Our town looks absolutely spectacular with beautiful flowers, bulbs, bushes and trees all in bloom.  Spring is here!

The following information comes from our April 18, 2007 Town Council meeting.   

The Bethany Beach Police Department has obtained accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).  The standards cover everything from Ethics, Searches, Property & Evidence and Labor Relations.  Of the more than 17,000 police agencies in the United States, only 524 have achieved this accreditation.  Of the 524, only 26 are the same size as our Police Department. 

The Delaware Department of Agriculture notified our Town that we have been selected as a Tree City USA Community.  You can learn more about this program on the Internet at:  http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/index.cfm

Residential parking permit applications have been mailed to property owners.

The second reading of An Ordinance to Enact a New Chapter 171 of the Bethany Beach Town Code Regulating Outdoor Smoking in Public Places was completed and a vote was taken with six council members voting yes and council member Tracy Mulligan abstaining.  The result of the vote places the following into our Town Code as an ordinance.SynopsisThis 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 15th through September 15th 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 second 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 and a vote was taken with all seven council members voting yes.  The result of the vote puts this into our Town Code as an ordinance.

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 then 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 past couple of weeks, the Towns of Fenwick Island and South Bethany and the private Sea Colony Homeowner Association approved this agreement for their communities and Bethany Beach is the fourth and final partner in this process. 

Our Town Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding (binding for ten years) and now the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company will receive the agreed upon financing from the group of four listed above.  The funds for this will be a line item addition to the three town’s annual tax billing and will be handled similarly by Sea Colony.  The estimated annual billing amount per household for the first year is in the neighborhood of $45.  The BBVFC will begin providing this service on January 1, 2009.

Town Council considered and approved a contract from Kassbohrer All Terrain Vehicles, Inc. for the purchase of a Barber Surf Rake Beach Cleaner for the amount of $52,480.  The equipment will be used by Town staff for beach trash cleanup. 

Town Council considered and approved Awarding A Concession to Bethany Beach Yoga Center for the purpose of teaching yoga classes on the Boardwalk and Bandstand for the 2008 Summer Season. 

A First Reading of An Ordinance to Repeal Chapter 125 “Open Fires” of the Bethany Beach Town Code to Replace it with a New Chapter 125 “Open Fires, Outdoor Cooking & Recreational Fires” was completed.  Votes are typically not taken at the time of a first reading. 

Synopsis

This ordinance amends the Town Code by repealing Chapter 125 “Open Fires” and establishing a new Chapter 125 “Open Fires, Outdoors Cooking and Recreational Fires.”  The new Chapter 125 establishes parameters and guidelines for permitted and restricted use of fire for open burning, cooking outdoors and fires associated with recreational activity. 

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- Tony -