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Seaford council approves multiple measures including vehicle loan, swim center renewal and developer incentives
Summary
At its Nov. 11 meeting the Seaford City Council unanimously approved a five-year, 3.782% loan to finance city vehicles, renewed the Seaford Community Swim Center contract with revised profit-sharing, adopted the '25 and 25' tap-fee reduction program for new homes, approved a developer incentive and several intergovernmental and property actions.
The Seaford City Council on Nov. 11 approved a package of administrative and fiscal measures, voting unanimously to authorize vehicle financing, renew a community pool contract, adopt a housing tap-fee incentive and approve several local development and intergovernmental actions.
The council voted to accept a five‑year fixed loan from Community Bank Delaware at 3.782% to finance purchases included in the FY25 budget, including five police vehicles, a public-works service truck and an electric‑department bucket truck. Director of Finance Trish Newcomer recommended the five‑year fixed option, saying, “I recommend that we do the 5‑year fixed rate, which is 3.782%.” The motion to approve the loan was made by Councilman Holland, seconded by Councilman Bradley, and passed unanimously.
The council also renewed the Seaford Community Swim Center agreement through 2028. The updated contract keeps an existing structure in which gross income over $50,001 is split on a 60% (city) / 40% (Swim Center) basis, with a clarified clause allowing documented off‑season infrastructure contributions of $5,000 or more to be treated as in‑kind compensation for the current year. Leaders from the Seaford Community Swim Center reported 340 members this season and described recent upgrades and planned accessibility work.
On housing policy, council approved the continuation and implementation of the city’s long‑standing “25 and 25” tap‑fee reduction program for new single‑family homes in developments with installed infrastructure beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The measure passed after council discussion about whether future incentives should be reoriented to support smaller infill developers.
Other council actions included:
- Approving an incentive for BCD & E Investment Group LLC to waive $4,720 in equipment costs and half of a $5,060.03 labor estimate (total incentive $9,780.03) for three new houses on Walker Street; motion by Councilman McQuillan, seconded by Councilman Bradley — approved unanimously.
- Directing staff to issue an RFP to dispose of a 150‑by‑60‑foot portion of city land at Cedar Avenue and Poplar Street to seek proposals for development (motion by Councilman McQuillan; second by Councilwoman Grasset) — approved unanimously.
- Ratifying revisions to the wastewater service agreement with Sussex County establishing a 40% reserved capacity and corresponding debt‑service responsibility for the county (motion by Councilwoman Grasset; second by Vice Mayor Henderson) — approved unanimously.
- Expanding the Seaford Police Department’s modified take‑home vehicle radius from 20 to 30 miles from City Hall, with existing exceptions grandfathered (motion by Vice Mayor Henderson; second by Councilman Quillen) — approved unanimously.
What happens next: staff will finalize loan closing and accounting; swim‑center and developer contract paperwork will be executed; the tap‑fee change takes effect Jan. 1, 2025; and staff will issue the land RFP and coordinate implementation of the wastewater agreement. Council members said they expect follow‑up reports to ensure the measures are implemented as described.
