Tony's Bethany Beach Newsletter
April 17, 2009

TOWN OF BETHANY BEACH                                 FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING                                   TOWN MEETING ROOM
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING                             7:30 P.M.
 

1. OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING
   1. Call to Order and Roll Call
      All members of Council were present as was our Town Manager, Town Clerk and Town Solicitor. 
   2. Pledge of Allegiance
   3. Approval of the Agenda     Approved
   4. Approval of minutes of regular meeting held March 20, 2009     Approved
5. Approval of minutes of executive session held on March 20, 2009     Approved
6. Approval of minutes of special meeting held on March 20, 2009     Approved
7. Approval of minutes of public hearing held on February 27, 2009     Approved
8. Approval of the Financial Report     Approved as was the Town's investment policy for the coming year
9. Announcements, Recognition of Visitors and Public Comment
   
   Announcements:

1. Our beach replenishment project has been re-scheduled by the Corp of Engineers for a two week period during June. 
2. The remodeled South Coastal Library will re-open on Monday, April 20^th.  We have a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility.  The Friends of the South Coastal Library are to be thanked for their effort and the $2,225,000 plus they raised to supplement state and county funding.  Visit our library at your first opportunity and I suspect you will be hooked! If you have not yet made a donation or would like to add to your donation visit: (www.foscl.com)
3. Dr. Parsons attended the National Hurricane Conference earlier this month.  Dr. Parsons shared what he learned.
4. Ms. Young attended the Delaware Commission Assistance & Mentoring Program conference on April 4th at the University of Delaware.
5. Vice Mayor Olmstead attended the ASBPA's Summit 2009, "Leading the New Administration Back to America's Coast," on March 25-27 in Washington, D.C.  Ms. Olmstead shared what she learned with us?
6. It has been brought to my attention brought to my attention that Mr. Warren Zitzmann, former BB Town Council member and Planning Commission Chairman, died recently.  It has been said and I quote from James Meehan’s book “Bethany Beach Memoirs”, “the right man, in the right place, at the right time”.  Warren was a city planner, who wrote most of the zoning ordinance used in BB.  Mr. Cal Baldwin told me, “He was a prime example of how our citizens volunteer their time and experience for the good of Bethany Beach.” 
7. The Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company provided a plaque to the Town last Saturday during the “Ambulance Housing” event in appreciation for our participation as a partner in establishing ambulance service with the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company.  You should know that the State of Delaware nor Sussex County provide funding for our local Firefighters or EMT's.  Both government entities do provide some grant money.  Our Fire Company is all volunteer with the exception of the paid EMT's.  All equipment needs are paid for by our Fire Company and your donations are extremely important to their continued operation.  The Towns of Bethany Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island along with our partner, Sea Colony, provide hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to assure the funding for our citizens to have Ambulance Service.
   
   PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY - Although we are helping fund the Ambulance Service through an annual assessment to our property owners, our Fire Company depends upon your donations to fund fire protection service. Please contribute to their fund raising and be generous. (www.bethanybeachfire.com) 
    
8. The Arbor Day Foundation congratulates Bethany for achieving "Tree City USA" status for 2008.  This is the fourth year we have been so recognized.
    
9.  Free bulk trash collection is made during the last two weeks of April.  Monday, May 4th, will be the last day for free bulk item collection. Any bulk items placed at the curb after May 4th will be collected at a minimum charge of $40. Bulk items must be placed at the curb where regular trash is collected. Limbs should be cut into 6’ lengths and tied together in bundles. Doors must be removed from all refrigerators. Any water based paints must be dried in the can using sand or cat litter to avoid leaching of paint. The Town does not collect any hazardous chemicals, (e.g.) petroleum based products, solvents etc.  Hazardous chemicals must be transported to the solid waste facility by the homeowner. Hazardous chemicals are accepted at the solid waste facility on State Route 18 once per year only, on the first Saturday in May.

A.              Report from Audit Committee (Doyle)  Did not meet this month - no report
B.              Report from Budget and Finance Committee Meeting (Gordon)  Did not meet this month - no report
C.               Report from Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (Peterson) Reviewing new code book
D.              Report from Communications Committee (Mulligan)  Presented report
E.              Report from Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee (Olmstead)  Presented report
F.               Report from Non-Residential Design Guideline Committee (Killmer)  Presented report
G.              Report from the Planning Commission (Killmer)  Did not meet this month - no report
H.              Report from the Town Manager (Graviet)  Presented report