BETHANY BEACH LANDOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

                                                                          Bethany Beach Town Hall                                                                   DRAFT

January 20, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 pm

PRESENT:  Cal Baldwin, John Barbour, Dan Costello, John Himmelberg, Janet Kennedy, Lois Lipsett, Tracy Mulligan, and Steve Wode

Minutes of the October 28, 2006, meeting were approved.

The Treasurer reported that as of as of Dec 31, 2006, we have $31,492.83 in cash and a CD. Total members as of January 18, 2007, are 684.

A suggestion was made to change both membership dues and the fiscal year to the calendar year. This will be discussed at the next meeting when bylaws changes are discussed.  However, to raise dues, we should have a set of goals and the budget needed to accomplish those goals. Board members are being asked to send their ideas and cost estimates to Tracy Mulligan [tmulligan@comcast.net] who will compile these data and prepare a spread sheet.

UPDATES:  Bethany Beach Town Council is now engaged in long-term financial planning. This was an issue advocated by several candidates in the 2006 election. However, the Council’s primary focus is still the Town, not the Town as a part of the county and state. This vision prevents them from recognizing and addressing problems affecting the town from the outside. A case in point is the revision of the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan. BBLA will monitor this plan and notify members if any actions might be needed.

One council member believes that a communications disconnect still exists. Instead of having all issues go to Council first and then be sent to a committee for investigation, the opposite occurs. As a result, there is no paper trail. While Council minutes are available (though delayed) for anyone to read, committee minutes may not exist and currently are not on the Town web site.  Thus, the public may not be aware of many issues being discussed in committees

Beach Replenishment is in limbo. Because the Federal government is working on a continuing resolution at 2006 levels, OMB has requested revised budgets from all agencies, meaning that anticipated projects for 2007 currently are undetermined. The $3 million residing with the Corps of Engineers may be in jeopardy but is not likely to be touched and a very few or no amendments will be allowed to be tacked onto any spending bills. BBLA contacts are trying to find out if the Corps has offered to return the $3M for FY 07. This will be known by February 15. In addition, the FY 2008 budget is supposed to be determined by the end of September. The request for help with this issue, in the last newsletter, resulted in a few offers. John Himmelberg is working with those people. After February 15, the State will decide what they are willing to do with the money they have set aside for beach replenishment. Tony Pratt from the State will be at a Town Council public meeting on Feb. 9, 2:00 PM,  to discuss the beach issue.  BBLA will continue to work on it. John H. has contacted 13 other local associations to coordinate efforts.

Absentee Ballots are still an issue. The State has told the Town that before non-residents can vote by absentee ballot in Town elections, Bill 140 (addressing this problem) has to be enacted before the legislature adjourns in June. State legislators are saying that this will be resolved favorably with respect to non-resident participation. There is NO resolution, as of this moment, to the difficulties that caused so many absentee ballots to be rejected last September. A two step process for absentee voting may straighten things out. First step is submission of an application for an absentee ballot, and the second step is submission of the actual, filled-in ballot. BBLA will investigate.

Sussex County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, to be revised, will impact the length of Route 26, and particularly Bethany Beach. The main issue is development without meaningful infrastructure provisions. The next newsletter will provide information and encourage everyone to write Sussex County Council.

A motion was made, seconded, and passed to direct the President to write a letter from BBLA to the Sussex County Council regarding the absentee ballot issue and the comprehensive plan. Copies will be sent the Council.

The miniature golf course is on target. The Costal Point article describing it will be sent to the email list.

NEW BUSINESS

Membership: it has decreased significantly from the higher 2003 levels and we need to look at ways to stimulate owners. It was proposed to send a letter to those who have not joined.

Newsletter: Dan Costello and Cathy Phillips, editors, are discussing different strategies. Dan will send a memo to the BOD asking for ideas. A suggestion was made to print several hundred extra newsletters and put them in realtor offices and stores.

Wind farm proposal: A letter detailing why a wind farm off Bethany Beach is a non-productive idea is in the recent Costal Point. John H. will investigate the issue and send a draft letter to the BOD for approval to send to our State legislators with a copy to Town Council.

Web site: we now control the BBLA site. Steve Wode is maintaining it and is open to any suggestions. It is a work in progress [www.bbla.info]. Anything sent to bblainfo@bbla.info can be captured and archived.

Farmers’ Market: Both the state Dept. of Agriculture and a professor from U. Delaware Agriculture department made a presentation to the Bethany Beach Town Council on January 19. The Town is receptive to the idea and BBLA has offered to sponsor it. The Civic Club of BB is also interested in sponsorship and Lois will contact them. However, John H. is the designated “point person” for all suggestions. The issues to be determined are:

(1)   location—free parking is a necessity; (2) a manager to oversee the events (Carrie Bennett of Bennett Farms has volunteered); (3) a proposal; (4) forming a non-profit as the overseer organization.

Money may be available from the US Dept. of Agriculture for farmers markets. The BBLA is taking the lead on this project.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 pm.