Bill Text: DE HB318 | 2011-2012 | 146th General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Chapter 176, Volume 74 Laws Of Delaware, As Amended, Relating To The Charter Of The Town Of Smyrna.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-07-18 - Signed by Governor [HB318 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2011-HB318-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Carson & Sen. Ennis |
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 146th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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HOUSE BILL NO. 318 |
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AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 176, VOLUME 74 LAWS OF DELAWARE, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SMYRNA. |
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):
Section 1. Amend Section 2, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
2. Territorial Limits.
The present territorial limits of the Town as established by
previous acts of the Delaware General Assembly and by annexations perfected by
the Town are depicted on the map or plat attached hereto as Exhibit A and are
hereby confirmed and declared to be as follows:
BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the
centerline of U.S. Route 13, with the centerline of Sunnyside Road (SHR 90),
said point being on the Easterly line of the Delaware Hospital for the
Chronically Ill and being a distance of approximately 100 feet from the
northwest corner of lands, now or formerly, of Margaret C. Bartlett lands, as
recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deed Book I Volume 16 Page 440 (Tax
Map ID# DC-00-019.06-01-01.00-000); thence running,
1) leaving said U.S. Route 13 and running by and with southerly
ROW of said Sunnyside Road in a south westerly direction a distance of
approximately 565 feet to a point on the northwesterly side of the lands, now
or formally, of Brooks and Sunday Keen as recorded in the Office of Recorder of
Deed Book D Volume 112 Page 316 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-19.06-01-06.00-000); thence
running,
2) by and with said northerly line of said Brooks and Sunday
Keen in a northeasterly direction for a distance of approximately 211 feet to a
point; thence running,
3) by and with said easterly line of said lands of Brooks and
Sunday Keen in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately 305 feet
to a point on the centerline of Belmont Avenue; thence running,
4) by and with said centerline of Belmont Avenue in an easterly
direction for a distance of approximately 280', crossing over U.S. Route. 13,
to a point on the northerly line of the lands, now or formally, of Thomas P.
Ryan as recorded on the Office of Recorder of Deed Book D Volume 530 Page 116 (Tax
Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-03.01-000); thence running,
5) by and with said easterly line of U.S. Route 13 and the
westerly line of said Thomas P. Ryan lands in a southerly direction for a
distance of approximately 1967 feet to a point on the northerly line of Cory
Lane; thence running,
6) by and with said northerly line of Cory Lane for a distance
of approximately 206 feet to a point on the southerly line of the lands, now or
formerly, of Liborio III, L.P., as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deed Book
D Volume 317 Page 326 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-019.00-01-30.01-000); thence running,
7) by and with said westerly perimeter line of said lands of
Liborio III, L.P. in a northerly direction for a distance of approximately 2559
feet to a point on the southerly line of Smyrna-Leipsic Road and westerly line
of State Route 1; thence running,
8) by and with said southerly line of Smyrna-Leipsic Road in a
easterly direction a distance of approximately 346 feet, across State Route 1
to a point on the northerly line of the lands, now or formerly, of Rodney and
Anita Bullock, as recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book
321, Page 273 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-10.00-000); thence running,
9) by and with said westerly line of said lands of Rodney and
Anita Bullock, in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately 153
feet to a point on the northerly line of the, now or formerly, Bombay Woods
Subdivision as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds Plat Book 66 Page
30; thence running,
10) by and with said northerly perimeter lines of said Bombay
Woods Subdivision in an easterly direction for a distance of approximately 2065
feet to a point on the north easterly line of the, now or formerly, Pump
Station (Tax Map ID# DC-17-019.02-01-57.00-000) of the said Bombay Woods
Subdivision; thence running,
11) leaving said Bombay Woods Subdivision and running by and
with in an easterly direction a distance of approximately 340 feet along
southerly line of the lands, now or formerly, of Larry G. and Scott E.
Burchard, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book IS Volume
21 Page 297, (Tax Map ID#DC-00-019.00-01-25.01); thence running,
12) by and with said easterly line of said Larry G. and Scott E.
Burchard in a northerly direction a distance of approximately 282 feet to a
point on the northerly line of the lands, now or formerly, Delaware State
University, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 520 Page
16, (Tax Map ID# DC-17-019.00-01-69.00-000) and southerly lines of said
Smyrna-Leipsic Road; thence running,
13) by and with said northerly line of Delaware State University
and southerly line of Smyrna-Leipsic Road, in a south easterly direction for a
distance of approximately 3441 feet to a point on the northeasterly line of
lands, now or formerly, of Mark D. Johnson, as recorded in the Office of Recorder
of Deeds, Deed Book 414 Page 66 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-019.00-01-69.01-000); thence
running,
14) by and with said easterly line of said Mark D. Johnson and
Delaware State University, following Mill Creek, in a southerly direction for a
distance of approximately 2514 feet to a point on the southerly line of said
Delaware State University; thence running,
15) by and with said southwesterly line of said Delaware State
University in a north westerly direction for a distance approximately 1305 feet
and continuing around the easterly side of State Route 1 approximately 2891
feet to a point on the southerly line of the aforesaid Bombay Woods
Subdivision; thence running,
16) leaving said lands of Bombay Woods and running in a south
westerly direction across State Route 1 a distance of approximately 1125 feet
to a point on the northerly line of the lands, now or formerly, of Beimac, LLC,
as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 317 Page 104 (Tax map
ID# DC-17-019.00-01-62.00-000); thence running,
17) by and with said easterly line of said Belmac, LLC and
westerly line of State Route 1 in a southerly direction a distance of
approximately 2819 feet to a point on the easterly line of the lands, now or
formerly, of Field of Dreams, LLC, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of
Deeds, Deed Book 194 Page 9 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-019.00-01-66.00-000); thence running,
18) by and with said southerly perimeter lines of said Field of
Dreams in a westerly direction a distance of approximately 1438 feet to a point
on the easterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Vernon Westfall Subdivision,
as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Plat Book 4 Page 22; thence
running,
19) by and with said westerly line of the said Field of Dreams
and the easterly line of the said Vernon Westfall Subdivision and said lands,
now or formerly, of Lawndale Development, as recorded in the Office of Recorder
of Deeds, Plat Book 1 Page 302 in a northerly direction a distance of
approximately 1349 feet to a point; thence running,
20) by and with the southerly line of the said Field of Dreams
and the northerly line of the said Lawndale Development in a westerly direction
a distance of approximately 162 feet to centerline on North Street; thence
running,
21) by and with said centerline of North Street in a westerly
direction for a distance of approximately 410 feet to a point on the centerline
of U.S. Route 13; thence running,
22) leaving said centerline of U.S. Route 13 in a southwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 800 feet to a point on the southerly line
of lands, now or formally, of Liborio III, LP, as recorded in the Office of
Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 325 Page 135 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-019.00-01-01.09-000); thence running,
23) by and with said southwesterly line of the said Liborio III,
LP in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 1101 feet to a
point on the easterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Bon Ayre Mobile Home
Park, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Plat Book 49 Page 51;
thence running,
24) by and with said easterly line of said lands of Bon Ayre
Mobile Home Park in a southerly direction a distance of approximately 2975 feet
to a point on the northeasterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Liborio III,
L.P., as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 510 Page 219
(Tax Map ID# DC-00-28.00-01-03.00-000); thence running,
25) by and with said northeasterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 515 feet to a
point; thence running,
26) by and with said southeasterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 2426 feet,
crossing over Rabbit Chase Lane, to a point; thence running,
27) by and with said southwesterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 77 feet to a
point; thence running,
28) by and with said southeasterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 375 feet to a
point; thence running,
29) by and with said southwesterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 1846 feet to a
point on the southwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Librio III, L.P.,
as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 510 Page 219 (Tax Map
ID# DC-00-28.00-01-02.00-000) ; thence running,
30) by and with said southwesterly line of said Liborio III,
L.P., in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 1969 feet to a
point on the centerline of Sunnyside Road; thence running,
31) by and with said centerline of Sunnyside Road in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 325 feet to a point; thence
running,
32) leaving said centerline of Sunnyside Road in a southeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 475 feet to a point; thence running,
33) by and with said northwesterly line of said aforementioned
Liborio III, L.P., in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately
1143 feet to the centerline of Rabbit Chase Lane; thence running,
34) by and with said centerline of Rabbit Chase Lane in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 500 feet to the centerline of Sunnyside
Road; thence running,
35) by and with said centerline of Sunnyside Road in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 325 feet to a point; thence
running,
36) leaving said centerline of Sunnyside Road in a southeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 475 feet to a point on the northwesterly
line of aforementioned Liborio III, L.P., lands; thence running,
37) by and with said northwesterly lands of Liborio III, L.P.,
in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 970 feet to a point;
thence running,
38) by and with said northeasterly lands of Liborio, III, L.P.,
in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 85 feet to a point on
the northwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Sunnyside Farms Section 2
(Sunnyside Village Section 1), as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds,
Plat Book 58 Page 50; thence running,
39) by and with said northwesterly lands of said Sunnyside Village
Section 1 in a northeasterly direction for a distance of approximately 364 feet
to a point; thence running,
40) by and with said southwesterly lands of said Sunnyside
Village Section 1 in a northwesterly direction for a distance of approximately
330 feet to a point; thence running,
41) by and with said northwesterly lands of said Sunnyside
Village Section 1 in a northeasterly direction for a distance of approximately
900 feet to a point; thence running,
42) by and with said southwesterly lands of said Sunnyside
Village Section 1 in a northwesterly direction for a distance of approximately
250 feet to a point along the centerline of Sunnyside Road; thence running,
43) by and with said centerline of Sunnyside Road in a northerly
direction for a distance of approximately 2623 feet, crossing over the
intersection of South Carter Road and Sunnyside Road at a distance of
approximately 1980 feet to a point; thence running,
44) leaving said Sunnyside Road and running in a southeasterly
direction along the northeasterly lines of lands, now or formerly, Tamarah E.
Uhlmann, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 415 Page 22
(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.13-01-46.00-000) a distance of approximately 200 feet to
a point; thence running,
45) by and with said westerly line of lands, now or formerly,
Smyrna Towne Center, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Plat Book
43 page 65 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-19.00-01-01.01-000) in a northerly direction for
a distance of approximately 1187 feet to a point; thence running,
46) by and with northerly line of lands, now or formerly, Thomas
J. Leonard, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 506 Page
211 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-19.10-01-5.00-000) in a northwesterly direction a
distance of approximately 225 feet to a point of the said centerline of
Sunnyside Road; thence running,
47) leaving said centerline of Sunnyside Road and running by and
with the southerly line of lands, now or formerly, of the Delaware Hospital for
the Chronically Ill (Tax Map ID# DC-17-19.06-01-05.00-000) and centerline of a
creek a distance of approximately 450 feet to a point along the southerly line
of Lake Como; thence running,
48) by and with said southerly line of said Lake Como in a
westerly direction a distance of approximately 3887 feet to a point of the said
centerline of South Carter Road; thence running,
49) by and with centerline of S. Carter Road in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 221 feet to a point; thence running,
50) leaving said centerline of South Carter Road and running by
and with the easterly perimeter lines of lands now or formerly, of Gardenside
Subdivision as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Plat Book 62 Page
54 in a southerly direction a distance of approximately 920 feet to a point
along Mill Creek and northerly line of lands, now or formerly, Joseph F. and
Patricia W. Wick, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 394
Page 250 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.00-01-5.00-000) to a point; thence running,
51) by and with said northerly line of said Joseph F. &
Patricia W. Wick in a southeasterly direction a distance approximately 328 feet
to a point; thence running,
52) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately
65 feet to a point; thence running,
53) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately
133 feet to a point; thence running,
54) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately
145 feet to a point; thence running,
55) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately
297 feet to a point; thence running,
56) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately
149 feet to a point; thence running,
57) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately
374 feet to a point; thence running,
58) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately
171 feet to a point; thence running,
59) by and with said northerly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately
710 feet to a point; thence running,
60) by and with said easterly line of said lands Joseph F. &
Patricia W. Wick in southwesterly a distance of approximately 1254 feet to a
point on the centerline of Cedar Brook Drive; thence running,
61) by and with said centerline of Cedarbrook Drive in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 110 feet to a point; thence
running,
62) leaving said centerline of Cedarbrook Drive and running by
and with the said southeasterly line of said lands Joseph F. & Patricia W.
Wick in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 206 feet to a
point; thence running,
63) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands Joseph F.
