CORRECTION: Sussex County Council Approves Policy on Recognition Documents & Extension for Reassessment Project
The Sussex County Council was given an update on the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation by Executive Director, Patti Grimes which included information on the expansion of the Selbyville area stage and programs.
Council President Mike Vincent revisited a discussion on Tributes, Resolutions and Proclamations that was deferred at the April 24th meeting. With a full council present Vincent explained that the Council needed to establish a set of standards and process for the issuance of documents of recognition that are issued by the Council. He reviewed a new policy drafted by county staff and the legal team. This will create a tier system which reflects the magnitude and importance of each form of recognition.
Tier 1 is reserved for Proclamations for high public recognition of extraordinary events. Proclamations will be issued by the County Council and approved during a Council meeting.
Tier 2 is reserved for Tributes for noteworthy events. Tributes will be a certificate-style document issued by the County with the official Seal and signed by the individual Council member. Tributes do not require County Council approval. Staff will process Tributes for Council members upon request. An example of the new Tribute Template is attached for your review.
In addition, Memoriams honoring the deceased will be considered a Tier 2 document and issued upon request. Memoriams will utilize the document form the Council has historically used for these occasions.
Tier 3 is a new style of recognition that comes in the form of a congratulatory letter drafted by each Council member. A district-specific cardstock stationary will be issued to each member for their sole discretion of use. (information from the SCC Public Packet)
The new policy also brings some changes to the Rules of Procedure
Rule 4A. – Consent Agenda
4A.1 The County Administrator or any member of the County Council may propose items
only Wastewater Agreementsto be considered on an agenda for the inclusion on a Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda shall list the matters so included and a brief description of each.
Rule 11A – Proclamations, Tributes, and Memoriams
11A.1 All requests for Sussex County proclamations, tributes, and memoriams recognizing exemplary occasions or persons shall be issued in accordance with the County Council Policy for the Issuance of Proclamations, Tributes, and Memoriams. (information from the SCC Public Packet / from the County Rules of Procedure)
CORRECTION: The Council voted 4 to 1 to approve the new policy and 4 to 1 to approve the amended Rules of Procedure. The vote against was made by Councilwoman Cindy Green. Councilman Mark Schaeffer did vote to approve the new policy and the amended Rules of Procedure.
Sussex County Director of Assessment, Chris Keller, appeared before the Council to request an amendment to the Tyler Tech Contract for the reassessment project. He told the council that data collection is not on track to meet thee original completion deadline of February 15, 2024. They said that Tyler Tech has had a higher-than-expected staff turnover and with such a large county and limited staffing – it’s taking longer to do the needed work. The Council approved an extension of a year – to February 15, 2025, which will still be in time for tax bills to be issued in the late summer and ahead of the annual September 30th tax payment deadline.
The Council revisited three related items in Old Business. One was an ordinance amendment to the future land use map element of the comprehensive plan in relation to a parcel of land next to the Love Creek Elementary School west of Rehoboth Beach. Also included are Change of Zone and Conditional Use applications for that property up to 80 housing units. The Council approved the change in the map with a 4 to 1 vote – Councilman John Rieley voted against it citing density as an issue. The Change of Zone No. 1949 was defeated in a 3 to 2 vote and Conditional Use No. 2304 was defeated with a unanimous no vote.
County Director of Human Resources, Karen Brewington announced the Second Quarter Employee Shining Star Awards. She told the Council there were 21 submissions and two winners were chosen – Rachel Noguera and Bernadette Hemingway – who both work at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach. They are now eligible for the Employee of the Year award, which will be given later this year.
The Sussex County Council is scheduled to meet next Tuesday in the County Administration offices on The Circle in Georgetown.
