Bethany council funds additional lifeguards

In a low-key meeting that lasted less than 45 minutes, Bethany Beach Town Council members on Jan. 15 voted unanimously to amend the current year’s budget to pay for additional lifeguard staffing last summer and to replace the truck driven by the town’s building inspector.

Some $37,000 in contingency funds were allocated for the two changes to the budget – $25,000 for the additional lifeguard staffing, and $12,000 for the truck.

Council members also voted unanimously to make a minor change to the town’s schedule of fees, to add a different method for calculating building permit fees to reflect actual construction costs.

The calculation methods will make use of the International Code Council’s cost computation guidelines, with the addition of the words “if applicable.” The change was designed to resolve concerns expressed by some council members during the adoption of the existing schedule of fees.

There was slightly more controversy over the adoption of a fund balance policy statement for the town, with Councilman Joseph Healy objecting to the move on the grounds that he feels the town needs a more comprehensive policy that represents its debt, as well as its reserves.

Council Secretary/Treasurer Jack Gordon said the policy had been developed at the request of the council and he felt it shouldn’t be included with any other policies out of concern that doing so would “muddy the waters” as to what the council had wanted.

Mayor Tony McClenny noted language in the statement that it “seeks to balance between current and future property owners,” saying he particularly liked that aspect of what was being adopted.

The policy was adopted last Jan. 15 on a 6-1 vote, with Healy opposed.

Number of parking passes could be reduced in 2010

With only a single citizen present for the council meeting, there was no comment made on what might have been a controversial topic for some: the potential reduction in the number of available parking permits for residential property owners, from three to two.

The council on Jan. 15 heard a first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 227, Section 3, which would do just that, if passed.

The notion came about last year as council and committee members discussed the lack of available parking in the town and ways in which it might better be able to assure the most parking spaces might be kept available.

The seasonal passes, which permit free parking on most side streets east of Route 1 and parts of Atlantic and Pennsylvania avenues during the summer’s metered-parking period, are free for the first permit and cost $25 and $50, respectively, for the second and third.

All of the permits must be requested by the property owner.

Rumors of a “black market” for the passes among residents of nearby towns have persisted for years, combining with concerns about owners using the permit spaces in lieu of parking in their own driveways and general concerns about the amount of parking available, leading to the proposed ordinance.

The council could adopt the ordinance as soon as its February meeting, potentially putting the change in place in time for the 2010 summer season.