[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6217358,"mediaKeyId","3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a","parentId",3646073,"title","Georgetown council adopts future land use change for 21.92-acre Sussex County parcel","audioSeconds",389,"startMs",2031000,"endMs",2420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a&start=2031&end=2420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a/thumbnail_2031000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217358/Georgetown/Sussex-County/Delaware/Georgetown-council-adopts-future-land-use-change-for-2192-acre-Sussex-County-parcel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217358-42ea52da407987367902f871cb1a688b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178758&Signature=VoJa2u92VZKg4cMeqKKyVAKrvy9Yv4j1CV17z6I1mnoJaTnFq91bJIStJ6QZYLY0PC1vez0qLCYumVizP~cdjYR70QhNQQ2eEV99H4s09oacCCDq0Gu~e7e9HW8-wgsJe3KmoE0mrHaval3r8MwNDOTTPi3-ljL7bcklopLdHxCFDqjGQI2IkyuIiBphhdcgBcGHv21tAaJY7N-jnhrQxHN17TDIDMWMbowslTRuzJkHUYf~udFHIthXOZn16-NBvvA2Z-7W-VJatNDuBuowbsZecD5Xvp9UpDwiBGFlNMQrOfFJloiHpWwFYJegdWuSqP8H2UUjpCq4ETDLmA2ttA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Georgetown","date","2025-05-28T12:21:20Z","article","At its May 27 meeting the Georgetown Town Council adopted Ordinance 2025-04, changing the comprehensive future land use designation of a 21.92-acre Sussex County tax parcel (map parcel 135-14.87) from single-family residential to mixed residential.

The council’s action followed review and recommendation by the town planning commission and a publicly advertised hearing held by the planning commission on Feb. 19, 2025, and by the town council on April 28, 2025. “The town council finds the proposed designation is compatible with the Town of Georgetown comprehensive plan,” the ordinance text states.

Councilmember Christine Malone moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-04; Councilmember Eric seconded. The council conducted a roll-call vote: Ward 1 — aye; Ward 2 — aye; Ward 3 — aye; Ward 4 — no; mayor — aye, producing a 4–1 vote to adopt.

A council member representing Ward 2 argued in favor of the change, saying the re-designation would support diverse housing types and preserve historic community character at the northern entrance to town. “If you look around us … we have cookie-cutter buildings with cookie-cutter people,” the Ward 2 councilmember said, and added that mixed residential development would provide more ownership opportunities and preserve the town’s historic and diverse neighborhoods.

The ordinance became effective immediately upon adoption by a majority of council members as provided in the ordinance text.

Why this matters: the change alters the town’s future land use framework for a named parcel and could affect the type and density of development allowed there. The planning commission and council judged the amendment compatible with surrounding uses and the comprehensive plan.

Next steps: developers and property owners seeking projects consistent with the mixed-residence designation will follow the town’s site plan and permitting processes; any specific proposals would return to the planning commission and council as required by town code.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Georgetown May 27, 2025 Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","On May 27 the Georgetown Town Council adopted Ordinance 2025-04, amending the town’s comprehensive plan future land use map to re-designate a 21.92-acre Sussex County parcel from single-family residential to mixed residential by a 4-1 vote.","taxTitle","Georgetown, Sussex County, Delaware","taxId",68855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217362,"Georgetown holds first reading of absentee-voter ordinance to align local rules with state law",423,1612000,2035000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a&start=1612&end=2035","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a/thumbnail_1612000.jpg","/articles/6217362/Georgetown/Sussex-County/Delaware/Georgetown-holds-first-reading-of-absentee-voter-ordinance-to-align-local-rules-with-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217362-f6520a98e51e484f1d6103c5a904cee6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178758&Signature=hjnb7aUM71YHO86qP3hLpByJLJigq0rfTi05sVBzB7psrFrDMllIFh221mVsUNMpqYZ-jKNan-iedBWL~M6ChPMOEbKk2bfvIF2KJB17kYBw7TRhyf0O0k9h-Rasxnj27v1oOkMgZ3PgiayLNUrj50hmg2AiNQftUqlR~y2XvCMpdmQCYK1lVCsI0oghKxT9vEhmsfDCua5kGxKhtyTklQY7o1~D1y9YQEAZQhPTxbv26Zxs8FJ0dhMobUzyS9R~HHkLlDh9TNf1DuGbjMBrfyYHZeA9pgk7y25S-dsOLK6ErJaTrJYoYC6ZiGKrurBTleNriDy-a6CroC2nFZ61kA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On May 27 the Georgetown Town Council held the first reading of Ordinance 2025-05, which would update the town’s absentee-voting and voter-registration language to align with Delaware law and the state Department of Elections.

“Any qualified voter of the town of Georgetown who shall be unable to appear to cast his or her ballot on the day of the annual municipal election … or any other reason permissible under Delaware law regarding absentee voting, shall be entitled to cast an absentee ballot,” Gene, the meeting presenter, read during the ordinance summary. The ordinance also proposes updates to affidavit and recordkeeping language, including changing the “register of absentee votes” to a “file of absentee votes” and adding entries required by 15 Del. C. §75xx to prevent fraud and allow tracing and detection.

The measure modifies several town code sections cited by the presenter (transcribed as section 139-1; section 39-4; and Section 309-16 on voter registration) and clarifies that the town will continue to use the state Department of Elections rolls while allowing a town resident to establish eligibility locally under charter criteria.