& Patricia W. Wick in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately
1303 feet to a point on Mill Creek and lands of, now or formerly, of Wal-Mart
Stores, as recorded by the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 523 Page 159
(Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.00-01-03.00-000); thence running,
64) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands Wal-Mart
Stores in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 2818 feet to a
point on the easterly line of Pennsylvania Lines Railroad; thence running,
65) by and with said easterly line of said Pennsylvania Lines
Railroad in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 3620 feet to
a point on the centerline of Gleenwood Avenue; thence running,
66) by and with said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 1957 feet to a point on the
northerly line of Wal-Mart Stores; thence running,
67) leaving said center of Glenwood Avenue and running by and with
aforementioned lands of Wal-Mart Stores in a southeasterly direction a distance
of approximately 1698 feet to a point; thence running,
68) by and with said northwesterly line of said Wal-Mart Stores
in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 386 feet to a point on
the northwesterly line of the lands, now or formerly, L. Medford & Eleanor
N. Davis, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 216 Page
292 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.00-01-02.00-000); thence running,
69) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands L. Medford
& Eleanor N. Davis in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately
458 feet to a point; thence running,
70) by and with said easterly line of said lands L. Medford
& Eleanor N. Davis in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately
232 feet to a point; thence running,
71) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands L. Medford
& Eleanor N. Davis in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately
396 feet to a point; thence running,
72) by and with said easterly line of said lands L. Medford
& Eleanor N. Davis in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately
174 feet to a point on the southerly line of said lands, now or formerly,
Carter Road Enterprises, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed
Book 455 Page 257 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.00-01-01.08-000); thence running,
73) by and with said southerly line of said lands of Carter Road
Enterprises in a northwesterly direction a distance of 319 feet to a point on
the southerly line of said lands now or formerly, Kent General Hospital, as
recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 433 Page 153 (Tax Map
ID# DC-17-18.00-01-01.01-000) to a point; thence running,
74) by and with said southerly line of said Kent General
Hospital in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 563 feet to
the centerline of Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
75) by and with said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 527 feet to a point along
intersection of Dickerson Street and Glenwood Road; thence running,
76) by and with said centerline of Dickerson Street in a northeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 410 feet to a point along intersection of
South Carter Road and Dickerson Street; thence running,
77) by and with said centerline of South Carter Road in a
southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 766 feet to a point; thence
running,
78) leaving said centerline of said South Carter Road and
running by and with the northwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Raymond
H. & Linda S. Ginn, as reordered in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed
Book 283 Page 178 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-18.00-02-02.00-000) in a southwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 385 feet to a point; thence running,
79) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands Raymond H.
& Linda S. Ginn in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately
231 feet to a point on the easterly lines of lands, now or formerly, Earl E.
& Margaret E. Young, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed
Book 200 Page 136 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-18.00-02-03.00-000) to a point; thence running,
80) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands Earl E.
& Margaret E. Young in a northeasterly direction a distance approximately
380 feet to a point on said centerline of South Carter Road; thence running,
81) by and with said centerline of said South Carter Road in a
southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 252 feet to a point; thence
running,
82) leaving said centerline of South Carter Road in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 264 feet to a point on
lands, now or formerly, Benjamin T. Archer, as recorded in the Office of
Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 440 Page 219 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-18.08-02-21.00-000) to a point; thence running,
83) by and with said northerly line of said lands Benjamin T.
Archer in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 103 feet to a
point; thence running,
84) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands Benjamin
T. Archer in a southwesterly direction a distance of 250 feet to a point along
the centerline of South Carter Road; thence running,
85) by and with centerline of South Carter Road in a
southeasterly direction a distance of 550 feet to a point along the
intersection of South Carter Road and South Street; thence running,
86) by and with centerline of South Street in a northeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 842 feet to a point; thence running,
87) leaving said centerline of South Street in a northwesterly
direction along the southwesterly line of lands, now or formally, Harriett C.
Burris, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book X Volume 31
Page 512 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.08-02-16.00-000) a distance of approximately 175
feet to a point; thence running,
88) by and with said northwesterly line of said Harriett C.
Burris lands in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 20 feet
to a point on the northwesterly line of lands, now or formally, Elise H.
Andrew, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book X Volume 53
Page 250 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.08-02-17.01-000) to a point; thence running,
89) by and with said northwesterly line of said lands Elise H.
Andrew in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 150 feet to a
point along the centerline of Clement Street; thence running,
90) by and with said centerline of Clements Street in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 145 feet to a point; thence
running,
91) leaving said centerline of Clement Street in a northeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 170 feet to a point of lands, now or
formerly, John H., Janice S. and Shawn C. Quay, as recorded in the Office of
Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 456 Page 34, (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-18.08-02-19.00-000); thence running,
92) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands John H.,
Janice S. and Shawn C. Quay in a southeasterly direction a distance of
approximately 70 feet, crossing over Cummins Street, to a point of lands, now
or formerly, Michael C. Biddle, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds,
Deed Book 369 Page 241 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-18.08-02-20.00-000); thence running,
93) by and with said northeasterly line of said Michael C.
Biddle in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 270 feet to the
centerline of South Street; thence running,
94) by and with said centerline of South Street in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 150 feet to a point; thence
running,
95) leaving said centerline of South Street in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 215 feet to a point along said
southwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Kevin F. Patterson, as recorded
in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 117 Page 324 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-19.05-01-79.00-000); thence running,
96) by and with said northwesterly lines of lands of Kevin F.
Patterson and southeasterly line of Cummins Street in a northeasterly direction
a distance of approximately 100 feet to a point along lands, now or formerly,
Evelyn K. Sanders, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book
349 Page 127 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-19.05-01-79.01-000); thence running,
97) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of said
Evelyn K. Sanders in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 240
feet to a point on the centerline of South Street; thence running,
98) by and with said centerline South Street in a northeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 445 feet to a point; thence running,
99) leaving said centerline of South Street in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 205 feet to a point along the
southwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Michelle Kaplan, as recorded in
the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 197 Page 277 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-19.05-01-16.02-000); thence running,
100) by and with said northwesterly line of said lands Michelle
Kaplan in a northerly direction a distance of approximately 100 feet to a point
along the northwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Jeffery T. Thornley, as
recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 271 Page 217 (Tax Map
ID# DC-17-19.05-01-16.04-000); thence running,
101) by and with said northwesterly line of Jeffrey T. Thornley
in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 40 feet to a point
along the northwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Gail L. Denney, as
recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 175 Page 203 (Tax Map
ID# DC-17-19.05-01-16.05-000); thence running,
102) by and with said northwesterly line of said Gail L. Denney
in a northerly direction a distance of approximately 37 feet to a point along
the northwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, Ronald S. and Gerda Lane , as
recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 148 Page 84 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-19.05-01-16.06-000); thence running,
103) by and with said northwesterly line of said Ronald S. and
Gerda Lane in a northerly direction a distance of approximately 52 feet to a
point of lands, now or formerly, Keith W. and Donna M. Noel, as recorded in the
Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 141 Page 81 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-19.05-01-16.07-000); thence running,
104) by and with said perimeter lines of said Keith W. and Donna
M. Noel in a northerly direction a distance of approximately 85 feet to a point
along the centerline of Upham Street; thence running,
105) by and with centerline of Upham Street in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 180 feet to a point on the intersection
of said centerline of Lexington Avenue and said centerline of Upham Street;
thence running,
106) by and with centerline of Lexington Avenue in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 530 feet to a point along
the intersection of said centerline of Howard Street and said centerline of
Lexington Avenue; thence running,
107) by and with centerline of Howard Street in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 470 feet to a point; thence running,
108) leaving said centerline of Howard Street in a southwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 120 feet to a point on said southeasterly
line of lands, now or formerly, of Michael J. Harrington Jr., as recorded in
the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 111 Page 221 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-18.08-04-02.00-000); thence running,
109) by and with said southwesterly line of said Michael J.
Harrington Jr., in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 110
feet, across Mt. Vernon Street, to a point on said southeasterly line of lands,
now or formerly, of Milton D. Moore & Annette Wingate, as recorded in the
Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 387 Page 169 (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-18.08-04-01.00-000); thence running,
110) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Milton
D. Moore and Annette Wingate and said Mt. Vernon Street in a southwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 75 feet to a point; thence running,
111) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands of Milton
D. Moore and Annette Wingate in a northwesterly direction a distance of
approximately 75 feet to a point; thence running,
112) by and with said northwesterly line of said lands of Milton
D. Moore and Annette Wingate in a northeasterly direction a distance of
approximately 175 feet to a point on centerline of Howard Street; thence
running,
113) by and with said centerline of Howard Street in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 205 feet to a point on said
intersection of said centerline of Smyrna-Clayton Boulevard and said Howard
Street; thence running,
114) by and with said centerline of said Smyrna-Clayton
Boulevard in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 275 feet to
a point; thence running,
115) leaving said centerline of said Smyrna-Clayton Boulevard in
a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 800 feet to a point along
southwesterly line of lands, now or formerly, of Department of Comm. AFF &
Economic Development, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book
F Volume 33 Page 249 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-9.20-02-36.00-000); thence running,
116) by and with said westerly lines of said lands of Department
of Comm. AFF & Economic Development in a northwesterly direction a distance
of approximately 335 feet to a centerline of Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
117) by and with said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 130 feet to a point; thence
running,
118) leaving said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 490 feet to a point along
northeasterly lines of said lands, now or formerly, of Flora R. Savage, as
recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book IS Volume 20 Page 137
(Tax map ID# DC-00-9.20-01-04.00-000); thence running,
119) by and with said northerly line of said lands of Flora R.
Savage in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 345 feet to a
point; thence running,
120) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands of Flora
R. Savage in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 275 feet to
a point on the northerly side of lands, now or formerly, of Larry N.
McAllister, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book L Volume
37 Page 333 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-9.20-02-56.00-000) and northwesterly lines of
Myrtle Street; thence running,
121) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 50 feet
to a point; thence running,
122) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 75 feet
to a point; thence running,
123) by and with said southeasterly line of said Larry N.
McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 150 feet to
a point; thence running,
124) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 225 feet
to a point; thence running,
125) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 145 feet
to a point; thence running,
126) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 230 feet
to a point on the centerline of Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
127) by and with centerline of said Glenwood Avenue in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 205 feet to a point; thence
running,
128) leaving said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 330 feet to a point along
aforementioned lands of Larry N. McAllister; thence running,
129) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 295 feet
to a point; thence running,
130) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 130 feet
to a point; thence running,
131) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 50 feet
to a point; thence running,
132) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 460 feet
to a point on the centerline of aforementioned Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
133) by and with said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 50 feet to a point; thence
running,
134) leaving said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 460 feet to a point; thence
running,
135) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 200 feet
to a point; thence running,
136) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands of Larry
N. McAllister in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 367 feet
to a point along Greens Branch and lands, now or formerly, of Smyrna Special
School District, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds (Tax map ID#
DC-17-9.19-01-01.00-000); thence running,
137) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Smyrna
High School and Greens Branch in a southerly direction a distance of
approximately 625 feet to a point; thence running,
138) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Smyrna
High School in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 425 feet
to a point on the centerline of aforementioned Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
139) by and with centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 150 feet to a point; thence
running,
140) leaving said centerline of Glenwood Avenue in a
southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 35 feet to a point along
lands, now or formerly, of Staats Gas Service, Inc., as recorded in the Office
of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 182 Page 50 (Tax map ID#
DC-17-9.20-02-58.00-000); thence running,
141) by and with said northwesterly line of said lands of Staats
Gas Service, Inc., in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 247
feet to a point; thence running,
142) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Staats
Gas Service, Inc., in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 181
feet to a point along Conrail Railroad; thence running,
143) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands of Staats
Gas Service, Inc., and running by and with the Conrail Railroad Tracks in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 440 feet to a point along
the centerline of Glenwood Avenue; thence running,
144) leaving said centerline of Glenwood Avenue and running by
and with the northeasterly line of, now or formerly, of Gertrude E.
