Board of Directors’ Meeting

Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

Town Hall

1.                  Approval of Minutes of Meeting of January  20, 2007

2.                  Report from the Treasurer

3.                  Updates:  Town Council/Committees; Beach Replenishment; Farmers’ Market; Absentee Ballots; Sussex County Comprehensive Land Use Plan; Putt-Putt Golf Course.

4.                  Issues for discussion: Membership/data base; website/email communications update; annual meeting in June; attendance at Board meetings; Newsletter; Farmers’ Market; changes in Bylaws.

5.                  Old Business

6.                  Adjourn

BBLA BOARD OF DIRECTIONS MEETING

April 14, 2007

Bethany Beach Town Hall

The meeting was convened at 10:04 am

Present were:  Dan Costello, Paul Denault, Jane Fowler, Frances Gravatte, John Himmelberg, Lois Lipsett, Michael Loftus, Joe McHugh, Tracy Mulligan, Cathy Phillips, and Steve Wode.

The minutes of the January 20, 2007, meeting were approved after a correction on page 2, inserting “ …letter to the legislature” and deleting “to the Council.”

President John Himmelberg advised members that two letters about the Sussex County comprehensive plan and the wind farm proposal had not been completed but would be shortly.

Treasurer’s report:  Funds as of March 31, 2007, were $32, 984.59, up from $31,492.83 as of December 31, 2006. All revenues are from dues in the last quarter, as there was no line for donations. A suggestion was made to include a line for donations when dues are requested. Membership was 837, up from 684 as of January 15, 2007.

Updates:  Proposed new bylaws have been drafted by Mike Loftus for approval at the annual meeting in June. Some changes proposed are to amend the fiscal year to the calendar year and to increase dues.  Notice of the annual meeting and of the proposed bylaws changes will be sent to the membership 30 days prior to the meeting.

A motion to increase the dues from $10 to $15 per person was made, seconded and unanimously approved.  

Beach replenishment has been approved by OMB.  The Corps of Engineers will start after Labor Day. Regular re-nourishment is still in question. BBLA will spearhead an effort to assure continual re-nourishment. John will contact other associations and the Chamber to form an alliance to monitor the efforts.  Tracy offered to participate and John will seek a chair.

Joe suggested that a letter from BBLA should be sent to everyone who helped in the beach replenishment effort. John will send the letters.

Absentee ballot issue is still in the legislature. Allowable reasons to use absentee ballots, are very limited by a Delaware State law enacted last year. New legislation will allow towns to enact their own procedures. Disqualifications will be standardized throughout the state. Passage is probable by June 30, but Town Council can make procedures consistent with state law prior to the enactment. This is necessary because new law must be in place 60 days prior to the town election. CORC has this issue on their agenda for April and Dan will attend the meeting representing BBLA to urge changes immediately.

A comprehensive plan for Sussex County should be in draft form in early May. The BB Planning Commission sent a letter advocating that the county impose impact fees to aid in providing for the infrastructure prior to granting building permits. John will draft a letter urging this to each member of the county council and state planning chair after the draft is available.

Miniature Golf site will be taken up by Town Council at the April meeting to decide if it should be a permitted use or continue as a use requiring the special exception process. A  primary issue may be allowing the course to stay open until midnight.

Farmers’ market is a reality. Though the efforts and monetary support of BBLA, a non-profit has been formed and necessary fees paid. John has applied for a grant from the Dept. of Agriculture; however, more funds are needed to be able to develop a marketing plan immediately.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to donate an additional $2000 from BBLA to the Farmers’ Market, inc., above the $1000 previously authorized.  The Market directors are John , President, representing BBLA; the president of the Bethany Beach Women’s Club as vice-president, and Carrie Bennett, representing the farmers. Two more directors will be added: Dan Costello and Lois Lipsett.

The board then turned to an extensive discussion of the draft by-laws and several changes were suggested which Mike will incorporate into the document to be presented at the membership meeting.

Adjournment was at 11:55 AM.