Lewes, BPW begin negotiations to end feud

Officials from the Lewes Board of Public Works and City of Lewes have begun negotiations to end their years-long dispute.

Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, and Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, hosted a private meeting June 10 with elected officials from both bodies to work toward resolution. Representing Lewes at the meeting were Mayor Ted Becker and Councilman Dennis Reardon. President Pres Lee and board member Tom Panetta attended for the BPW.

“Off the bat, [Lopez and Smyk] stated that there will be no introduction of a charter change to the General Assembly this year,” Lee said while recapping the conversation during the BPW’s June 24 regular meeting. The General Assembly session ended June 30.

The legislators also indicated that any charter change that comes forward in the next year would have to be a joint charter change from both the city and the BPW, Lee said.

“They went on to say that any charter change they will consider will not include the elimination of the the BPW’s elected board,” Lee said.

At the meeting, Lee said, the BPW made an offer to end the dispute immediately. The compromise, he said, would give the city the power to approve or disapprove any expansion of utilities outside the municipal boundaries. The offer would also add the power to sue or be sued to the BPW’s charter.

“Frankly, we thought it should close out the argument between us and the disagreement,” Lee said.

A lawsuit brought by the BPW against the city last July was dismissed earlier this year after the judge determined the BPW does not have the ability to sue or be sued.

The city declined the offer, Lee said, because it is still seeking control of the BPW.

“So it was agreed that we would start negotiations,” Lee said.

Negotiations will begin after the city’s July 18 election, in which Reardon is seeking re-election.

Jabs thrown

In hopes of relieving tension between the city and BPW, Lee said, he asked General Manager Darrin Gordon to remove any letters or documents related to the feud from the BPW’s website. Lee asked the city to do the same, but it did not happen.

A few days later, the city mailed a letter to all residents, offering its version of the BPW situation. The letter had already been prepared and had been publicly available on the city’s website for several weeks. 

Lee described the letter as “very creative, but not very accurate.”

“There are many things in this letter that are just hogwash,” Lee said.

Lee highlighted several points of the city’s letter he believed to be misleading or false.

Becker, an ex officio member of the BPW, tried to stop Lee from airing their differences in a public setting, but Lee continued. Becker briefly responded to Lee’s remarks, but chose not to debate every point.

“It’s a total disrespect for the discussion we sat down and had with Rep. Smyk and Sen. Lopez,” Becker said. “I hope we can get back to the table, and have a sane and logical conversation about where we are.”