Town of Blades promotes Gregor as new town administrator, prepares for March 26 election

Blades has a new town administrator, Crystal Gregor, who was promoted from administrative assistant after former town administrator Lisa Marks was let go. Teresa Todd is being hired as part-time administrative assistant. Both are “efficient, knowledgeable and interested in improving the town,” Blades Mayor Nancy McAdams said. 

These decisions were announced after an executive session following the town council meeting Feb. 10.

The meeting started with a review of rules for the upcoming election on April 7. Changes proposed in the updated charter will not be in effect for this election since the charter has not yet been submitted to the state legislature. Residents may vote for mayor and two council members. Candidates for those seats must file a letter of intent with the town administrator by March 7 and complete a campaign finance registration and certificate of intent with the state. Candidates must be 25 years old by election day, a resident of Blades for six months and a U.S. citizen.

For this election, residents must be registered at town hall by 4:30 p.m. on March 26. If they haven’t voted in the last two elections, they must re-register. Voter qualifications are age 18, U.S. citizen and resident of Blades for at least 30 days before the election. Proof of residency required. Absentee ballots are available — file affidavit by noon, March 26.

Members of Blades Volunteer Fire Company stand at attention Feb. 15 as a fire truck bearing the casket of Ronald G. Fensick, former fire chief and president, begins a procession through town under a huge American flag suspended from a ladder truck from Georgetown, following funeral services with full fireman’s honors. Apparatus from several fire companies in the area joined the procession for Chief Fensick, who joined BVFC in 1992 and became a lifetime member. He passed away Feb. 3 after a long battle with cancer. Photo by Carol Kinsley

If Hardin Hall has not been completed, balloting will be held at the town garage, 20 West 4th Street. Anyone with questions may call town hall at 302-629-7366 or email to***************@to**********.com.

A final meeting to address the proposed town charter changes was scheduled to take place on Monday at the fire hall.

Police Chief Martin Willey presented a list of police department outreach program events, including an outreach committee meeting March 11 at 6:30 p.m. and a meet and greet opportunity to discuss anything pertaining to the police department at Cafe Milano March 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. An Easter Egg Hunt will be held in the park on April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon for children to age 12. A drug take-back event will be held April 26 at the police department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Willey warned about scam attempts via text and email in which scammers threaten “pay up or else.” 

In his commissioner’s report, Donald Trice said the police department received grants which will provide four voice translators for the officers and two “bean bag shot guns.” He added Officer Emmett Krager, who has been on the force for about a year, was responsible for catching the alleged thief involved in a robbery at Royal Farms.

Housing Commissioner Susan Seltzer reported meeting with representatives of the Grant Assistance Program of the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration which may be able to help obtain grants to address drainage issues on 5th Street and clean up of the former dry cleaner site which now belongs to the town. 

Seltzer also reported a plan to clean up an abandoned homeless encampment in town on Feb. 12, which might be delayed because of weather.

Gary Gallamore, water commissioner, reported that $4,000 had been collected from a third resident who was behind in paying water bills. 

The water department now has two computers available, rather than sharing the computer at town hall. The new water supervisor, Sean O’Brien, now has a program on his phone and the computers so he knows where all the water mains and hydrants are.

O’Brien is enrolled in one of two certification classes required by the EPA, plus a course on PFAS testing. The second required class that he needs will be offered next year. There are 60 other water operators in the state who do not have these certifications, Gallamore said. A grant was offered that will cover the cost of their classes.

A problem with the town’s fluoride system, caused by a change from crystalline to power form made by the sole supplier of fluoride, a company in China, required the assistance of two experts. Another problem with water chemicals was traced to an electrical problem and communication between two computers. Both problems have been fixed, Gallamore said.

In the mayor’s report, McAdams said the council voted at a special meeting to accept the new police officer candidate. She expressed appreciation for understanding and support during the transition period at town hall. McAdams herself is at the town office several days a week. Residents are welcome to make an appointment to meet with her or any council member.

Regarding the Sussex County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was read for a second time and then adopted as the official plan of the town of Blades, McAdams asked that anyone with suggestions about what the town needs for emergency preparedness contact her.

Under good of the community, questions were posed about whether commissioners are keeping track of how much of their budgets had been spent. Another recurring question was about the retention pond which one resident said was known to be “done wrong” in 2016, but the problem kept getting dropped. At issue is who is responsible for the pond now.

Another resident reminded everyone that March 10, 2025, marks the 110th anniversary of the town’s incorporation by the state legislature.

Fire Company President Ronald Depew told those present there would be a funeral and memorial procession on Feb. 15 for past chief, past president and lifetime member Ronnie Fensick, who lost his long battle with cancer on Feb. 3.