By Mike McClure

During its virtual meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, the Delmar Council (Del.) received updates on an incident at a local shopping center, feuding neighbors, and a recent uptick in drug overdoses. The town also set a comprehensive plan workshop and a budget workshop.

Police Chief Ivan Barkley reported an uptick in overdoses in town (the day of and the day prior to last week’s meeting). One individual died as a result of the overdose.

Barkley also said that visitors to a local shopping center got into an argument over politics which turned physical, with one person striking the other. 

“We’re not immune to what is going on in the rest of the country,” said Barkley.

Town Manager Sara Bynum-King reported during the code enforcement report that there have been issues over the previous couple weeks with feuding neighbors posting signs in their yards and writing things on their sidewalks about each other. Bynum-King said staff members have been advised to stay out of arguments between feuding neighbors unless a code issue is involved.

During her town manager’s report, Bynum-King said the town’s first budget workshop will take place on March 3 at 6:30 p.m., with the department heads making their presentation.

There will also be a Delaware comprehensive plan workshop on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. The workshop will include members of Planning and Zoning and the Delaware Council. A public hearing will take place during the Council’s next meeting, on March 1. The comprehensive plan impacts the future of the town for the next 10 years.