whether to approve a Draft of
the Town of Dewey Beach Comprehensive Plan. David King, Vice Chairman
of the Committee wrote an excellent Executive Summary that we will be
posting under the Comprehensive Plan section. Due to the
recent
announcement regarding the Ruddertown complex as well as residential
construction where the Venus on the Half Shell is located,
modifications will probably need to be made to the Comprehensive Zoning
Plan.
9. There was a discussion on whether to change
Real Estate
License Fees. After discussion it was deemed that the $1,000
per
Broker License Fee is too high and the proposal will be to lower it to
$250 for the Broker plus $75 per Agent. Mr. Brady will prepare an
Ordinance for Public Hearing at the next Town Council meeting.
10.
There was next a discussion and vote to approve the FY2007 Budget.
11.
There was a discussion and vote on a request submitted by Bell Buoys
& Girls, LLC, Owner of the Bell Buoy Motel, for a one-year
extension of its Conditional Use Approval granted by Ordinance No. 554
on December 10,2005 to December 10,2007. The Commissioners voted to
approve the request.
12. Date & Time
of Next Meeting
(Saturday - January 13, 2007 - 9:00 a.m.)
The
items, as listed above, are not in the exact sequence as discussed in
the meeting.
If you would like to have an item
placed on a future Agenda, Requests
must be sponsored by a Commissioner and must be in writing.
For
further information on the matters considered at the meeting, please
consult the town website. There are many important details that that
this summary has not been able to include. If you have
thoughts
or opinions on any of these issues, please let the Civic League Board
and the commissioners know through the email links provided.
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