Goldsborough, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book IS
Volume 20 Page 195 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-018.08-01-02.00-000), in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 400 feet to a point; thence running,
145) by and with said southeasterly line of said lands, now or
formerly, Town and Country Farms Subdivision, as recorded in the Office of
Recorder of Deeds, Plat Book 64 Page 87, in a southwesterly direction a
distance of approximately 380 feet to a point along Conrail Railroad; thence
running,
146) by and with said southerly line of said lands of Town and
Country Farms Subdivision and northerly line of Conrail Railroad in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 355 feet, crossing over
Foxwood Drive, to a point along the easterly side of lands, now or formerly,
Franklin S. and Joyce Ann C. Chandler, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of
Deeds, Deed Book 182 Page 323 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-18.07-01-01.00-000); thence
running,
147) by and with said easterly lines of Franklin S. and Joyce
Ann C. Chandler and westerly line of Foxwood Drive in a northerly direction a
distance of approximately 210 feet to a point along southerly lines of Town and
Country Farms Subdivision; thence running,
148) by and with said southerly lines of Town and Country Farms
Subdivision and northerly lines of Franklin S. and Joyce Ann C. Chandler in a
southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 208 feet to a point; thence
running,
149) by and with said Town of Clayton boundary and Town and
Country Farms Subdivision in a southwesterly direction a distance of 414 feet
to a point; thence running,
150) by and with said Town of Clayton boundary and westerly line
of Town and Country Farms Subdivision in a northerly direction a distance of
approximately 200 feet to a point; thence running,
151) by and with said Town of Clayton boundary and southerly
line of Town and Country Farms Subdivision in a southwesterly direction a
distance of approximately 432 feet to a point; thence running,
152) by and with said Town of Clayton boundary and westerly line
of Town and Country Farms Subdivision in a northwesterly direction a distance
of approximately 785 feet to a point; thence running,
153) by and with said Town of Clayton boundary and northerly
line of Town and Country Farms Subdivision in a northeasterly direction a
distance of approximately 527 feet to a point of lands, now or formerly, of Richard
L. and Bernadette Mumford, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed
Book 187 Page 333 (Tax Map ID# DC-17-9.19-01-03.00-000); thence running,
154) leaving said lands of Town and Country Farms Subdivision
and running by and with said southwesterly lines of Richard L. and Bernadette
Mumford and Town of Clayton in a northwesterly direction a distance of
approximately 1195 feet to a point on the centerline of Duck Creek Parkway;
thence running,
155) leaving said Town of Clayton boundary and running by and
with said centerline Duck Creek Parkway in a northeasterly direction a distance
of approximately 315 feet to a point; thence running,
156) leaving said centerline Duck Creek Parkway in a northwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 180 feet to a point along lands, now or
formerly, State of Delaware (Tax Map ID# DC-17-9.15-01-02.00-000); thence
running,
157) by and with said southwesterly line of said lands of State
of Delaware in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 605 feet
to a point along Town of Clayton Boundary; thence running,
158) by and with said westerly line of State of Delaware and
Town of Clayton Boundary in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately
330 feet to a point along centerline of Providence Creek; thence running,
159) by and with said centerline of Providence Creek, centerline
of Duck Creek Pond and aforementioned State of Delaware lands in a
northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 3322 feet to a point;
thence running,
160) leaving said centerline Duck Creek Pond in a southeasterly
direction a distance 475 feet to centerline of aforementioned Duck Creek
Parkway; thence running,
161) by and with centerline of Duck Creek Parkway in a
Northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 1025 feet to a point along
said intersection of centerline of Duck Creek Parkway and centerline of North
Main Street; thence running,
162) by and with said centerline of North Main Street in a Southeasterly
direction a distance of approximately 511 feet to a point; thence running,
163) leaving said North main Street in a northeasterly
direction, along lands, now or formerly, Town of Smyrna (Tax Map ID#
DC-17-9.12-01-01.00-000) a distance of approximately 1275 feet to a point along
the centerline of Smyrna River; thence running,
164) by and with said centerline of Smyrna River in a easterly
direction a distance of approximately 2273 feet to a point along the centerline
of US 13 DuPont Highway; thence running,
165) leaving said centerline of US 13 and crossing into New
Castle County in a northeasterly direction a distance of approximately 734 feet
to a point along lands, now or formerly, of Robert Yaiser, as recorded in the
Office of Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book 345 page 349 (Tax map ID# 2800100002);
thence running,
166) by and with said northwesterly lines of lands, now or
formally, Henry and Ruth Jurgens, as recorded in the Office of Recorder of
Deeds, Deed Book S Volume 56 Page 114 (Tax map ID# 2800100001) in a
northeasterly direction a distance of 287 feet to a point; thence running,
167) by and with said northeasterly line of said lands of Henry
and Ruth Jurgens in a southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 743
feet to a point on the centerline of Smyrna River and leaving New Castle
County; thence running,
168) by and with said centerline of Smyrna River in an
southeasterly direction a distance of approximately 3918 feet to a point on
centerline of State Route 1, thence running,
169) leaving said centerline of State Route 1 in a easterly
direction a distance of approximately 1186 feet to a point along lands, now or
formerly, of State of Delaware Game and Fish Commission
(DC-17-10.10-01-36.00-000) to a point along the westerly line of Duck Creek
Landing; thence running,
170) by and with said westerly line of Duck Creek Landing in a
southerly direction a distance of approximately 755 feet to a point along State
Route 1 and Woodland Beach Road; thence running,
171) by and with said northerly line of Woodland Beach Road in
an easterly direction a distance of approximately 510 feet to a point; thence
running,
172) leaving said Woodland Beach in a southerly direction a
distance of approximately 2535 feet along lands of State of Delaware - DelDOT
State Route 1 ROW to a point along Mill Creek; thence running,
173) by and with said Mill Creek in a southwesterly direction a
distance of approximately 550 feet to said centerline of State Route 1; thence
running,
174) leaving said centerline of State Route 1 in a southwesterly
direction a distance of approximately 211 feet to a point along lands, now or
formerly, Odd Fellows Cemetary (DC-17-19.06-01-01.00-000); thence running,
175) by and with said easterly line of said lands of Odd Fellows
Cemetary in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 950 feet;
thence running,
176) by and with said southerly line of said lands of Odd
Fellows Cemetary in a northwesterly direction a distance of approximately 332
feet; thence running,
177) by and with said easterly line of said lands of Odd Fellows
Cemetary in a southwesterly direction a distance of approximately 975 feet to
the intersection of Sunnyside Road and US Rt. 13 and the point and place of
beginning, let the contains be what they may.
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.10 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Alfred Schmidt, by Deed of record in the Office of the Recorder of
Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 207 Page 198(Tax Map ID#
DC-00-019.10-02-07.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.0 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Mark W. Lewis & Helen R. Lewes, by Deed of record in the Office
of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book G, Volume 40 Page
0287(Tax Map ID# DC-00-19.10-02-08.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 0.69 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to David W. Roberts & Carol Lynn Foxwell, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 237 Page
312 (Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.10-02-09.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 0.51 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to James L. Givens & Edna Givens, by Deed of record in the Office
of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book C, Volume 44 Page
0171(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.10-02-10.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.0 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Charles G. Lamb & Bette W. Lamb, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book S, Volume
20 Page 0029(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-37.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 2.0 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Charles F. Woodley & Georgia Lee Woodley, by Deed of record in
the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 371
Page 0093(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-38.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.0 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Charles F. Woodley & Georgia Lee Woodley, by Deed of record in
the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book E,
Volume 21 Page 0508(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-42.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 21,000 square feet of ground
heretofore conveyed to Chom Ye Panaccione, by Deed of record in the Office of
the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book C, Volume 39 Page
0270(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-43.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 0.480 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Stephen B. Bozeman & Rita Bozeman, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 488 Page
0308(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-45.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 36,000 square feet of ground
heretofore conveyed to 1350 Associates, L.L.C., by Deed of record in the Office
of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 527 Page 0044(Tax
Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-52.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.7 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Herbert E. McClary & Barbara M. McClary, by Deed of record in
the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book F,
Volume 041 Page 0194(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-53.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.00 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Gemni, L.L.C., by Deed of record in the Office of the Recorder of
Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 519 Page 0312(Tax Map ID#
DC-00-019.00-01-54.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 0.34 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Donald L. Uhlendorff, by Deed of record in the Office of the
Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 489 Page 0190(Tax Map ID#
DC-00-019.00-01-39.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 0.09 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Donald L. Uhlendorff, by Deed of record in the Office of the
Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 489 Page 0190(Tax Map ID#
DC-00-019.00-01-39.01-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 15,000 square feet of ground
heretofore conveyed to Smyrna Insurance Service, LTD, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book P, Volume
027 Page 0220(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-40.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 7,500 square feet of ground
heretofore conveyed to Smyrna Insurance Service, LTD, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book P, Volume
027 Page 0220(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-41.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.0 acre of ground heretofore
conveyed to Gayle Mae Warren, by Deed of record in the Office of the Recorder
of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book U, Volume 047 Page 0162(Tax Map
ID# DC-00-019.00-01-63.01-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 4.0 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Gayle Mae Warren, by Deed of record in the Office of the Recorder
of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book U, Volume 047 Page 0162(Tax Map
ID# DC-00-019.00-01-63.02-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 9.0 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Irvin F. Simon & Harriett I. Simon, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book N, Volume
034 Page 0064(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-56.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.80 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to James A. Durham & Janice A. Durham, by Deed of record in the
Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 300 Page
0302(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-58.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 29,400 square feet of ground
heretofore conveyed to Smyrna Realty, L.L.C., by Deed of record in the Office
of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed Book 536 Page 0066(Tax
Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-60.00-000).
EXCEPTING therefrom, however, 1.3 acres of ground heretofore
conveyed to Amrutbhai Ishverlal Patel & Nilaben Amrutbhai Patel, by Deed of
record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent County in Deed
Book P, Volume 041 Page 0338(Tax Map ID# DC-00-019.00-01-61.00-000).
The Council may, at any time hereafter, cause a map or plot to
be made of said Town, and the said map or plot, or any supplement thereto, when
made and approved by said Council, signed by the Mayor, and attested to by the
Secretary, with the municipal seal affixed, upon being recorded in the Office
of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent and New Castle Counties, State of
Delaware, or the record thereof, or a duly certified copy of said record, shall
be evidence in all courts of law and equity in this State.
2. Territorial Limits. The boundaries of the Town of Smyrna are hereby established and declared as depicted on the most recent map entitled ‘Town of Smyrna Municipal Limits' certified and dated by the Mayor and Secretary of the Town Council and of public record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds for Kent and New Castle Counties. Such map or plot shall, from time to time, be updated and revised to reflect intervening changes in the Town's municipal boundaries and duly recorded, but failure to record such map shall not void an annexation. Such map or plot, or any supplement thereto, or the record thereof, or a duly certified copy of said record, shall be evidence in all courts of law and equity in this State.
Section 2. Amend Section 3, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
3.1 Initiation of Annexation Proceedings.
3.1 1 By Petition of the Property Owners. Any property owner(s)
holding record fee title to real property in territory contiguous to the then
existing corporate limits of the Town may petition the Town Council to annex
that certain territory in which they own property. Such petition shall be in
writing, duly executed and acknowledged by each petitioner, shall describe with
reasonable certainty the territory proposed for annexation, indicate the
property owned by each petitioner therein, state the reasons for the requested
annexation, and identify the proposed zoning district classification(s) for
such territory (which proposed zoning classifications shall be consistent with
the Town's Comprehensive Plan). The Town Council may, within 90 days following
the filing of such petition in the Town Office, vote to accept such petition
and proceed as hereinafter provided, or to reject such petition. Any petition
not so accepted within said 90 days shall be null and void. For purposes of
this §§3.1.1 and 3.1.2, "territory contiguous to the then existing
corporate limits of the Town" shall include both real property which,
though itself not contiguous to the Town's then existing corporate limits, is
contiguous to other real property which is proposed to be included in the
annexation and real property which would be contiguous under §3.2.9(b).
3.1.2 Resolution of the Town Council. The Town Council may, at
any time, adopt a resolution proposing the annexation of any territory(s)
contiguous to the Town. Such resolution shall describe, with reasonable
certainty, the territory(s) proposed to be annexed, state the reasons for the
proposed annexation, and identify the proposed zoning district
classification(s) for such territory(s) (which proposed zoning classifications
shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan). Upon adoption of such
resolution, the Town Council shall proceed as hereafter provided.
3.2 Annexation Procedure. Whether annexation is proposed by
petition of the property owners or by resolution of the Town Council, the
following procedure shall be complied with:
3.2.1 Resolution and Notice; Referral To Planning Commission.
(a) The Town Council shall adopt a resolution notifying the
property owners and the residents of both the Town and the territory proposed
to be annexed, that the Town proposes to annex certain territory which adjoins
its then corporate limits. The resolution shall contain a description of the
territory proposed to be annexed, shall identify the zoning district
classification(s) proposed for such territory if annexed (which proposed zoning
classifications shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan), and
shall fix a time and place for a public hearing on the subject of the proposed
annexation and zoning. Such resolution may also provide that if the annexation
is finally approved, the Town shall not be obligated to provide any municipal
services or extend any municipal facilities or improvements unless and until
the Town Council, in the sole exercise of its reasonable discretion, determines
that it is appropriate for the Town to do so or the owner or developer of any
property so annexed (or any portion thereof) binds itself, with reasonable
surety acceptable to the Town, to pay in full all costs and expenses to provide
such municipal services and/or to extend or construct such municipal facilities
and improvements to serve such lands (in strict accordance with all governing
federal, state, and Town regulations and standards), subject to an appropriate
"recapture agreement" (acceptable to the Town) pursuant to which the
owner(s) or developer(s) of other lands benefited by the services, extensions,
or improvements paid for by the initial owner/developer under the recapture
agreement would pay to the Town their equitably-determined proportionate share
of such costs and expenses (as a condition precedent to obtaining such
services, extensions, and/or improvements) which amounts the Town would, upon
receipt, rebate to the owner or developer which had originally paid for those
services, extensions, and/or improvements. The Resolution setting forth the
information shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Town and in the territory proposed to be annexed. Such
publication shall appear not less than 14 days nor more than 60 days before the
date set for the hearing. Such notice shall be in bold print or bordered in
black in such manner as to call attention thereto.
