The September Delmar Council (Del.) meeting was held on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Mayor Tom Bauer announced congratulations to re-elected members Odell Jones and Matt Waldman, who, like Bauer, ran unopposed in the planned election.

Due to this, no Board of Election Supervisor was sworn in as planned for the meeting. The meeting moved to department reports, led by Chief Ivan Barkley, who reported an increase in disorderly conduct towards officers. The Delmar PD did undergo mandatory annual training to prepare for active shooter response over a two-week period.

Council Member Todd Lanier asked for clarification from the chief on the focus of the training and if there have been updates over the years. According to Barkley, this was not a previously mandated training, but the focus of the training remains the same – immediately confronting the threat no matter the size of the force or the shooter. This is occurring alongside ongoing collaboration with the chief, Town Manager Fleetwood, and the school regarding the presence of a school resource officer and ensuring the council is made aware if an officer has not been in the school during monthly reporting.

The Utility Commission was represented by Lanier reporting. He reported that two fire hydrants remain in need of repair, some concrete around town will be repaired prior to the three-year warranty expiring, and Colonial Hills will be placed on town water while another park in town awaits approval to do so. Settlement is near completion with a company addressing the lead and copper project. While funding from Delaware is being approved, funding from Maryland remains scaled back and in question.

Fleetwood lent to Lanier’s report that the slip lining for the I&I project, phase 3, would begin the day after the council meeting, starting with use of cameras to scope the pipes. In his own report, Fleetwood began with a request for approval of a budget transfer, per the town’s CFO, for over $47,000, which he identified as the Municipal Street Grant provided by the state of Delaware.

After it was unanimously approved, he requested a separate budget reallocation on behalf of Public Works for a new mower. The previous one would have been around $9,000 to fix, a considerably higher cost than $4,500 to purchase a new one. Council provided unanimous approval with the knowledge that the old mower will be held onto for parts.

While the Mason Dixon complex appears close to the town of Delmar, it is located within Wicomico County and Fleetwood updated the council on his meeting with the county regarding the complex’s future. Wicomico County has fallen $1.7 million short of completing the project as planned and had suggested removal of the concession stand which was previously slated to be fully rebuilt.

Fleetwood explained that the suggestion of updating the existing structure or scaling back the previous plan was not made an option by the county at the time of the meeting. Talks will be ongoing, but it was noted that players outside of the town suggested Delmar had not provided any support for the complex’s update, Fleetwood emphasized that the town of Delmar obtained grant funding for lighting and sidewalk portions of the project. “It may not be Delmar tax-payer money, but we facilitated that funding,” he clarified.

Also noted in the Town Manager’s report were the plans for the skateboard park to be replaced and made new with the contract prepared, the upcoming removal of dead limbs and trees around town (another grant-funded venture), and milling that will be set in motion within the week beginning on Third Street. There is still funding available for those living on the Delaware side to remove dead or decaying trees. Though not in Delaware, a sinkhole did appear the weekend before Labor Day on East Street and it was determined there was a crack in an old stormwater pipe which caused it.

The town wastewater plant has received the Maryland Operations and Maintenance grant but Fleetwood noted that due to this year’s frigid winter causing loss of necessary microorganisms, it is unlikely the grant will be received next year as it is based on performance. The town can look forward to a pavilion going up in Gordy Park which is budgeted for fiscal year 2027 from grant funding. The town has decided to put up some vehicles that are no longer needed for municipal auction.

Mayor Bauer and Fleetwood reminded the public to attend Delmar Heritage Day on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be activities such as rock climbing and a bounce house as well as oyster fritters for sale. The Mayor stated, “We need to recruit some muscle to beat Maryland,” for the annual tug-o-war between the two states.

Council Member Lanier congratulated Dr. Ryan Allen who will be joining the council, taking the seat of current Councilman Mike McClure. Allen spoke briefly during the public comment portion of the meeting.