Williams, Ritzert officially join Lewes council
Andrew Williams and Tim Ritzert were sworn in as Lewes councilmen Aug. 10 at city hall.
The swearing-in ceremony was preceded by a brief recognition of outgoing Deputy Mayor Fred Beaufait and Councilman Dennis Reardon.
“We thank you both for your service and all the things that you have done,” said Mayor Ted Becker. “As anyone who’s been a member of city council knows, this is not a once-a-month job. It’s frequently a very long week with many meetings. I know both of you worked hard and diligently to make sure that the city has been in good hands.”
Reardon was elected to council in 2013. He said it was an honor and privilege to serve the city.
“I’m very proud of what city council accomplished during the seven-year period of time,” he said. “And it’s not just me, it’s the whole group. I thank the citizens and I wish everyone well going forward.”
Beaufait joined council in 2011. He thanked his wife Lois for allowing him to serve. He also thanked city staff for their help when council struggled with difficult issues.
“I feel very good about the things that we accomplished during my nine years,” he said. “It was a productive and rewarding nine years, and it was a privilege to serve the people of Lewes.”
At the regular meeting a few hours later, council positions were reorganized. Bonnie Osler, the second-longest serving member of council behind Becker, is the new deputy mayor. She previously served as treasurer. Rob Morgan was promoted to council secretary, while Williams was appointed to the treasurer role.
Committee appointments
Beach parking committee: Morgan and Ritzert
Downtown parking committee: Becker and Williams
Finance committee: Osler and Williams
Bicycle and pedestrian committee: Ritzert and Williams
Greenways and trails: Ritzert
Historic preservation architectural review commission: Osler
Parks and recreation commission: Williams
Planning commission: Becker and Osler
Police review ad hoc committee: Morgan and Osler
Public art committee: Williams
Mitigation planning team: Becker and Morgan
Lewes African American Heritage Commission: Morgan
Traffic safety committee: Ritzert and Williams
Historic byways committee: Ritzert
Liaison to Sussex County: Ritzert and Williams
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
