May you enjoy a beautiful Spring season!

The following are highlights from the monthly Town Council meeting held on March 23, 2008.

Donations from the Town were made to:   

          1.  Friends of the South Coastal Library for the expansion of our public library - $25,000

          2.  Millville Ambulance Service - $10,000

The Millville Volunteer Fire Company provides ambulance service for Bethany Beach and stations one of their ambulances in Bethany during the summer months – they have announced they will NOT provide ambulance service in Bethany Beach after January 1, 2009.  Our Town Council is working with surrounding entities (Fenwick Island, South Bethany, Sea Colony, our Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, which covers all these entities, and our state representative and state senator in an effort to assure coverage after that date.  Council considered a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding a Long-term Contract with the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company for Delivery of Ambulance Service to the Community during the meeting.  This extremely important matter has not as yet been resolved.

 The budget for fiscal year 2009 was adopted and a copy is available on the Town website at www.townofbethanybeach.com

The First Reading of An Ordinance to Enact a New Chapter 171 of the Bethany Beach Town Code Regulating Outdoor Smoking in Public Places was completed. 

    Synopsis

This ordinance amends the Town Code to establish a new Chapter 171 “Regulating Outdoor Smoking In Public Places”. The ordinance prohibits smoking outdoors in certain public places in the town on a year-round basis (those being children’s playgrounds, town parks, and the Boardwalk Plaza area at the east end of Garfield Parkway), and in certain other public places in the town on a seasonal basis, those being the boardwalk and the beach between May 15^th through September 15^th inclusive, of each year. With regard to the beach, designated and clearly marked  “Smoking Permitted” areas are to be established at a number of places along the east side of the dune fence that parallels the ocean to accommodate those beachgoers who desire to smoke. A written warning shall be issued (by any Town Police Officer, Code Official, or Lifeguard) for a first offense and before any further enforcement actions may be taken. Any person observed violating the ordinance who has been issued a written warning within the past 4 months shall be charged with having committed a second offense and may be issued a summons to appear before the Town Alderman to answer the charge; and any person observed violating the ordinance who has been issued a summons for a second offense within 4 months of receiving the written warning shall be charged with having committed a third (or subsequent) offense and may be taken into custody by a Town Police Officer to appear before the Alderman immediately. Although set forth in the Town’s “Schedule Of Fines And Penalties For Violations Of Town Ordinances; Court Costs”, the penalty for a second offense shall be $100 and for any third or subsequent offense within 4 months of the written warning, the penalty shall be $500.

The First Reading) of An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 of the Town Code, Being the “Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Town Ordinances; Court Costs” to Establish Penalties for Violating Chapter 171 “Regulating Outdoor Smoking in Public Areas”  was completed.

                     Synopsis

This ordinance amends Chapter 2 “Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Town Ordinances; Court Costs” to establish a penalty of $100 for conviction of a second offense of Chapter 171 of the Town Code (“Regulating Outdoor Smoking In Public Places”) and to establish a penalty of $500 for the third and each subsequent violation. (Under Chapter 171, a “first offense” results in a written warning; to be subject to penalties, a second, third, and subsequent offenses must occur within 4 months of the first offense written warning.)

Council reviewed JMT’s Streetscape Concept that was developed as a result of the Town’s last public hearing.  It is hoped that Council will take action in this area, perhaps as early as the April Town Council meeting.

Council approved forwarding a suggested amendment to our Town Code made by the Planning Commission to the Town Solicitor, to amend Section 200-41 (Subdivision of Land – Streets) to add New language to Allow different Configurations for Dead-End Streets that follow the Recommendations of the State Fire Marshal.  Currently dead-end streets must end in a cul-de-sac and the commission wishes to allow “Tee” dead-ends as well.

Council approved a Resolution supporting the efforts of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association to Promote Initiatives that Encourage the Federal Government to Acknowledge its Responsibility for Partnering with State and Local Governments to Develop and Implement Plans that Will Protect and Preserve America’s Coasts and their Inhabitants.
 

Council approved the purchase of two trash trucks:

(1.)   2009 International 7400 SBA 6x4 (625)
Truck Chassis – Barr International (dealer) $72,942
Truck Body – H.A. Dehart & Son (dealer) $44,249
Total =  $117,191                

(2.)   2009 International 7400 SBA 6x4 (525)                      
        Truck Chassis – Barr International (dealer) $72,591
        Truck Body – Ed Meyer Repair and Fabrication (dealer) $19,131
        Total = $91,722

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- Tony -