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Tony's Bethany Beach Newsletter
June 18, 2010
Town Council Regular Monthly Meeting
       
I.  OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING      
    A. Call to Order and Roll Call - All Council members and Town Manager were present
    B. Pledge of Allegiance      
    C. Approval of the Agenda   Approved
    D. Approval of minutes of regular meeting held May 21, 2010 Approved
    E. Approval of minutes of executive session held on May 24, 2010 Approved
    F. Approval of minutes of special meeting/workshop held on May 24, 2010 Approved
    G. Approval of Financial Report Approved
    H. Announcements/Recognition of Visitors and Public Comment    
       
  The date of our next Town Council election is September 11, 2010.
Anyone wishing to file as a candidate for the election, must file an application for candidacy in the Bethany Beach Town Hall no later than 4:00 p.m. on July 27, 2010.		  
     
  When the town purchased the property on the northwest corner of the intersection at Rt 1 and Rt 26 part of the purchase agreement was that the Town would install a memorial plaque on the property.  The plaque is to be dedicated to the residents of the Town and its environs who have served in the United States Military on active duty outside the continental United States.  The Town's environs shall include that area bounded by the Indian River on the north, Route 54 on the south, Route 113 on the west, and the Atlantic on the east. 

Our public works department has ordered a stone on which a bronze plaque will be installed in honor of those listed above.  		 
     
  Public comment was requested on any subject that was not on the agenda.  Comments regarding agenda items are requested during the discussion of old and/or new business.  
           
II.  REPORTS OF MEMBERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES      
    A. Report from Audit Committee (Doyle)     No meeting/report
    B. Report from Budget and Finance Committee Meeting (Gordon) No meeting/report
    C. Report from Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (Peterson) Verbal report
    D. Report from Communications Committee (Hardiman) Written report
    E. Report from Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee (Olmstead) Verbal report
    F. Report from Non-Residential Design Guideline Committee (Killmer) No meeting/report
    G. Report from Planning Commission (Killmer)     Verbal report
    H. Report from Ad Hoc Recycling Committee (Dorfman)   No meeting/report
    I. Report from Town Manager (Graviet)     Verbal report
           
  AGENDA PUBLIC DISCUSSION - Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items is heard after each agenda item is introduced.
           
III.  OLD BUSINESS      
  We had no old business this month      
       
IV.    NEW BUSINESS      
       
    A.





 		 Appointment of Election Officer (McClenny)
Lonnie Moore was nominated and confirmed as an Election Officer.

 The Board of Elections now consist of:  Phil Rossi, Inspector, Jane Fowler, Judge and Fulton Loppatto, Judge.

The Election Officers now consist of:  Chris Aumiller,  Cathy Davis, Lonnie Moore, Charles McMullen, Susan Street and Joan Thomas.
     
    B.







 		 Appointment of Ad Hoc Survey Committee (McClenny)
Rosemary Hardiman, Chairperson of the Communications Committee requested that Town Council approve an Ad Hoc Survey Committee.  The committee was requested to create a "white paper" describing the survey the committee wishes to recommend to Council.  Said survey is anticipated to assist in determining what types of businesses residents, tourists and property owners would like in Bethany Beach.  Upon future presentation of the "white paper" to Council, Council would be asked for approval of the project as described in the "white paper".  All survey questions must be approved by Council prior to initiating the survey.  Council approved the formation of the committee and Larry Fishel (Chairperson), Sherwin Weinstock, and Lew Killmer were nominated and confirmed as members of the committee.
     
    C.
 		 Discussion, consideration and possible vote on Resolution to Reappoint Harvey Leighty as Assistant Alderman for a two-year term.  (McClenny)  Passed
   
    D.