Judson Malone, a Georgetown resident, testified in support. “This is a technical ordinance correcting language … we do need our information about who's voting to be accurate,” he said, and urged the council to favor measures that encourage participation rather than restrict it. Malone also noted potential ambiguities between the town charter and state law and said the ordinance should clarify consistency between them.

The council voted to keep the ordinance open for a second reading and public comment for 14 days.

Why this matters: the ordinance would clarify who may cast an absentee ballot in Georgetown municipal elections, the form of affidavit required, and how absentee ballots are recorded—issues that affect voter access and the town’s election administration.

The council did not adopt the ordinance at first reading; a second reading and adoption will be scheduled after the 14-day comment period.","At its May 27 meeting the Georgetown Town Council opened first reading of Ordinance 2025-05 to amend local absentee voting and voter registration language to conform procedures with Delaware law and the state Department of Elections.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217367,"Georgetown will keep school resource officer as police report rising incidents and recruitment shortfalls",788,2752000,3540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a&start=2752&end=3540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646073-96743e65b22d89f322815deabecf062a/thumbnail_2752000.jpg","/articles/6217367/Georgetown/Sussex-County/Delaware/Georgetown-will-keep-school-resource-officer-as-police-report-rising-incidents-and-recruitment-shortfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217367-be09acfeb287c42488a35705c5171cf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178758&Signature=X~76iiIx8aHW10ZD181MQa~krROuCdEX1MFkSZSZJ-T3VgeIZiThWmbSg9PENEOusmL95IKuXKqWhfYOI8AyH~IBACj6p-actO4McEd0Y0IO9Fc2Y4X0nFTVDLb8NOo2JWee4ifP39~FIjvsj3gQw5PYGuTd~nPVbGXEtrHwZ4Y4oYIwsjyFks7HIBTz23CjeER5PlEGsemCX2xVe9~Ga1UQkdkdKIKg1OLjPKZWAq6Xe4wiGcuWbDuwiSdr4F6gzKSxeVRG6-7fhfw8iAT93Gj8sCpsnax-HjfZEsjEzgSbpWkKwEZR8AlHZRO6Jr3G0PsFsnCsdfL2HxJxXMh41A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 27 Georgetown Town Council meeting, Chief Holmes, Georgetown’s chief of police, told the council the town will continue to keep its school resource officer (SRO) in place for the coming school year even after the Indian River School District declined to provide funding.

The decision follows a police report that showed a recent surge in calls for service and staffing pressures. “We are gonna continue to have, Officer Melas in the schools serving as the SRO regardless of funding,” Chief Holmes said. He also said the town begins the budget year facing “a $82,000 deficit” tied to the loss of district funding for the position and estimated that the total annual cost for the SRO position—including vehicle and overtime—was about $105,000.

The chief told the council the department handled roughly 1,499 incidents from March 21 through May 25 and that workload has increased year over year. He reported specific recent figures: two robberies (one arrest), 92 assaults (34 arrests), 31 burglaries (six arrests) and 78 fugitives removed. The department recorded 40 crashes, 52 e-tickets, 14 personal-injury collisions, 25 property-damage collisions, one pedestrian fatality and 25 hit-and-run reports in the same period. Calls for service rose to 2,256 compared with 1,714 in the same period last year.

Chief Holmes described recruitment shortfalls: the department received 324 applications through its recruitment platform, sent 266 files on to the background vendor Guardian, and currently has two recruits in the Dover Municipal Police Academy. He said pay differentials with nearby agencies—“$10,000 to $12,000 difference in a year”—hamper hiring and that many applicants do not complete the personal history questionnaire needed to advance.

Public commenters pressed the council to address staffing and retain the SRO. Mark Rogers, a retired Georgetown officer, said the current staffing levels place officers under severe strain and urged the council to form a committee to study recruitment and pay. “I would encourage you and challenge you to do that,” Rogers said, arguing the department should increase staffing beyond current levels.

Resident Sonny Giani urged the council to prioritize safety and consider raising pay or other local funding to retain officers. “If you’re going to be the heart of Sussex County and you have a lousy workforce, it doesn’t make sense,” Giani said.

Resident Adam Bujkowski urged the town to find ways to attract officers and to address visible homelessness and other quality-of-life problems that he said affect downtown safety and livability.

Council members asked questions about contingency plans if the SRO funding is not restored. Chief Holmes said he would “manipulate my budget, within constraints, to fully fund that officer through this next school year” and that doing so will reduce the pool of officers available for patrol. He also confirmed the town’s budget contained unfilled positions; he said the department budgets for 25 officers but currently has fewer.

No formal council vote or ordinance change occurred on the SRO funding or staffing during the meeting. The council heard the report and public comment and did not take formal action to change the budget at the session. Chief Holmes and several public speakers said they will return information to council if additional budget adjustments or policy actions are required.

Why this matters: the SRO provides daily continuity at Georgetown schools and the chief argued that losing the position would reduce the ability to respond efficiently to school incidents. The council received detailed operational data that highlights rising workload and the potential budgetary trade-offs the town faces if it absorbs school costs.

The issue remains subject to future council review if the Indian River School District revisits its funding decision or if the town manager or council proposes a formal budget amendment.","At a May 27 Georgetown Town Council meeting, the town’s police chief said the town will continue to fund its school resource officer after the Indian River School District declined to renew support, while the police department described rising calls for service and persistent recruitment challenges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Georgetown council adopts future land use change for 21.92-acre Sussex County parcel

Georgetown holds first reading of absentee-voter ordinance to align local rules with state law

Georgetown will keep school resource officer as police report rising incidents and recruitment shortfalls