ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

This report is a summary of all administrative and public works activities within the Town during November that were not reported previously.  Some pending items are also included in this report    

Major Items

Ø      Drainage Issues

• Town Administrative Official Charles McMullen and I met to discuss the upcoming Hudson Avenue and West View drainage projects. 
• Easement letters were sent to the appropriate property owners for the Hudson Avenue drainage project. 

Ø      Election

• Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Elections Bill Olsen and Accounts Receivable Clerk Betty Jane Keen continue work on the Town’s election procedures.  The members and alternates of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader, Betty Jane Keen, Town Clerk Marie Thomas, and I will meet on Monday, December 10^th. 

Ø      Financial

• The Long Range Financial Planning Committee held its first meeting on November 13^th  and will meet again on December 11^th.  
• Work continues on the FY 09 budget.
• I attended a meeting of the Delaware League Founders’ Insurance Trust for a presentation on the Delaware League of Local Governments’ Workers Compensation Program.  An update will be given during the meeting.   

Ø      Historical Committee

• The Historical Committee met on November 13^th and will meet again on December 11^th.

• The John West Park was decorated for the holiday season. 
• Tree maintenance has begun at the Town Park in County Estates as part of a tree maintenance program for which the Town Manager procured a grant.
• Carols in the Park will be held in the John West Park on December 14^th.

Ø      Public Safety Building

• I met with representatives of Willlow Construction and have released the retainage held for final payment.   

Ø      Town Hall

• The Town Hall has been decorated for the holiday season. 
• The irrigation system was installed.   

Ø      Water System

• Over 300 completed surveys concerning income eligibility for CDBG funds have been received.  The information will be transmitted to the Sussex County Community Development and Housing Division in December. 
• A water update will be given during the meeting.   

Miscellaneous

¨      Mayor and Mrs. Meredith; Councilmen Amendt, Wichmann, and Nippes,

      and I attended the November SCAT dinner meeting.

¨      Mayor Meredith and I attended the SCAT Steering Committee meeting.

¨      Mayor Meredith and I attended a luncheon presentation on the new

      Beebe health campus in Clarksville; construction will begin in early 2008.

¨      Mayor Meredith, Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann, and I attended the

      Delaware League of Government’s dinner meeting. 

¨      I attended DelDOT’s Transportation Education, Research and Security

       Forum.

¨      The Town Administrative Official and Finance Director attended a course

       in Asset Management Program Basics as part of the requirements for the

       water system.  

¨      The Town Administrative Official met with a representative of Kercher

       Engineering as part of the Capital Assessment Program.

¨      The Town Administrative Official attended a meeting of the Lower

      Delaware and Maryland Building Officials’ Association. 

¨      The Town Administrative Official  met with a representative of Kercher

      Engineering as part of the Capital Assessment Program

¨      The Town’s Holiday Council/Staff Luncheon will be held on

      December 20^th. 

Administrative Department

¨      Rental tax forms and payments are still being received and processed by

      the Town Administrative Official and members of the Finance

      Department.  The Town Administrative Official has done an outstanding

      job of collecting this new tax; the Town has collected over $58,000 in

      revenue from it.   

¨      The Town will go to settlement on the property located at 20 West

      Avenue on December 14^th.   

¨      The Town Manager and Town Clerk prepared material for and attended

       the Regular Town Council Meeting and the Town Council Work Session.    

¨      The Town Administrative Official prepared material for and attended the

       Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.

¨      The Town Administrative Official continues to issue building permits and

      Certificates of Compliance.

¨      The Town Administrative Official continues his frequent meetings with

       surveyors, engineers, developers, contractors, applicants, and attorneys in

       an effort to discuss and clarify Code requirements as they pertain to

       Board of  Adjustment and Planning and Zoning applications, building and

       sign permit applications, and other matters of importance to the Town.  

¨      The Town Administrative Official made many site visits throughout the

      Town to inspect road and drainage conditions and violations of the Town

      Code.        

¨      The Town Administrative Official sent violation letters to property owners

       who did not comply with Town regulations, property owners who did not

       have rental licenses, and business owners who did not have licenses to

      operate in the Town. 

¨      The Town Administrative Official continues to develop policies,

       procedures, and forms to streamline operations within his department.