In addition to publication as herein provided, the Town Council
shall, not less than 14 days nor more than 60 days before the date of such
hearing: (1 ) cause a public notice, containing the full text of the
Resolution, to be posted in at least 5 public places in the Town and in at
least one place, viewable to the public, in the territory proposed to be
annexed; (2) shall comply with the applicable provisions of 29 Del. C. Chapters
92 and 93 as those provisions may from time to time hereafter be amended (or
with any future corresponding provision of law), and (3) send a copy of such
notice, certified mail, to the owners of record of the lands proposed to be
included in the annexation at their address as shown on the public tax records.
Written notice to one co-owner shall be notice to all.
(b) The Town Council shall forward a copy of the aforesaid
resolution to the Planning Commission for its advisory review and comment. The
Planning Commission's recommendations and comments shall be submitted to the
Town Council at or before the public hearing held pursuant to section 3.2.2,
provided that if such recommendations or comments are not received from the
Planning Commission at or prior to such public hearing, the Town Council may
proceed without the benefit thereof.
3.2.2 Public Hearing. At the time, date, and place specified in
the Resolution proposing annexation (or at any revised date, time, or place if
duly noticed as provided in §3.2.1) the Town Council shall sit to hear
comments and opinion from any concerned party (and to receive the
recommendations and comments of the Planning Commission, if any) regarding the
proposed annexation and proposed zoning district classification. Such public
hearing shall be for the purpose of obtaining public opinion and legislative
fact finding and the Town Council shall not be bound, in any way, to act in
response to any information or comments offered at such hearing.
3.2.3 Resolution Ordering Special Election. At any time
following the public hearing, the Town Council may pass a resolution ordering a
special election to be held not less than 14 days, nor more than 60 days after
the date of such resolution proposing the special election. Such resolution
shall identify the zoning district classification(s), consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, which shall be assigned to the territory(s) if annexed. The
passage of this Resolution shall ipso facto be considered the determination of
the Town Council to proceed with the matter of the proposed annexation and
zoning district classification if the election results are in favor of the
annexation.
3.2.4 Notice of Special Election. Notice of the time and place
of said special election shall be published not less than 14 days nor more than
60 days before the date set for said Special Election. Notice shall be
published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and
in the territory proposed to be annexed. Such notice shall be in bold print or
bordered in black in such manner as to call attention thereto.
In addition to such publication as herein provided, the Town
Council shall, not less than 14 days nor more than 60 days before the date of
such special election, cause a public notice containing the full text of the
Resolution proposing such Special Election to be posted in at least 5 public
places in the Town and in at least 1 place, viewable to the public, in the
territory proposed to be annexed.
3.2.5 Those Entitled to Vote.
(a) At such special election, any person residing in the area
proposed to be annexed who would be entitled to vote at the annual town
election if the area proposed to be annexed was already included in the Town,
shall be entitled to one vote. (For purposes of this section "lawfully
entitled to vote" shall not include "registered to vote" if
registration is required for town elections). In addition, each legal entity or
natural person holding record title in its own name in the territory proposed
to be annexed, shall be entitled to one vote.
(b) These provisions shall be construed so as to permit only
"one-man, one vote". Where a voter is entitled to vote by virtue of
both residence and ownership of property, that voter shall be entitled to only
one vote; where a voter is entitled to vote by ownership of two or more
properties, that voter shall be entitled to only one vote.
(c) Any legal entity (other than a natural person) entitled to
vote must cast its vote by a duly executed and acknowledged power of attorney.
Any natural person may cast his/her vote by a duly executed and acknowledged
power of attorney. Such Power of Attorney shall be surrendered to the Board of
Special Election which shall file same in the Office of the Town Manager. Such
Power of Attorney so filed shall constitute conclusive evidence of the right of
said person to vote in the Special Election on behalf of the legal entity or
natural person granting the power.
3.2.6 Conduct of the Special Election. The Town Council may
cause voting machines, electronic voting systems, or paper ballots to be used
in the Special Election, as required by law, the form of ballot to be printed
as follows:
____ For the proposed annexation.
____ Against the proposed annexation.
The Mayor shall appoint three (3) persons to act as a Board of
Special Election. One (1) of the said persons so appointed shall be designated
the Presiding Officer. The Board of Special Elections shall be the sole and
final judges of the legality of the votes offered at such Special Election. It
shall keep a true and accurate list of all natural persons and other legal
entities voting. Voting shall be conducted in a public place as designated by
the Resolution calling the Special Election. The polling place shall be open
for such period of time as the Town Council determines to be reasonable and
appropriate under the circumstances, not less than one hour, as set by the Town
Council, on the date set for the Special Election. All persons in the polling
place at the time of the closing of the polls shall be permitted to vote, even
though such votes are not cast until after the time for the closing of the
polls.
All ballots cast by those persons or other legal entities
authorized to vote as residents or property-owners in the territory proposed to
be annexed shall be deposited in designated ballot box(es) or cast in
designated voting machine(s).
3.2.7 Results of Special Election.
(a) In order for the territory proposed to be annexed to be
considered annexed, a majority of the votes must have been cast in favor of the
proposed annexation.
(b) If the vote is favorable to the proposed annexation, the
Town Council shall at its first meeting following the Special Election adopt a
resolution annexing the said territory and including it within the limits of
the Town. Contemporaneous therewith, the Town Council shall also adopt an
ordinance designating the zoning district classification(s) of the territory(s)
so annexed, which shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan. If
the initial resolution proposing annexation provided that the Town was not
obligated to provide municipal services or to extend municipal facilities or
improvements to the annexed lands as provided in section 3.2.1, the resolution
annexing such lands shall contain the same or substantially similar provisions.
Upon the adoption of said resolution of annexation, copies thereof, signed by
the Mayor, and certified by the Secretary, with municipal seal affixed,
together with a plot of the area annexed, shall forthwith be filed for record
in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent and/or New Castle
counties, and sent to the Office of State Planning or its successor agency. The
territory so annexed shall be considered to be a part of the Town from the
moment the last mentioned resolution is adopted by the Town Council. Failure to
record said resolution, or the plot accompanying same, shall not invalidate the
annexation, but such recording may be enforced by writ of mandamus or mandatory
injunction.
3.1 Initiation of Annexation Proceedings.
3.1.1 By Petition of the Property Owners. Any property owner(s) holding record fee title to real property in territory contiguous to the then existing corporate limits of the Town may petition the Town Council to annex that certain territory in which they own property. Such petition shall be in writing, duly executed and acknowledged by each petitioner, shall describe with reasonable certainty the territory proposed for annexation, indicate the property owned by each petitioner therein, state the reasons for the requested annexation, and identify the proposed zoning district classification(s) for such territory (which proposed zoning classifications shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan). The Town Council may, within 90 days following the filing of such petition in the Town Office, vote to accept such petition and proceed as hereinafter provided, or to reject such petition. Any petition not so accepted within said 90 days shall be null and void. For purposes of this subsection 3.1.1 and subsection 3.1.2, "territory contiguous to the then existing corporate limits of the Town" shall include both real property which, though itself not contiguous to the Town's then existing corporate limits, is contiguous to other real property which isproposed to be included in the annexation and real property which would be contiguous under subsection 3.2.10(b); provided, however, that where the contiguity of any parcel for annexation is dependent upon the annexation of another abutting parcel or parcels and such "connecting" parcel(s) is/are not annexed prior to or simultaneously with the dependent parcel, the annexation of such dependent parcel shall fail and be void for lack of contiguity.
3.1.2 Resolution of the Town Council. The Town Council may, at any time, adopt a resolution proposing the annexation of any territory(s) contiguous to the Town. Such resolution shall describe, with reasonable certainty, the territory(s) proposed to be annexed, state the reasons for the proposed annexation, and identify the proposed zoning district classification(s) for such territory(s) (which proposed zoning classifications shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan). Upon adoption of such resolution, the Town Council shall proceed as hereafter provided. This resolution may be adopted at the same Town Council meeting at which the resolution required in subsection 3.2.1(a) is also adopted.
3.2 Annexation Procedure. Whether annexation is proposed by petition of the property owners or by resolution of the Town Council, the following procedure shall be complied with:
3.2.1 Resolution and Notice; Referral To Planning Commission.
(a) The Town Council shall adopt a resolution notifying the property owners and the residents of both the Town and the territory proposed to be annexed, that the Town proposes to annex certain territory which adjoins its then corporate limits. The resolution shall contain a description of the territory proposed to be annexed, shall identify the zoning district classification(s) proposed for such territory if annexed (which proposed zoning classifications shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan), shall describe the right of a qualified resident to object to the annexation, and shall fix a time and place for a public hearing on the subject of the proposed annexation and zoning. For purposes of this section, a "qualified resident" shall be any individual residing in the territory proposed for annexation who is not a property owner but who would be qualified under subsection 3.2.5(a) to vote for the annexation. A qualified resident may file a written objection to the annexation with the Town at any time prior to the close of the public hearing held pursuant to subsection 3.2.2. Such resolution may also provide that if the annexation is finally approved, the Town shall not be obligated to provide any municipal services or extend any municipal facilities or improvements unless and until the Town Council, in the sole exercise of its reasonable discretion, determines that it is appropriate for the Town to do so or the owner or developer of any property so annexed (or any portion thereof) binds itself, with reasonable surety acceptable to the Town, to pay in full all costs and expenses to provide such municipal services and/or to extend or construct such municipal facilities and improvements to serve such lands (in strict accordance with all governing federal, state, and Town regulations and standards), subject to an appropriate "recapture agreement" (acceptable to the Town) pursuant to which the owner(s) or developer(s) of other lands benefited by the services, extensions, or improvements paid for by the initial owner/developer under the recapture agreement would pay to the Town their equitably-determined proportionate share of such costs and expenses (as a condition precedent to obtaining such services, extensions, and/or improvements) which amounts the Town would, upon receipt, rebate to the owner or developer which had originally paid for those services, extensions, and/or improvements. The resolution setting forth the information shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and in the territory proposed to be annexed. Such publication shall appear no fewer than 14 days nor more than 60 days before the date set for the hearing. Such notice shall be in bold print or bordered in black in such manner as to call attention thereto.
In addition to publication as herein provided, the Town Council shall, no fewer than 14 days nor more than 60 days before the date of such hearing: (1) cause a public notice containing the full text of the resolution, to be posted in at least 5 public places in the Town and in at least one place, viewable to the public, in the territory proposed to be annexed; (2) shall comply with the applicable provisions of 29 Del. C. Chapters 92 and 93 as those provisions may from time to time hereafter be amended (or with any future corresponding provision of law), and (3) send a copy of such notice, certified mail, to the owners of record of the lands proposed to be included in the annexation at their address as shown on the public tax records. Written notice to one co-owner shall be notice to all.
(b) The Town Council shall forward a copy of the aforesaid resolution to the Planning Commission for its advisory review and comment. The Planning Commission's recommendations and comments shall be submitted to the Town Council at or before the public hearing held pursuant to subsection 3.2.2, provided that if such recommendations or comments are not received from the Planning Commission at or prior to such public hearing, the Town Council may proceed without the benefit thereof.
3.2.2 Public Hearing. At the time, date, and place specified in the Resolution proposing annexation (or at any revised date, time, or place if duly noticed as provided in subsection 3.2.1) the Town Council shall sit to hear comments and opinion from any concerned party (and to receive the recommendations and comments of the Planning Commission, if any) regarding the proposed annexation and proposed zoning district classification. Such public hearing shall be for the purpose of obtaining public opinion and legislative fact finding and the Town Council shall not be bound, in any way, to act in response to any information or comments offered at such hearing.
3.2.3 Annexations Not Requiring Special Election; Resolution Ordering Special Election.
(a) Where the territory proposed forannexation is either initiated at the written petition of all of the owners of record of all landsproposed for such annexation or consented to in a notarized writing signed by all such owners and submitted to the Town Council no later than the conclusion of the public hearing held pursuant to subsection 3.2.2, and where the Town has received no written objection from a qualified resident of the territory proposed for annexation as defined herein, the Town Council may, at any duly noticed regular or special meeting held within six (6) months of the public hearing, vote to accept or reject such proposed annexation and if accepted,the Town Council shall proceed at that meeting, or at the next duly noticed regular or special Town Council meeting, to adopt a final resolution annexing the territory in accordance with subsection 3.2.7(c). In such cases, no special election shall be required.
