ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

JANUARY 2008

This report is a summary of all administrative and public works activities within the Town during the month of December 2007 that were not reported previously.  Some pending items are also included in this report    

Major Items

Ø      Drainage Issues

• The Hudson Avenue Drainage Project has gone out to bid.  A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on January 3^rd.  Bids must be received by 2 p.m. on January 24^th.   

Ø      Election

• The members and alternates of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader, Betty Jane Keen, and I met on December 17^th to discuss possible revision of the Town’s election procedures to conform to the new State election law.
• 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. 

Ø      Financial

• The Long Range Financial Planning Committee met on December 11^th, and work continues on the FY 09 budget.
• Copies of the new Reimbursable Business Expenses Policy that was distributed to Town staff, and the updated Travel and Expense Report form are enclosed.  A discussion of the application of the new policy to Town Council members will be covered during the meeting.   

Ø      Historical Committee

• The Historical Committee met on December 11^th.  An update of the Committee’s activities will be given later in the meeting.

Ø      John West and Country Estate Parks

• The Carols in the Park program was a great success, and the Town wants to thank Betty Jane Keen for her hard work on this program. 
• The Town Administrative Official purchased and members of the DPW staff planted and decorated an evergreen tree in the John West Park.  This tree, which will now serve as the Town’s official Christmas tree, was ceremoniously lit for the first time during the Carols in the Park program.   

Ø      Water System

• The Town settled on the USDA loan on December 21^st, and a discussion of this transaction will be covered during the financial report. 
• Over 300 completed surveys concerning income eligibility for CDBG funds were received and transmitted to the Sussex County Community Development and Housing Division for evaluation and processing. 
• A water update will be given during the meeting. 

Miscellaneous

¨      Mayor and Mrs. Meredith; Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann and their

       wives, Roy Thomas, Richard Nippes, and I attended the December

       SCAT dinner meeting.

¨      Mayor Meredith attended the SCAT Steering Committee meeting.

¨      Mayor Meredith and I attended the Southern Delaware Tourism Annual

      Awards Luncheon.

¨      Town Administrative Official McMullen and I attended the Sussex County

       Mitigation Workshop.

¨      I attended a Sussex County Recycling Information meeting.

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

       December 20^th. 

Administrative Department

¨      The Town settled 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.   

¨      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. 

Department of Public Works  

¨      DPW personnel continue to maintain the Town’s parks. 

¨      DPW personnel worked diligently to ensure that the decorations

      throughout the Town stayed in excellent condition   

¨       DPW staff members continue to resolve verbal and written complaints

       and requests for service that have been forwarded from the administrative

       staff. 

                                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                                   Conway Gregory  

                                            Town Manager

Enclosures