City officials confident event can be held safely
Spectators enjoy the Lewes fireworks from the Savannah Road drawbridge in 2019, the last time the event was held. NICK ROTH PHOTO
Nick Roth
Fourth of July fireworks are returning to Lewes Beach this summer.
Lewes Mayor and City Council unanimously voted May 17 to move ahead with the event, which is slated for the evening of Sunday, July 4. The 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This will be a tremendously positive thing for the community,” said Mayor Ted Becker.
The move comes less than a week after Rehoboth Beach officials decided to bring back its annual Fourth of July fireworks festivities Saturday, July 3.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Lewes Mayor and City Council has authorized Police Chief Tom Spell to expand his police force by two officers.
The department has had 13 officers or fewer since 1999; council’s action allows expansion to as many as 15 officers.
“We strive and desire to be staffed with a minimum of two on-duty patrol officers per shift so we can adequately service and protect our citizens, businesses and visitors,” said Spell, who has been chief for five years. “Over the past several years, we haven’t met this standard.”
Lewes is currently operating with 10 police officers, as there are two vacancies and one officer is on medical leave. By authorizing the chief to expand his force, council is granting permission to the chief to hire four new officers.
Lewes gets to work on 2021-22 budget
Lewes Mayor and City Council has begun to work on the 2021-22 budget. NICK ROTH PHOTO
Nick Roth February 12, 2021
After a year unlike any other, Lewes Mayor and City Council has started to work on the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins April 1.
The $6.5 million balanced budget estimates a revenue decline of 3 percent in part because of an expected lower take from parking meters due to the ongoing pandemic.
Despite the revenue drop, City Manager Ann Marie Townshend has asked city council for several staffing changes. The city has already approved promoting the parking enforcement supervisor from part time to full time. She is also requesting the city hire two additional parking enforcement officers to help with increased enforcement along the residential streets of Lewes Beach. Police Chief Tom Spell requested a staff increase of one officer, and the maintenance department is seeking additional staff.
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.”