(b) Where fewer than all of the owners of record of all parcels of land within a territory proposed for annexation have requested annexation or consented to annexation by the close of the public hearing or where a qualified voter has filed with the Town a written objection to the annexation, at any time following the public hearing, the Town Council may (but is not required to) pass a resolution ordering a special election and setting the date, time, and place of the special election, which shall not be fewer than 14 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such resolution proposing the special election. Such resolution shall include a description of the territory proposed for annexation and shall identify the zoning district classification(s), consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which shall be assigned to the parcel(s) if annexed. The passage of this resolution shall ipso facto be considered the determination of the Town Council to proceed with the matter of the proposed annexation and zoning district classification if the election results are in favor of the annexation.
3.2.4 Notice of Special Election. Notice of the date, time, and place of said special election shall be published no fewer than 14 days before the date set for said Special Election. Notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and in the territory proposed to be annexed, and shall be posted in at least five public places in the Town and in at least one place, viewable to the public, in the territory proposed to be annexed. Such notice shall be in bold print or bordered in black in such manner as to call attention thereto, and shall include a description of the territory proposed for annexation and proposed zoning district classifications.
3.2.5. Those Entitled to Vote.
(a) At such special election, any person residing in the territory proposed for annexation who would be entitled to vote at the annual Town election if the territory proposed for annexation was already included in the Town, shall be entitled to one vote. (For purposes of this section "lawfully entitled to vote" shall not include "registered to vote" if registration is required for Town elections). In addition, each legal entity or natural person holding record title in its own name in any parcel proposed for annexation shall be entitled to one vote.
(b) These provisions shall be construed so as to permit only "one-man, one vote". Where a voter is entitled to vote by virtue of both residence and ownership of property or is entitled to vote by ownership of two or more parcels, that voter shall be entitled to only one vote.
(c) Any legal entity (other than a natural person) entitled to vote must cast its vote by a duly executed and acknowledged power of attorney. Any natural person may cast his/her vote by a duly executed and acknowledged power of attorney. Such power of attorney shall be surrendered to the Board of Special Elections, which shall file same in the Office of the Town Manager. Such power of attorney so filed shall constitute conclusive evidence of the right of said person to vote in the Special Election on behalf of the legal entity or natural person granting the power.
3.2.6 Conduct of the Special Election. The Town Council may cause voting machines, electronic voting systems, or paper ballots to be used in the Special Election, as required by law, the form of ballot to be printed as follows:
____ For the proposed annexation.
____ Against the proposed annexation.
The Town Board of Elections appointed pursuant to subsection 5.5.5(f) of this Charter shall act as a Board of Special Elections for the annexation. If there is not already a board chairperson, one (1) of the said Board of Special Elections members shall be designated the presiding officer by majority vote of the Board of Special Elections. The Board of Special Elections shall be the sole and final judges of the legality of the votes offered at such special election. It shall keep a true and accurate list of all natural persons and other legal entities voting. Voting shall be conducted in a public place as designated by the resolution calling the special election. The polling place shall be open for such period of time as the Town Council determines to be reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, provided the poll is open for at least one hour, as set by the Town Council, on the date set for the special election. All persons in the polling place at the time of the closing of the polls shall be permitted to vote, even though such votes are not cast until after the time for the closing of the polls.
All ballots cast by those persons or other legal entities authorized to vote as property owners in the territory proposed to be annexed shall be deposited in designated ballot box(es) or cast in designated voting machine(s).
3.2.7 Results of special election; final resolution.
(a) In order for the territory proposed to be annexed to be considered annexed, a majority of the votes must have been cast in favor of the proposed annexation.
(b) If the vote is favorable to the proposed annexation, the Town Council shall, at its first meeting following the special election, proceed in accordance with subsection 3.2.7(c) to adopt a resolution annexing the said territory and including it within the limits of the Town ("final resolution"), as well as an ordinance designating the zoning district classification(s) of the territory(s) so annexed.
(c) Whether acting pursuant to subsection 3.2.3 (all record owners request or consent to annexation) or 3.2.7 (majority of votes at special annexation election cast in favor of annexation), the Town Council shall adopt a resolution annexing the said territory and including it within the limits of the Town ("final resolution"). Contemporaneous therewith, the Town Council shall also adopt an ordinance designating the zoning district classification(s) of the territory(s) so annexed, which shall be consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan. If the initial resolution proposing annexation provided that the Town was not obligated to provide municipal services or to extend municipal facilities or improvements to the annexed lands as provided in subsection 3.2.1, the resolution annexing such lands shall contain the same or substantially similar provisions. Upon the adoption of said resolution of annexation, copies thereof, signed by the Mayor, and certified by the secretary, with municipal seal affixed, together with a plot of the area annexed, shall forthwith be filed for record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Kent and/or New Castle counties and sent to the Office of State Planning or its successor agency. The territory so annexed shall be considered to be a part of the Town from the moment the last mentioned resolution is adopted by the Town Council. Failure to record said resolution, or the plot accompanying same, shall not invalidate the annexation, but such recording may be enforced by writ of mandamus or mandatory injunction.
Section 3. Amend Section 4, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
4.2.31 May provide for
the punishment of a violation of any ordinance of the Town by fine or
imprisonment or both, not exceeding $1,000.00 and/or thirty days imprisonment
for each offense.
4.2.31 May provide civil penalties or criminal penalties for the violation of any ordinance of the Town by fine or imprisonment or both, not exceeding $1,000.00 and/or thirty days imprisonment for each offense.
Section 4. Amend Section 4, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
4.2.49 Where the title to real property is held by an association of property owners (e.g. homeowner association, condo association, maintenance association), the Town may assess each member of the association individually, on a pro-rata basis, for any expenses incurred by the Town to bring the real property held by the association into compliance with the Town laws and ordinances, where the association has failed to make payment in full within 60 days after written demand from the Town. When the Town has a good faith belief that the association is defunct or no longer has a functioning board (or other similar representative body), the Town shall provide notices directly to, and make demand of,individual association members. Notwithstanding the provisions of 25 Del. C. §81-317, assessments pursuant to this section may be collected in the same manner as other amounts owed to the Town.
Section 5. Amend Section 5, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
5. Town Council
5.1 Governing Body; Election Districts.
5.1.1 Governing Body. The government of the Town and the exercise
of all powers conferred by this Charter, except as otherwise provided herein,
shall be vested in and exercised by a Town Council composed of a Mayor and six
(6) council-members to be chosen as hereinafter provided. Unless the context is
clearly to the contrary, the term "Council" or "Town
Council" herein shall mean the Mayor and council-members.
5.1.2 Election Districts. In order that the members of the Town
Council shall be distributed throughout the Town, before March 1st, 2004, the
Town Council shall, by ordinance, divide the town into not less than three (3)
representative districts, such districts to be drawn so that the same shall be
reasonably equal in population. The Town Council may thereafter provide, by
amendatory ordinance, for the creation of up to three (3)additional districts
and/or re-arrangement of the boundaries of existing districts in the event of
annexation or significant increases in the total population of the Town, but
such revisions shall continue to result in districts of reasonably equal
population.
(a) District and "At-Large" Representation. In
accordance with and subject to the "phase-in" provisions of
subparagraph c) below, by the year 2006, the Town Council shall be comprised of
one council-member from each representative district (identified as such); the
Mayor and the remaining council-members may be domiciles of any representative
district, and shall be elected "at large." At any town election, each
qualified voter of the town shall be entitled to vote for one candidate for
each "at large" office to be filled; but only those qualified voters
who, for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election, have been
continuously domiciled in the representative district for which a seat is up
for election shall be entitled to vote for a district representative candidate.
(b) Public Hearing; Notice. Prior to adopting the ordinance
establishing the initial three (3) representative districts (as provided in
section 5.1.2 above) or in the event that any action is subsequently taken to
create a new election district or to revise the boundaries of then-existing
election districts, the Town Council shall hold at least one public hearing, on
not less than thirty (30) days public notice, stating the date, time, place,
and purpose of the hearing which public notice shall be: (i) published in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Town and (ii) posted in at least five
(5) public places in the Town. The Town Council shall conduct its review and
any proceedings or actions resulting therefrom, so that the boundaries of the
new or revised representative districts are finalized and set forth in an
appropriate ordinance no later than March 1st of the year following the year in
which the review was commenced. Notice of such new or revised representative
districts shall be promptly: (i) published in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Town and (ii) posted in at least five (5) public places in
the Town.
(c) "Phase-In" of District Representation. The present
Mayor and council-members of the Town, and other officers appointed to serve,
in office under Chapter 339, Volume 62, Laws of Delaware, as amended, shall
continue to serve from and after the effective date of this Charter, until
their successors are duly elected or appointed. In 2004, two persons shall be
elected to the Town Council to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of
the terms of office of the two then-outgoing council-members. One of those two
vacancies shall be designated as the representative for the 1st representative
district and candidates for such seat shall be domiciled in that district. In
2005, three (3) persons shall be elected to fill the vacancies created by the
expiration of the terms of office of the then out-going Mayor and two
council-members. One of the two council-member vacancies shall be designated as
the representative for the 2nd representative district and candidates for such
seat shall be domiciled in that district. In 2006, two persons shall be elected
to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of the two then
out-going council-members, and one of those two vacancies shall be designated
as the representative for the 3rd representative district , and such candidate
shall be domiciled in that representative district.
In the event that the Town Council subsequently acts to create
new, additional election districts as provided in section 5.1.2 above, one or
two (as necessary) of the two vacancies created by the expiration of the terms
of the then two out-going council-members shall be designated as the
representative(s) for the 4th (and, if necessary, the 5th and 6th)
representative district(s), and candidates for that/those seats shall be
domiciled in the representative district for which they are seeking election.
(d) Where No District Candidate Files To Run. In the event that
no qualified candidate files a timely "Notice of Candidacy" under
section 5.3, such seat shall be filled for that term of office by the
"at-large" candidate receiving the second-highest number of votes for
the at-large seat.
5.2 Qualifications. Candidates for the office of Mayor or
council-member shall be at least 21 years of age, shall have been a bona-fide
domiciliary of the Town for at least one year prior to the date of the
election, and shall be otherwise qualified to vote at the annual Town election
as provided in Section 5.5.1. Additionally, any candidate for a representative
district council seat shall have been a bona-fide domiciliary of his/her
representative district for at least one year. Any person elected to the office
of Mayor or council-member must continue, throughout his/her term of office, to
meet these qualifications or forfeit his/her office; provided however, that if
a council-member with less than one year remaining in his/her term of office
shall change that domicile to another representative district in the Town, such
council-member shall not, for that reason, be disqualified from or forfeit
his/her office.
The Town Council, by majority vote of its disinterested members,
shall be the sole and final judge of the qualifications of its members, and
shall interpret and apply the standards set forth in this Charter.
5.3 Notice of Candidacy; Determinations Concerning
Qualifications; Elected Officials Running for the Office of Mayor.
5.3.1 Notice of Candidacy. In order to be listed on the ballot
at any regular or special town election , each candidate shall file a written
and signed notice of intention to seek office with the Town Manager, on a form
prescribed by the Town, before the second regularly-scheduled town council
meeting in March. Such form shall contain an affidavit that the candidate meets
all the qualifications for office. The Town Manager shall present all timely
received notices of candidacy to the Town Council at the second
regularly-scheduled meeting in March.
5.3.2 Determinations Concerning Qualifications. If the Town
Manager determines that any candidate may not meet the qualifications for
office, he/she shall notify the Mayor who shall call a special meeting of the
Town Council to be held not less than twenty-one days prior to the date set for
the election, at which the Town Council shall decide the matter. The candidate
whose qualifications are at issue shall be notified, by registered mail, of the
date, time and place of the hearing, at which he or she may appear and testify.
If the Town Council determines that the candidate does not meet the
qualifications for office, it shall reject his/her notice of intention to seek
office and his or her name shall not appear on the ballot. In making the
determination, only those members of the Town Council who are not competing for
that seat shall be entitled to vote on the question.
5.3.3 Elected Officials Running for the Office of Mayor. No
person who holds any elected office in the Town may file as a candidate for the
office of Mayor unless and until that person first resigns from his/her elected
position; provided however, that this subsection shall not require any elected
official whose term of office expires at the next town election to resign
his/her seat as a council-member in order to run for the office of Mayor in
that next town election.
5.4 Term of Office. The term of office for the Mayor shall be
two years from the date of the election, and the term of office for each
council-member shall be three (3) years. Newly-elected persons shall hold
office from the date they are sworn into office and until their respective
successors have been duly elected and qualified.
