Friday, January 8, 2021
Candidates for Lewes City Council and the Board of Public Works made their case to voters April 15-16 in forums hosted by the Greater Lewes Civic Coalition.
Both elections will be held Saturday, May 8.
Incumbent Rob Morgan and challengers Carolyn Jones and Khalil Saliba are seeking two three-year seats on city council. Deputy Mayor Bonnie Osler is not seeking re-election.
The candidates agreed on many topics, including that a tax increase would be a last-resort option. Regarding Morgan’s recent comments criticizing the police department’s budget, the candidates differed.
Morgan touted his record of working with the police on a daily basis while serving in the U.S Attorney’s Office. He said he is not anti-police.
Bike Delaware supports permanent status
The Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail crossing at Old Orchard Road is among the most dangerous, according to bicyclists. NICK ROTH PHOTO
Nick Roth February 19, 2021
A controversial Delaware law that allows bicyclists to ride through stop signs without stopping if the intersection is clear is set to expire in October.
However, Bike Delaware, a nonprofit group that advocates for safe bicycling, would like to see the Delaware Yield become a permanent law.
James Wilson, executive director of Bike Delaware, says a 60-month study by Delaware State Police found that bicycle-involved crashes at stop sign intersections dropped more than 20 percent after the Delaware Yield was enacted in 2017.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
The menhaden fishing net reel is permitted to remain on the Lewes Historical Society campus while an ordinance is discussed to regulate placement of historical artifacts within the city’s cultural/historical zone.
Mayor and city council unanimously agreed at its Feb. 11 meeting to refer the issue to the historic preservation architectural review commission. Council determined this was the only option, as it does not have authority to overturn the commission’s previous decision that would force the historical society to remove the reel from its property.
“I may like it there and want it there, but it’s not the prescriptive route,” said Councilman Andrew Williams. “I don’t have the power as a councilperson to make the decision on whether it can stay there. We’re trying to find a path forward where maybe the process can be reset.”
Date could be moved back if COVID conditions worsen
As of now, the British Motorcar Show and parade might be held as usual in May. Lewes Mayor and City Council said any event planned prior to April 15 must have a plan approved by the Division of Public Health to go forward. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Nick Roth February 19, 2021
Lewes officials will not issue permits for events planned before April 15, with a few exceptions.
Mayor and city council unanimously voted to set a date in order to provide city hall staff with guidance on how to handle applications for spring and summer events.
SUV was budgeted, but COVID cutbacks delayed acquisition
Nick Roth
The Lewes Police Department will soon add a new vehicle to its fleet.
Mayor and city council gave the OK to Police Chief Tom Spell Dec. 14 to purchase a new Ford Interceptor. A new vehicle had been budgeted for the current fiscal year, but was put on hold in the spring as the city cut expenses due to the unknown financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of the reasons we suspended this purchase is because we weren’t sure if we were going to be reimbursed for a lot of our COVID expenses,” said City Manager Ann Marie Townshend. “We’ve been told we will be through the CARES Act.”