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Tony's Bethany Beach Newsletter
 June 19, 2009
 

TOWN OF BETHANY BEACH                                 
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING                                  
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING                            

FRIDAY, June 19, 2009
TOWN MEETING ROOM
7:30 P.M.
     
I.  OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING  
  A. 
 		 Call to Order and Roll Call
 		 All Council members, Town Manager, Town Clerk and Solicitor Representative were present
  B. Pledge of Allegiance  
  C. Approval of Agenda Approved
  D. Approval of minutes for regular meeting on May 15, 2009  Approved
  E. Approval of Financial Report Approved
  F. Announcements/Recognition of Visitors and Public Comment
       
  The annual Town Council election will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009 here in Town Hall from 12 to 6 p.m.
       
  Anyone wishing to file as a candidate for the election must file an Application for Candidacy at Town Hall no later than 4:00 p.m. on July 28, 2009.
       
  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contractor has just completed a beach replenishment for us and is now in the process of removing their equipment.
       
  Delaware State Senator, George Bunting, recently notified us that the Delaware Army National Guard facility located north of Bethany Beach is seeking $3.365 million in federal funding for a proposed Wind Energy System, which will have a total KW capacity of 750KW utilizing three wind mills and is expected to provide approximately 100% of their annual energy usage.  The target date for construction is no later than October 2012.   
   
  During our Town Council workshop/special meeting held on June 15, 2009 Bluewater Wind presented a proposal to tunnel below Garfield Parkway and Kent Avenue and install a 230KV power line, which would carry electricity from their proposed off shore windmill complexes to the Delmarva Power facility located on Kent Avenue from which it would continue via a power lines right of way to the Indian River Power Plant.  Contact information for Bluewater Wind is shown on the last page of the linked to Powerpoint presentation.
       
  The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has committed $100,000 in resources to study the Pennsylvania Avenue flooding problem.  This is a study that is looking for solutions to the problem of flooding that may include engineering solutions or may ultimately lead the Corps to determine that work on this roadway does not qualify for further Corps action.  One may ask why this issue needs to be studied more; the reason is simple, the Town has found no solution that will prevent North Pennsylvania Avenue from flooding.  The $1.7 to $2.0 million dollars the Town could spend to install a new drainage system will simply drain North Pennsylvania Avenue a little more quickly than the old system BUT only if there is NO tidal flooding.
       
II.  COMMITTEE REPORTS    
  A. Report from Audit Committee (Doyle) No meeting this month thus no report  
  B. Report from Budget and Finance Committee (Gordon) 
  C.   Report from Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (Peterson)  
  D. Report from Communications Committee (Mulligan)
  E.  Report from Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee (Olmstead)
  F. Report from Non-Residential Design Guideline Committee (Killmer) No meeting this month thus no report
  G. Report from the Planning Commission (Killmer)
  H. Report from the Town Manager (Graviet)    
       
  AGENDA PUBLIC DISCUSSION - Public comment about any subject not on the meeting agenda.  Public comment regarding agenda items will be heard after each agenda item is  introduced.
       
III.  OLD BUSINESS    
  There was no old business this month    
       
IV.  NEW BUSINESS    
  A. Discussion Regarding Requirement to Create Cover Sheets for Town Council Agenda Items.  (Olmstead)
  This issue will return on a future agenda as it was thoroughly discussed, but not voted on as the agenda did not state that Council might vote on this item. 
   
  B.







 		 (First Reading)  An Ordinance to Add a New Chapter 144 Entitled “Geothermal Closed Loop Heat Exchange Well Systems” to the Town Code of the Town of Bethany Beach.  (Killmer

 Synopsis  This Ordinance adds a new Chapter 144 to the Town Code of the Town of Bethany Beach for the purpose of regulating the design, installation, construction, and placement of Geothermal Closed Loop Heat Exchange Well Systems (GCLs) within the Town limits.  This Ordinance also implements regulations for permit requirements for installation and construction of GCLs as well as system maintenance requirements. 

As this was a first reading, Council generally does not take a vote at this time.
   
   C.









 
(First Reading)  An Ordinance to amend Chapters 232 (Voting and Voter Registration) and Chapter 233 (Municipal Elections) of the Bethany Beach Town Code to Make Them Consistent with the State Municipal Election Statute (Title 15, Chapter 75 of the Delaware Code)  (Killmer)

 Synopsis  This ordinance amends Chapters 232 and 233, which deal with Voting and Voter Registration and Elections, to bring them in line with the State Municipal Election Statute found in Title 15, Chapter 75 of the State Code of Delaware.  The amendments eliminate superfluous information to streamline the voting and election process for the residents and property owners of the Town.

 As this was a first reading, Council generally does not take a vote at this time.  Additionally, this ordinance was received too late from our Town Solicitor for proper consideration by Council members prior to our meeting.
       
  D. Review and Possible Vote on Report from Communications Committee “Current Practices and Recommendations
  







 		  (Young)

 Synopsis  Council has requested an update of the report, last done by the Committee in 2007.  The report lists current practices related to how the town provides information group as (1) website and electronic communications (2) town Council and Committee Communications (3) other communications.  It provides current practices used for “Communications Incoming” from citizens.  The report provides recommendations in each of those areas.  It also shows the status of recommendations adopted by Council in June 2007 as non-binding guidelines.

Council discussed the report and thanked our Communications Committee for their work.  

       
  E. Review and Possible Vote on Survey Topics (Young)  
  








 
Synopsis  In March 2009, Council authorized the Communications Committee to work on surveys.  In May 2009, Council was in agreement to establish an ad-hoc   committee to develop specific surveys on topics previously approved by the Council.  This agenda item allows Council to make such approvals or assignments to the Committee if desired at this time.

Council listened to the proposal for a survey on recycling and discussed the value of the recommended survey.  As Council assigned our Recycling Committee with several tasks last Monday during our Town Council workshop / special meeting, it was the feeling of the majority that we should wait for the committee response to our questions.  Council then voted to not incur the expense of a Town survey on this subject at this time. 

     
   F.

 		 Consider resolution to reappoint Charles McMullen as Alderman (Graviet)

Council voted to ask the State Legislature to reappoint Mr. McMullen as Alderman.		  
       

ITEMS OF BUSINESS LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING MAY BE REFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.   THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE.  THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ITEMS INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WHICH ARISE AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING. Additional items may be referred to the Council from the committees that meet between the posting of the agenda and the Council meeting.
       
Posted: 06/11/2009