5.5 Elections.
5.5.1 Voter Qualifications. Any person shall be qualified to
vote who, on the date of the election, is:
(a) a United States citizen
(b) has attained eighteen (18) years of age
(c) has been continuously domiciled in the Town for at least
thirty (30) days
(d) has not been adjudged a mentally incompetent person by a
court of competent jurisdiction
(e) has not been disenfranchised pursuant to Sections 3 or 7 of
Article V of the Constitution of the State of Delaware
For purposes hereof, a person is "domiciled" in the
Town when he/she physically resides within the corporate limits of the Town
with the actual intent to make that residence his/her fixed and permanent home;
however, any person who is enlisted or engaged in any government service of the
United States or any military organization of this State of the United States,
which service requires him/her to reside outside the limits of the Town, shall
be considered to be a domiciliary of the Town during the period of his/her
service so long as it remains his/her actual intention to retain Smyrna as
his/her fixed and permanent home.
5.5.2 Voter Registration. The Town Council may enact such
ordinances concerning the registration of qualified voters for municipal
elections in the Town as it deems reasonably necessary to provide for the
orderly and efficient conduct of municipal elections; provided that no such
ordinances shall alter the qualifications of voters as hereinabove set forth,
nor shall any such ordinances unduly impair the right to vote in a municipal
election.
5.5.3 Uncontested Elections; Write-In Candidates.
(a) Where there is only one official candidate for each office
up for election, if none of the official candidates has a formal opponent on
the day of election, the official candidates may assume office without the
holding of a formal election.
(b) No person or candidate whose name does not appear on the
ballot shall be eligible for election, and votes for "write-in"
candidates shall not be counted.
5.5.4 Date, Time, and Place and Manner of Conducting.
(a) Date, Time, and Place. The annual Town Election shall be
held on the last Monday in April of each year at such time and place, within
the Town, as shall be determined by the Town Council. The polls shall remain
open for not less than six (6) hours, the times to be determined by the Town
Council.
(b) Notice of Elections. Notice of Town elections, including the
date, time, and place thereof, and the names of the candidates for each office
to be filled, shall be given by posting notice thereof in at least five (5)
public places in the Town not less than two weeks before the day of such
election and by publishing notice thereof at least once per week for two
successive weeks immediately prior to the date of the election in a newspaper
of general circulation in the Town. Such notices shall be in bold print or
bordered in black in such manner as to call attention thereto. In the event
that the publications and/ or postings do not appear on the same date, the date
of the first publication shall control.
(c) Voting Machines, Paper Ballots, Electronic Voting System.
Elections shall be by voting machine, electronic voting system, or by paper
ballot as the Town Council shall determine; provided however that voting
machines or electronic voting systems shall be used if required by general
statute. Separate voting machines, ballot boxes, or electronic voting system
controls shall be utilized to insure that only those persons entitled to vote
for candidates running for representative districts seats are allowed to vote
for such candidates.
(d) Absentee Voting. The Town Council may (but shall not be
required to), by ordinance, provide for a qualified voter (duly registered if
required by ordinance) who shall be unable to appear in person, to cast his or
her ballot at any municipal election by absentee ballot.
(e) Rules Governing Conduct of Elections. The Town Council may,
by ordinance or resolution, adopt such rules, not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Charter or with controlling state or federal law, governing
the conduct of elections.
(f) Election Board. Every election shall be held under the
supervision of an Election Board. The Election Board shall consist of three (3)
or five (5) persons (as determined by the Town Council) who shall be qualified
voters of the Town and who shall be appointed for that purpose by the Town
Council at least twenty (20) days before such election. If, at the opening of
the polls, there shall not be present the members of the Election Board, then
in such case the ranking town officer available at the opening of the polls shall
appoint a qualified voter or voters to act as a member or members of the
Election Board to fill such vacancies caused by the absence of the previously-
appointed members of the Election Board. Members of the Election Board shall be
the sole and final judges of the conduct of the election and of the legality of
the votes offered. The Election Board shall keep a list of all voters voting at
said election. The Election Board shall have the power to subpoena persons, and
officers of the Town, and books, records and papers relative to the
determination of the qualifications of voters and the legality of any vote or
votes offered.
(g) Election Results. Upon the close of the election, the
Election Board shall count the votes, and the candidates having the highest
number of votes for each office shall be declared, by the Election Board, to be
duly elected to such office.
(h) Ties. In the event of a tie vote for any office, the
Election Board shall determine such tie by a majority vote of the entire
Election Board.
(i) Preservation of Ballots and Records. All ballots cast and
all records of the election kept by the Election Board shall be preserved in
the custody of the Election Board for a period of twenty (20) days, unless an
appeal is filed in a court of appropriate jurisdiction, in which case such
ballots and records shall be preserved until further direction of the court
having jurisdiction.
(j) Election Record Book. The Election Board shall enter in a
book, to be provided for that purpose, the results of the election, containing
the names of the persons elected. The members of the Election Board shall
subscribe the same. The book, containing such matters, shall be preserved by
the Town Council.
5. Town Council
5.1 Governing Body; Election Districts.
5.1.1 Governing Body. The government of the Town and the exercise of all powers conferred by this Charter, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be vested in and exercised by a Town Council composed of a Mayor and six (6) Council members to be chosen as hereinafter provided. Unless the context is clearly to the contrary, the term "Council" or "Town Council" herein shall mean the Mayor and Council members.
5.1.2 Election Districts. In order that the members of the Town Council shall be distributed throughout the Town, before March 1, 2004, the Town Council shall, by ordinance, divide the Town into no fewer than three (3) representative districts, such districts to be drawn so that the same shall be reasonably equal in population. The Town Council may thereafter provide, by amendatory ordinance, for the creation of up to three (3) additional districts and/or re-arrangement of the boundaries of existing districts in the event of annexation or significant increases in the total population of the Town, but such revisions shall continue to result in districts of reasonably equal population.
(a) District and "At-Large" Representation. The Town Council shall be comprised of one Council member from each representative district (identified as such); the Mayor and the remaining Council members may be domiciles of any representative district, and shall be elected "at large." At any Town election, each qualified voter of the Town shall be entitled to vote for one candidate for each "at large" office to be filled, but only those qualified voters who, for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election, have been continuously domiciled in the representative district for which a seat is up for election shall be entitled to vote for a district representative candidate.
(b) Re-Districting; Public Hearing; Notice. In a timely manner upon the release of the decennial census data (commencing with the release of the 2010 census), the Town Council shall review the population of the then-current election districts to determine if they are reasonably equal in population. In the event that any action is subsequently taken to create a new election district or to revise the boundaries of the then-existing election districts, the Town Council shall hold at least one public hearing, on not fewer than 30 days public notice, stating the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearing which public notice shall be: (i) published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and (ii) posted in at least five public places in the Town. The Town Council shall conduct its review and any proceedings or actions resulting therefrom, so that the boundaries of the new or revised representative districts are finalized and set forth in an appropriate ordinance no later than the second regular Council meeting in February of the year following the year in which the review was commenced. Notice of such new or revised representative districts shall be promptly published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and posted in at least five public places in the Town.
(c) "Phase-In" of District Representation; Creation of Additional Districts. The present Mayor and Council members of the Town, and other officers appointed to serve, in office under Chapter 339, Volume 62, Laws of Delaware, as amended, shall continue to serve from and after the effective date of this Charter, until their successors are duly elected or appointed. In 2004, two persons shall be elected to the Town Council to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of office of the two then-outgoing Council members. One of those two vacancies shall be designated as the representative for the 1st representative district and candidates for such seat shall be domiciled in that district. In 2005, three (3) persons shall be elected to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of office of the then out-going Mayor and two Council members. One of the two Council member vacancies shall be designated as the representative for the 2nd representative district and candidates for such seat shall be domiciled in that district. In 2006, two persons shall be elected to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of the two then out-going Council members, and one of those two vacancies shall be designated as the representative for the 3rd representative district, and such candidate shall be domiciled in that representative district.
In the event that the Town Council subsequently acts to create new, additional election districts as provided in subsection 5.1.2 above, the vacancy created by the expiration of the term of the thenout-going at large Council member shall be designated as the representative for the 4th (or, if necessary, the 5th and 6th) representative district, and candidates for that seat shall be domiciled in the representative district for which they are seeking election. Any Council member who ceases to reside in his or her representative district as a result of the changing of district boundaries or the creation of a new district shall be entitled to complete his or her current term of office.
(d) Where No Qualified Candidate Files To Run. In the event that no qualified candidate files a timely "Notice of Candidacy" under subsection 5.3 to run for a district seat or an "at-large" seat, (i) such district seat shall be filled for that term of office by the "at-large" candidate receiving the second-highest number of votes for the at-large seat or (ii) such "at-large" seat shall be filled for that term of office by the candidate for the district seat receiving the second-highest number of votes for the district seat.
5.2 Qualifications. Candidates for the office of Mayor or Council member shall be at least 21 years of age, shall not have been convicted of a felony, shall have been a bona-fide domiciliary of the Town for at least one year prior to the date of the election, and shall be otherwise qualified to vote at the annual Town election as provided in subsection 5.5.2. Additionally, any candidate for a representative district Council seat shall have been a bona-fide domiciliary of his/her representative district for at least one year. Any person elected to the office of Mayor or Council member must continue, throughout his/her term of office, to meet these qualifications or forfeit his/her office; provided however, that if a Council member with less than one year remaining in his/her term of office shall change that domicile to another representative district in the Town, such Council member shall not, for that reason, be disqualified from or forfeit his/her office.
The Town Council, by majority vote of its disinterested members, shall be the sole and final judge of the qualifications of its members, and shall interpret and apply the standards set forth in this Charter.
5.3 Notice of Solicitation of Candidates; Notice of Candidacy; Determinations Concerning Qualifications; Filing Certificate of Intention and Statement of Organization.
5.3.1 Notice of Solicitation of Candidates; Notice of Candidacy. Notice of solicitation of candidates shall be posted conspicuously within the municipality twenty (20) days prior to the filing deadline for the offices up for election and shall include the terms of the offices up for election, the qualifications to run for each office, and the filing procedures and deadline to run for office. In order to be listed on the ballot at any regular or special Town election, each candidate shall file a written and signed notice of intention to seek office with the Town Manager, on a form prescribed by the Town, before the second regularly scheduled Town Council meeting in March. Such form shall contain an affidavit that the candidate meets all the qualifications for office. The Town Manager shall present all timely received notices of candidacy to the Town Council at the second regularly scheduled meeting in March. No later than one (1) business day following the second regularly scheduled meeting in March, the Town Manager shall submit the names of candidates for each office up for election to the Department of Elections. The Town Council may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt such rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or with controlling state or federal law, governing the notice of solicitation of candidates.
5.3.2 Determinations Concerning Qualifications. If the Town Manager determines that any candidate may not meet the qualifications for office, he/she shall notify the Mayor who shall call a special meeting of the Town Council to be held no fewer than twenty-one days prior to the date set for the election, at which the Town Council shall decide the matter. The candidate whose qualifications are at issue shall be notified, by registered mail, of the date, time and place of the hearing, at which he or she may appear and testify. If the Town Council determines that the candidate does not meet the qualifications for office, it shall reject his/her notice of intention to seek office and his or her name shall not appear on the ballot. In making the determination, only those members of the Town Council who are not competing for that seat shall be entitled to vote on the question.
5.3.3 Elected Officials Running for the Office of Mayor. Any member of the Town Council whose term of office is not expiring at the next upcoming Town election may file to run for the office of Mayor without resigning his or her seat on Council. If such a member of Council is not elected to the office of Mayor, such Council member shall continue to serve in his or her seat on the Town Council; if such a member of Council is elected to the office of Mayor, that member's prior seat on Council shall become vacant upon that member's taking office as Mayor, and a special election shall be held as soon as practicable thereafter to fill the vacancy on Council so created.
5.3.4. Filing Certificate of Intention and Statement of Organization. All candidates shall file a certificate of intention or statement of organization if either is applicable and required under 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Election") as those provisions may from time to time hereafter be amended or with any future corresponding provision of law.
5.4 Term of Office. The term of office for the Mayor shall be two years from the date of the election, and the term of office for each Council member shall be three (3) years. Newly-elected persons shall hold office from the date they are sworn into office and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.
5.5 Elections.
5.5.1 Compliance with State Regulations. The Town shall act in accordance with the state laws governing municipal voting found in 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"), as it may be hereby amended from time to time, and any other existing or future corresponding provisions of law, and the Town shall implement the election provisions found in this Charter in accordance with the same state laws governing municipal voting.
5.5.2 Voter Qualifications. Any person shall be qualified to vote who, on the date of the election:
(a) is a United States citizen;
(b) has attained eighteen (18) years of age;
(c) has been continuously domiciled in the Town for at least thirty (30) days;
(d) has not been adjudged a mentally incompetent person by a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(e) has not been disenfranchised pursuant to Sections 3 or 7 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Delaware.
