News Briefs 8/23/24
Rehoboth BoA hearing Aug. 26
The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment will meet at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for a hearing on multiple variance requests at 215 Philadelphia St. The applicant is looking to make major renovations to the property, including removal of the existing two-story main duplex dwelling unit and garage apartment, improvements to the existing one-story cottage, and construction of a new single-family main dwelling unit. The applicant will need variances related to demolitions, lot area per dwelling or dwelling unit, number of single-family detached dwellings, rear yards and side yards.
A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. Only in-person attendees may make comments.
For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.
Rehoboth shade tree meeting canceled
A Rehoboth Beach Parks & Shade Tree Commission meeting set for 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 26, has been canceled due to a lack of agenda items, according to a city notice.
For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.
Lewes environmental group to meet
The Lewes Planning Commission’s Environmental Subcommittee will meet at 1 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, at city hall.
The agenda includes discussion regarding potential updates to existing lighting regulations.
Dewey pedestrian safety survey open
Dewey Beach commissioners are currently evaluating pedestrian safety concerns, and town leaders are looking for public input.
An online survey is now available at townofdeweybeach.com/PedestrianSafetySurvey. All responses will be shared with the town manager and town council, and discussed at future commissioner meetings.
Former congressman endorses McGuiness
Kathy McGuiness, a Democratic candidate for the Delaware General Assembly’s 14th Representative District seat, announced the endorsement of former Congressman Tony Coelho Aug. 20 in Rehoboth Beach. Coelho represented California’s 15th Congressional District for 10 years. He has been visiting Rehoboth Beach since 1965 and has been a full-time city resident for more than a decade. As the principal author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he is a passionate advocate for the disabled community.
“I strongly believe that Kathy understands the needs of the disabled population in Delaware and will be an effective leader for them in Dover come November,” Coelho said in his endorsement. “She has the experience and tenacity to deliver results for the disabled community in Delaware. That is why Kathy has my full support in September’s Democratic primary.”
“I am very proud to have Congressman Coelho’s support and greatly appreciate his kind words. It is incredibly important that we continue to speak up for the disabled community in Delaware. I will do everything I can to be their advocate in Dover,” said McGuiness.
Rehoboth awards annual street paving, water main contract
During a commissioner meeting Aug. 16, Rehoboth Beach commissioners awarded a contract worth about $638,000 to Middletown-based Mumford and Miller for the city’s annual street paving and water main replacement program.
The city had budgeted $500,000 for paving and $350,000 for water main replacement.Paving will occur on First Street between Baltimore and Virginia avenues. The ocean block of Maryland Avenue will also be repaved after its water main is replaced.
During a commissioner workshop Aug. 5, Public Works Director Henry Matlosz said the size of the water main will be increasing from four inches to eight inches.
For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.
Special education for prisoners lawsuit gets federal support
A lawsuit filed by the Community Legal Aid Society Inc. alleging Delaware has systemically failed to provide special education services to incarcerated students with disabilities in violation of federal and state law has received support from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The department filed a statement of interest to assist in the case, including issues surrounding CLASI’s motion for preliminary injunction requiring the Delaware Department of Education and its Adult and Prison Education Resources Workgroup to immediately remedy their ongoing failures, comply with the law, and develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students with disabilities receive an appropriate public education while they are involved with the criminal justice system.
Saunders reappointed to Rehoboth BoA
Resident property owner Mark Saunders was unanimously reappointed to the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment during a special commissioner meeting Aug. 20.
Mayor Stan Mills said Saunders has been on the board for two years, but he stepped down because the city charter says candidates for commissioner cannot serve on the board. Saunders was one of four candidates in the city’s 2024 municipal election, but not one of the two winners.
Saunders has been on the board for two years; his term expires in September 2026, and his reappointment means he can participate in the Monday, Aug. 26 board of adjustment meeting.