 
Discussion, Consideration and Possible Vote on An Ordinance to Amend Section 245-2 (“Definitions & Word Usage” – “Height, Building Or Structure”) And The “Table Of Dimensional Requirements” To Delete Language Which Would Permit Any Residential Structure In The R-1 District Having A Minimum Roof Pitch Of 7/12 For At Least 60% Of The Roof Area To Have A Maximum Height Of 35 Feet Measured From Grade, Provided That Such Structure Does Not Contain More Than Three Floors Of HVAC-Controlled Living Space. (Killmer)  Passed
  SYNOPSIS

This ordinance amends the Bethany Beach Zoning Code to formally repeal Ordinance No. 412 (which had amended the Town Zoning Ordinance to allow any residential structure in the R-1 Zoning District having a minimum 7/12 roof pitch for at least 60% of the roof area to have a maximum height of 35 feet measured from grade, provided that such structure does not contain more than three floors of HVAC-controlled living space). Although the Council purported to repeal Ordinance 412 on October 20th, 2006, due to the unusual manner in which the proposed action was presented to Council, the action Council took at that time failed to comply with the state zoning enabling statute and provisions of the Town Code. This ordinance complies with those requirements and prospectively removes any potential challenge to the effectiveness of that amendment. This ordinance will also insure that the amendment appears as part of the official Town Code. * Note - (A public hearing for this item is scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. on June 18, 2010.)
   
    E.

 		 (First Reading) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 45 (Ordinance, Adoption of) of the Bethany Beach Town Code to Clarify Procedures for Adopting, Amending or Repealing Ordinances in Chapter 245, Zoning or the Town Zoning Map. (Killmer)
  Council first voted by super majority to address this issue without a second reading.  Passed
   
    F.
 		 Discussion, Consideration and Possible Vote on Contract Submitted by Deschamps Mat Systems, Inc. for the Purchase of Mobi-Mat Recreational Path Kits for Beach Crossovers for the amount of $89,988 (Gordon)  Passed
   
    G.
 		 Discussion, Consideration and Possible Vote to Supplement the Budget for the Purchase of Mobi-Mat Recreational Path Kits (Gordon)  Passed
   
    H.


 		 Discussion, Consideration and Possible Vote on the Establishment of a Memorial to Honor Henry Clay Drexler, Recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor (Young)  Passed 
A motion was made and passed to refer the memorial to our Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee for their recommendation to Council.
  Synopsis

Lewis Drexler, Sr., a member of a Pittsburgh millionaire family, came to Bethany Beach in 1904 with his wife, Elizabeth and two sons, Louis, Jr., born in 1899 and Henry Clay, born in 1902, both in Braddock, PA.  He built a home on the beach at the north end of Campbell Blvd.  The house, with some of its porches removed, now sits on the northeast corner of Campbell & Atlantic Avenue.  In 1908, Louis Drexler was elected to the DE State Senate.

Both sons graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy - Louis, in 1923 and Henry Clay, in 1924.  Henry Clay was killed on Oct. 24, 1924, in an explosion during a peacetime maneuver on board the U.S. Trenton, while attempting to save the lives of his comrades.  He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor & the Navy Cross. 

Louis, Jr. continued his career in the Navy, married, & had two sons.  The eldest, Louis III, died at the age of sixteen.  The younger son, Henry Clay, lives in Fl.  Louis, Jr. lost his life aboard the U.S.S. Mount McKinley, of which he was captain, on May 12, 1945, during the Okinawa campaign of WWII.  The U.S.S. Drexler, christened in honor of Henry Clay in 1944, was also lost in the same campaign.  The brothers are buried side by side, in Arlington National Cemetery. 

PA claimed Henry Clay Drexler as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, as he was born there.  However, through the efforts of Senator George Bunting and others, PA has agreed to share this honor with DE.

There are only fourteen Congressional Medal of Honor winners in the state of DE, & none in Sussex County.  Therefore, Bethany Beach should be proud to claim Henry Clay Drexler as a resident, & establish a memorial in his honor.
   
  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: 01/06/2010    
  Reposted 06/11/2010