Persons appearing to vote shall present proof of identity and address pursuant to 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"). For purposes hereof, a person is "domiciled" in the Town when he/she physically resides within the corporate limits of the Town with the actual intent to make that residence his/her fixed and permanent home; however, any person who is enlisted or engaged in any government service of the United States or any military organization of this State of the United States, which service requires him/her to reside outside the limits of the Town, shall be considered to be a domiciliary of the Town during the period of his/her service so long as it remains his/her actual intention to retain Smyrna as his/her fixed and permanent home. All questions regarding an individual's qualification to vote raised prior to the day of the election shall go before the Board of Elections and an individual shall be given notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Board of Elections makes a determination regarding that individual's qualification to vote. Questions regarding an individual's qualifications to vote that are raised at the time of voting shall be resolved by the Board of Elections or its designated Election Officers.
5.5.3 Voter Registration. The Town Council may enact such ordinances concerning the registration of qualified voters for municipal elections in the Town as it deems reasonably necessary to provide for the orderly and efficient conduct of municipal elections; provided that no such ordinances shall alter the qualifications of voters as hereinabove set forth, nor shall any such ordinances unduly impair the right to vote in a municipal election.
5.5.4 Uncontested Elections; Write-In Candidates.
(a) Where there is only one official candidate for each office up for election, if none of the official candidates has a formal opponent on the day of election, the official candidates may assume office without the holding of a formal election.
(b) No person or candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot shall be eligible for election, and votes for "write-in" candidates shall not be counted.
5.5.5 Date, Time, and Place and Manner of Conducting Elections.
(a) Date, Time, and Place. The annual Town Election shall be held on the last Tuesday in April of each year at such time and place, within the Town, as shall be determined by the Town Council. The polls shall remain open for no fewer than six (6) hours, the times to be determined by the Town Council.
(b) Notice of Elections. Notice of Town elections shall be posted in a conspicuous public place no later than twenty (20) days prior to the election date. Additionally, notice of elections shall be published at least once per week for two successive weeks immediately prior to the date of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town. Such notices shall be in bold print or bordered in black in such manner as to call attention thereto. In the event that the publications and/or postings do not appear on the same date, the date of the first publication shall control. The notice of elections shall include the date, time, and place of the election, the names of the candidates for each office, and the qualifications to vote. The Town Council may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt such rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or with controlling state or federal law, governing the notice of elections.
(c) Voting machines. Elections shall be by voting machine provided by the Department of Elections in accordance with 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"), as it may be hereby amended from time to time, and any other existing or future corresponding provisions of law. Separate voting machines or electronic voting system controls shall be utilized to insure that only those persons entitled to vote for candidates running for representative districts seats are allowed to vote for such candidates.
(d) Absentee Voting. The Town Council may (but shall not be required to), by ordinance, provide for a qualified voter (duly registered if required by ordinance) who shall be unable to appear in person, to cast his or her ballot at any municipal election by absentee ballot. All absentee voting authorized by the Town shall be conducted in accordance with 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"), as it may be hereby amended from time to time, and any other existing or future corresponding provision of law.
(e) Rules Governing Conduct of Elections. The Town Council shall follow the rules governing the conduct of elections and voting procedures found in 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"), as it may be hereby amended from time to time, and any other existing or future corresponding provisions of law. The Town Council may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt such rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or with controlling state or federal law, governing the conduct of elections.
(f) Board of Elections. Every election shall be held under the supervision of a Board of Elections. The Board of Elections shall consist of five (5) persons (as determined by the Town Council) who shall be qualified voters of the Town and shall not be an elected official or candidate for Town office or an immediate family member of such (mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, including half-brothers and sisters, step-family members and in-laws) and who shall be appointed for that purpose by the Town Council at least twenty (20) days before such election. The Board of Elections shall serve for a term of one year commencing the second Council meeting in February, provided that the term of the Board of Elections shall in no instance expire until a successor Board of Elections has been appointed.Members of the Board of Elections may serve for more than one term. Each board member shall be confirmed and have his/her name and contact information publicly posted in accordance with 15 Del. C. Ch. 75 ("Municipal Elections"), as it may be hereby amended from time to time, and any other existing or future corresponding provisions of law. The Town shall notify the State Election Commissioner and Department of Elections of the members appointed to the Board of Elections. The Board of Elections shall oversee the absentee ballots and either appoints an odd number of absentee ballot judges or, at the discretion of the Town Council act itself as the absentee ballot election judges. If, at the opening of the polls, there shall not be present all the members of the Board of Elections, then in such case the ranking Town officer available at the opening of the polls shall appoint a qualified voter or voters to act as a member or members of the Board of Elections to fill such vacancies caused by the absence of the previously-appointed members of the Board of Elections through the conclusion of the election. Members of the Board of Elections shall be the sole and final judges of the conduct of the election and of the legality of the votes offered. The Board of Elections shall keep a list of all voters voting at said election. The Board of Elections shall have the power to subpoena persons, and officers of the Town, and books, records and papers relative to the determination of the qualifications of voters and the legality of any vote or votes offered. The Board of Elections may appoint election officers (including an inspector) when needed to administer elections. In the absence of the appointment of election officers, members of the Board of Elections shall act as election officers, and the Board of Elections shall designate one of the board members as the inspector.
(g) Election Results. Upon the close of the election, the Board of Elections shall count the votes, and the candidate having the highest number of votes for each office shall be declared, by the Board of Elections, to be duly elected to such office.
(h) Ties. In the event of a tie vote for any office, the Board of Elections shall determine such tie by the casting of lots.
(i) Preservation of Ballots and Records. All ballots cast and all records of the election kept by the Board of Elections shall be preserved in the custody of the Board of Elections for a period of thirty (30) days, unless the election is contested or an appeal is filed in a court of appropriate jurisdiction, in which case such ballots and records shall be preserved until further direction of the reviewing body or court having jurisdiction.
(j) Election Record Book. The Board of Elections shall enter in a book, to be provided for that purpose, the results of the election, containing the names of the persons elected. The members of the Board of Elections shall subscribe the same. The book, containing such matters, shall be preserved by the Town Council.
Section 6. Amend Section 6, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
6.1 Organizational Meeting. An organizational meeting of the
Town Council shall be held as soon as practicable, not exceeding one week
but not fewer than seven (7) days, following the determination of the
election results by the Election Board. Such meeting shall be held at the usual
place for holding regular meetings. The newly elected Council-members shall
assume the duties of their respective offices, being first duly sworn or
affirmed to perform their duties with fidelity, which oath or affirmation shall
be taken before a Notary Public, a Justice of the Peace, the Mayor, or by one
of the holdover Council-members.
At the organizational meeting, the Mayor shall appoint, from among the other members of the Town Council, a Vice-Mayor and Secretary, subject to confirmation by the Town Council. Each of these officers (i.e. the Vice-Mayor and Secretary) shall serve in that position for a term of one year or until the organizational meeting after the next succeeding election, unless sooner removed from such office by action of the Town Council.
Section 7. Amend Section 6, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
6.2.1 Mayor. It shall be the duty of the Mayor to preside at all
meetings of the Town Council, to serve as the head of the Town government for
all ceremonial purposes or for purposes of military law; to appoint committees,
subject to council confirmation, and to perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by any ordinance or resolution adopted by the Town Council. The
Mayor shall have the same right as other Council-members to vote on all matters
and may at any time appoint another Council-member to preside if he/she desires
to make a motion, move the adoption of a resolution, second either, or debate
any question from the floor, and may thereafter immediately resume his/her
duties as presiding officer. For purposes of establishing a majority vote or
quorum, the Mayor shall be counted as a member of Council.
The Mayor shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Town,
without prior Council approval, in the event of some sudden emergency requiring
prompt action in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the
Town, its residents and property owners. A "sudden emergency" for
purposes of this section shall include, by way of example and not in
limitation, a major fire or conflagration, significant flooding, or serious
storm threatening significant damage, a civil disturbance, or a toxic spill. A
"sudden emergency" shall also include any emergency situation as
declared by any County, State, or federal agency having jurisdiction over the
Town where the scope of the emergency so declared includes the Town of Smyrna.
If reasonably possible, the Mayor shall notify each Council-members, in
writing, or by fax of the action so taken within 48 hours. Notice shall be
complete upon depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail, proper postage affixed,
to each Council-member at his/her last known address, by personal delivery, or
by confirmation of receipt of a fax transmission.
Any action taken by the Mayor under the powers vested in him/her
under this section shall be as good as the act of the entire Council, provided
that the Council may at a regular or special meeting held within 15 days of the
Mayor's action, cancel the further implementation of any such action not yet
completed and notify any persons or legal entities affected.
6.2.1 Mayor. It shall be the duty of the Mayor to preside at all meetings of the Town Council, to serve as the representative of the Town government for all ceremonial purposes and head of the Town government for purposes of military law, and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by any ordinance or resolution adopted by the Town Council. The Mayor shall have the same right as other Council members to vote on all matters and may at any time appoint another Council member to preside if he/she desires to make a motion, move the adoption of a resolution, second either, or debate any question from the floor, and may thereafter immediately resume his/her duties as presiding officer. For purposes of establishing a majority vote or quorum, the Mayor shall be counted as a member of Council.
The Mayor shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Town, without prior Council approval, in the event of some sudden emergency requiring prompt action in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the Town, its residents and property owners. A "sudden emergency" for purposes of this section shall include, by way of example and not in limitation, a major fire or conflagration, significant flooding, or serious storm threatening significant damage, a civil disturbance, or a toxic spill. A "sudden emergency" shall also include any emergency situation as declared by any County, State, or federal agency having jurisdiction over the Town where the scope of the emergency so declared includes the Town of Smyrna. If reasonably possible, the Mayor shall notify each Council member, in writing, by personal delivery, fax, e-mail, overnight courier service, or U.S. mail, of the action so taken within 48 hours. Notice shall be complete upon depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail, proper postage affixed, to each Council member at his/her last known address, upon personal delivery to the Council member or an adult residing with the Council member, or by confirmation of receipt of such overnight delivery, fax, or e-mail transmission.
Any action taken by the Mayor under the powers vested in him/her under this section shall be as good as the act of the entire Council, provided that the Council may at a regular or special meeting held within 15 days of the Mayor's action, cancel the further implementation of any such action not yet completed and notify any persons or legal entities affected.
Section 8. Amend Section 6, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
6.3.2 Contracts with
the Town. It shall be unlawful for the Mayor or any member of Town Council or
the Town's officers, agents, or employees, to make or enter into any contract
or purchase order for materials, supplies, work or labor for the use and
benefit of the Town with the Mayor or with any council-member or with any
partnership in which the Mayor or any council-member is a partner, with any
corporation in which the Mayor or any council-member is a director or has a
substantial financial interest, or with any other entity in which the Mayor or
any council-member has a substantial financial interest, except with the
unanimous consent of the disinterested members of the Town Council, and such
contract shall be absolutely null and void without such unanimous consent . For
purposes hereof, the phrase "Mayor or any council-member" shall
include any member of that official's immediate family, to wit: spouse, child,
step-child, parent, step-parent, or sibling, by the whole or half-blood,
provided however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Town Council, or the
Town's officers, agents, or employees, from entering into any such contract
without such unanimous approval where the amount involved in the transaction
does not exceed the sum of $1,000.00. No transaction exceeding said $1,000 may
be deliberately fragmented into two or more smaller transactions so as to avoid
the $1,000.00 limitation. The disinterested members of the Council shall be the
final arbiters in determining whether any transaction or series of transactions
were so fragmented, and in making such determination shall consider the
totality of the circumstances surrounding such transactions.
Section 9. Amend Section 6, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
6.6.2 Reimbursement of
Expenses. The Mayor and members of Council shall be reimbursed for their
documented actual and necessary expenses incurred on town business if approved
by the Town Council. No member of the Town Council shall be entitled to vote
upon their own request for reimbursement unless similar expenses were incurred
by four or more members of the Town Council in connection with the same event
or activity.
6.6.2 Reimbursement of Expenses. Members of the Town Council are encouraged to participate in training and educational activities offered by the Delaware League of Local Governments, the National League of Cities, the University of Delaware, and other organizations to the extent possible under budgetary limitations. The Mayor and members of Council shall be reimbursed for their documented actual and necessary expenses incurred on Town business if approved by the Town Council. Council may enact an ordinance outlining approved Town business expenses and reimbursement procedures. No member of the Town Council shall be entitled to vote upon their own request for reimbursement unless similar expenses were incurred by four or more members of the Town Council in connection with the same event or activity.
Section 10. Amend Section 7, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
7.1.1 Appointment, Term. The Town Council shall appoint a Town
Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer for all departments and
functions of the Town except the Police Department. He/she shall be appointed
solely on the basis of his/her professional, executive and administrative
qualifications. He/she need not, when appointed, be a resident of the Town or
of the State of Delaware, but shall, within six (6) months of his/her
appointment, as a condition of his/her employment, become domiciled within such
radius of the Town Hall as determined by Council at the time of his/her
appointment. No member of Council shall while in office, be appointed to act as
Town Manager.
