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In the prolonged debate to crack down on junk in Sussex County and pass an updated lot-maintenance ordinance, one key element was overlooked – county council failed to vote on the ordinance.
Even though everyone in attendance at the April 22 meeting thought the measure narrowly passed with a 3-2 vote, that vote was on an amendment to the ordinance. The ordinance was not enacted.
As a result of extensive debate before the vote was taken and the confusion of splitting the ordinance into two parts, no vote was taken on the ordinance itself.
County Administrator David Baker said the measure would be back on the agenda at the Tuesday, May 6 meeting.
The ordinance was broken apart to separate a section containing regulations pertaining to weeds and junk accumulation.
Under the proposed ordinance, no more than two unregistered or inoperable vehicles are permitted on residential lots. The ordinance also contains a stricter fine and enforcement structure than the previous measure.
No one in the county immediately picked up on the oversight. The county issued a press release, and posted it on the county website, indicating the ordinance had passed.
Councilman Dale Dukes cast the crucial vote. He was quick to remind Councilman George Cole, who pushed for passage of the ordinance, that he supported the measure.
“You better be nice to me,” Dukes joked, as he looked at Cole.
Cole just threw his hands in the air.
At least one person realized the oversight and was prepared to take the council to task at the end of the meeting when the public is permitted to make comments.
Although Baker beat him to the punch, Dan Kramer of Greenwood still got in a few jabs.
He blamed county attorney James Griffin for not picking up on the missing vote.
“Why are we paying an attorney?” he asked. “You should dock his pay for a month. It’s pathetic that you have to come back and do this.” Griffin answered Kramer with an apology. “We are all human and we all make mistakes,” he said. “I should have caught it and didn’t. I apologize.”
Baker said the oversight was not discovered until the day after the meeting and a review of the meeting’s audio was made.
Contact Ron MacArthur at ronm@capegazette.com
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