The Town Manager shall be appointed in accordance with the
provisions of any resolution, ordinance, and/or written agreement authorized by
the Town Council and specifically applicable to that Town Manager, provided
however, that: (1) although there shall be no limit on the number of terms of
employment a Town Manager may serve, in no case shall any single term of
employment exceed three (3) years, upon the expiration of which the Town
Manager's employment with the Town shall be automatically re-newed for an
additional three-year term unless the Town Council votes (not less than 6
months prior to the expiration of the then-current term) not to re-new such
employment, or to re-new such employment for a term shorter than three (3)
years; (2) the Town Council may at any time terminate the Town Manager's
employment for "just cause" without payment of any severance pay or
benefits; and (3) the Town Council may at any time terminate the Town Manager's
employment without "just cause" upon payment to the Town Manager of
such severance pay and benefits as provided in the terms of any resolution,
ordinance, and/or written agreement governing the employment of that Town
Manager. For purposes of this section, "just cause" shall mean one or
more specific, articulable reasons related to the Town Manager's unsatisfactory
performance involving misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or incompetence,
which rationally support termination of employment. In case of the absence,
disability, or suspension of the Town Manager, the Council may designate some
other competent person to perform the duties of the office during such absence,
disability or suspension; subject to the Town Council's authority aforesaid,
the Town Manager may appoint a Town employee to serve as "Acting Town
Manager" during the Town Manager's temporary absences.
7.1.1 Appointment; Term. The Town Council shall appoint a Town Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer for all departments and functions of the Town except the Police Department. He/she shall be appointed solely on the basis of his/her professional, executive and administrative qualifications. He/she need not, when appointed, be a resident of the Town or of the State of Delaware, but shall, within six (6) months of his/her appointment, as a condition of his/her employment, become domiciled within such radius of the Town Hall as determined by Council at the time of his/her appointment.
The Town Manager shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of any resolution, ordinance, and/or written agreement authorized by the Town Council and specifically applicable to that Town Manager, provided however, that: (1) although there shall be no limit on the number of terms of employment a Town Manager may serve, in no case shall any single term of employment exceed three (3) years, upon the expiration of which the Town Manager's employment with the Town shall be automatically re-newed for an additional three-year term unless the Town Council votes (no fewer than 6 months prior to the expiration of the then-current term) to renegotiate such employment or not to re-new such employment, or to re-new such employment for a term shorter than three (3) years; (2) the Town Council may at any time terminate the Town Manager's employment for "just cause" without payment of any severance pay or benefits; and (3) the Town Council may at any time terminate the Town Manager's employment without "just cause" upon payment to the Town Manager of such severance pay and benefits as provided in the terms of any resolution, ordinance, and/or written agreement governing the employment of that Town Manager. For purposes of this section, "just cause" shall mean one or more specific, articulable reasons related to the Town Manager's unsatisfactory performance involving misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or incompetence, which rationally support termination of employment. In case of the extended absence, disability, or suspension of the Town Manager, the Council may designate some other competent person to perform the duties of the office during such absence, disability or suspension; subject to the Town Council's authority aforesaid, the Town Manager may appoint a Town employee to serve as "Acting Town Manager" during the Town Manager's temporary absences.
Section 11. Amend Section 7, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
7.4.1 Appointment,
Hiring. The Town Council may provide for the appointment or hiring of such
other officers, agents, and boards of the Town, which it may deem proper and
necessary, for the proper conduct and management of the Town, including by way
of example and not in limitation, a consulting engineer, financial auditor,
Board of Adjustment, Board of Assessment, Planning & Zoning Commission, and
Election Board. Except as otherwise provided by written agreement approved by
the Town Council, or as provided elsewhere in this Charter or in any governing
statute or ordinance, such officers, agents, and board-members shall serve at
the pleasure of the Town Council.
7.4.1 Appointment; Hiring.
(a) Boards and Commissions. Subject to Town Council confirmation, the Mayor shall recommend the appointment of members to all Boards and Commissions in the Town of Smyrna, including, but not limited to, the Board of Adjustment, Board of Elections, Board of Assessment and Planning and Zoning Commission. The Town Council may provide for the appointment or hiring of such other officers and agents of the Town, which it may deem proper and necessary, for the proper conduct and management of the Town, including by way of example and not in limitation, a consulting engineer and financial auditor. Except as otherwise provided by written agreement approved by the Town Council, or as provided elsewhere in this Charter or in any governing statute or ordinance, such officers, agents, and board-members shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Council.
(b) Committees and Subcommittees. Committees may be formed as deemed necessary by the Town Council to gather and report information needed for the Town Council to make informed decisions. The Mayor shall recommend the appointment of committees, subject to Council confirmation, and committees shall serve at the direction, and under the authority, of the Town Council. Subject always to the authority of the Town Council to direct and control the activities of any committee appointed under this subsection, the chairperson of any such committee may, with the affirmative vote of a majority of the committee, appoint one or more persons to act as a subcommittee of the committee to perform specified designated tasks and report back to the committee (or to such other authority as designated by the appointing committee). Any subcommittee so appointed shall consist of at least one member of the appointing committee.
Section 12. Amend Section 8, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
8.3 Annual Budget. The
Town Council shall annually, at or before the second first
regular Town Council meeting in December of each year, adopt a budget for the
upcoming fiscal year.
Section 13. Amend Section 8, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
(e) Other Services. The
fees or rates to be charged in respect to any other authorized source of
revenue sufficient in their judgment and estimation to realize the amount to be
raised from each such source determined by them to be used as aforesaid;
provided, however, that sources (c), (d), and (e) aforementioned may be
determined, fixed, assessed, levied and/or altered or changed upon other than a
fiscal year basis at any regular or special meeting of the Town Council as the
Town Council, in its own proper discretion, shall determine; and provided
further that the rate of tax upon taxable real property (a) and upon utility
fixtures (b) may be revised at such time the Town Council finally approves and
accepts the annual assessment list for Town property taxes pursuant to section 9.6.2
9.7.2.
Section 14. Amend Section 8, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
8.4 Annual Audit.
The Town Council shall retain a certified public accountant to
be the auditor of accounts of the Town of Smyrna. It shall be the duty of the
auditor to audit the accounts of the Town and all its officers whose duty
involves the collection, custody and payment of moneys to or by the Town. The
auditor shall on or before April 15th June 30 of each year make
and deliver a detailed report of any and all accounts, records, and books from
the previous fiscal year by him or her examined and audited which report under
his/her hand and seal shall be available for public inspection; provided however,
anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the date for submission of the
auditor's report may be extended by the Town Council beyond April 15th June
30 at the written request of the auditor for reasonable cause shown. Notice
of the filing of the auditor's report shall be published at least once in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Smyrna within ten (10) days of
its receipt by the Town Council. The auditor, in the performance of his/her
duties, shall have access to all records and accounts of the offices of the
Town.
Section 15. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
9.2.1 Appointment,
Indefinite Term. The Mayor may with the advice and consent of a majority of the
entire Council, appoint a Board of Assessment composed of three (3) members,
each of whom shall be domiciled within the corporate limits of the Town, and
who shall serve for an indefinite term.
9.2.1 Appointment; Annual Term. The Mayor may, with the advice and consent of a majority of the entire Council, appoint a Board of Assessment composed of three (3) members, each of whom shall be domiciled within the corporate limits of the Town, and who shall serve for a one-year term.
Section 16. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
9.4.2 Assessment of
Members of Board of Assessment. The real property of the members of the Board
of Assessment shall be assessed by the Town Council of the Town of Smyrna.
9.4.2 Assessment of Members of Board of Assessment. The real property of the members of the Board of Assessment shall be assessed by the Town Council of the Town of Smyrna and approved by the affirmative vote of at least five (5) members of the Town Council.
Section 17. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
9.5 Additions to Tax Bills. Whether utilizing the appraisals implicit in the Kent and New Castle County Assessments or those prepared by the Town's own Board of Assessment, the Town Manager shall annually, prior to the posting of the assessment list, provide the Town Council a list of any and all charges, costs, or other assessments owed to the Town, which list of charges incurred shall include, but not be limited to, the following: sidewalk assessments, waterline assessments, water service charges, weed and grass cutting bills, sanitary sewer service charges, trash collection bills, past due electric charges, costs for demolition or repair of any building or structure in accordance with governing town ordinances, any charges incurred by the Town in bringing the property into compliance with the Town Code and the amount of any unpaid penalty imposed by any court of competent jurisdiction for violation of any municipal ordinance. Said amounts, when adopted and set forth by resolution of the Mayor and Council, shall be shown on the copies of the assessments posted pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.7.1 of this Charter.
Section 18. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
9.7.1 Posting of Annual Assessment List; Notice. Immediately upon receiving the annual assessment list from the Board of Assessment, the Town Council shall cause a full and complete copy of the same, containing the amount assessed to each taxable, to be made available for public inspection at the Town Office, and there it shall remain for a period of at least fourteen (14) days for the information of and examination by all concerned. Public notice of the posting of the assessment list, and the date, place, and time where the Town Council will sit as a Board of Revision and Appeal to hear appeals from the said assessment and to make such corrections and revisions as it deems appropriate, including the procedures for appealing an assessment, shall be posted in at least five (5) public places in the Town and published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town not less than 14 days prior to the date set for the hearing of such appeals.
Section 19. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
9.7.2 Appeals Day Annual Assessment List. The Council may direct that appeals from any annual assessment be heard by a committee of not less than two (2) nor more than three (3) Council-members appointed by the Town Council. The committee of Council-members shall sit at the stated place and time to hear the appeals of all taxpayers dissatisfied with the assessment of their properties, shall collect such information as they consider proper and necessary, and, shall report their findings and recommendations, together with such other information as the Council shall permit or require, to the full Council at its next ensuing meeting, at which time the appeal of each dissatisfied taxpayer shall be heard. At least one member of the Board of Assessment shall be present on the day and time fixed for hearing appeals and shall furnish to the Town Council such information and answer such questions as the Town Council may require in respect to any assessment for which an appeal has been taken. The Town Council shall have the authority to enforce the attendance of at least one member of the Board of Assessment by appropriate process. No member of the Town Council shall sit on his/her own appeal, but the same shall be heard and determined by the other members of the Town Council. The Town Council shall have full power and authority to alter, revise, add to, and take from the said assessment. The decision of a majority of the Council shall be final and conclusive.
Upon completion of the appeal process under this section, the Town Council shall at that meeting or at the next ensuing regular meeting, adopt a resolution approving the final assessment list (including any and all charges, costs, or other assessments owed to the Town and added to the assessment list under section 9.5), and setting the tax rate per $100 of assessed value.
Section 20. Amend Section 9, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
9.7.3 Supplemental Assessment Appeals. Whenever the Board of Assessment prepares a quarterly supplemental assessment list under §9.4.1(b), it shall deliver such list to the Town Manager. Immediately upon receiving such supplemental assessment list from the Board of Assessment, the Town Manager shall cause a full and complete copy thereof, containing the amount assessed to each taxable on such supplemental assessment list to be mailed, certified mail, return receipt requested, to each taxable on the supplemental assessment list at their last address as shown on the Town's tax records. Such mailing shall also include a notice that any taxable on said supplemental assessment list may request, in writing, an appeal to the Town Council concerning such supplemental assessment, such written request to be received at the Town Office within 14 days of the date that the notice is mailed.
In the event that any taxable so noticed timely submits a written request for an appeal, the Town Manager shall notify the Town Council, and the Town Council may direct that such appeals may be heard by a committee of not less than two (2) nor more than three council-members appointed by the Town Council. The Town Manager shall provide any taxable requesting such an appeal with written notice of date, place, and time when the committee of council-members shall sit to hear such appeal; provided however, that such notice of the appeal hearing shall be mailed not less than 14 days prior to the date set for the hearing, certified mail return receipt requested.
Such appeals and all proceedings and actions taken pursuant to and in consequence of such appeal, shall be subject to and governed by the same provisions set out in §9.7.2 pertaining to appeals from the annual assessments, except that upon completion of the appeal process, the Council shall adopt a resolution approving the final supplemental assessment list, and the tax rate as previously set by the Town Council at the conclusion of the annual assessment appeal process shall remain in effect.
Such appeals and all proceedings and actions taken pursuant to and in consequence of such appeal, shall be subject to and governed by the same provisions set out in §9.7.2 pertaining to appeals from the annual assessments, except that upon completion of the appeal process, the Council shall adopt a resolution approving the final supplemental assessment list, and the tax rate as previously set by the Town Council at the conclusion of the annual assessment appeal process shall remain in effect.
Section 21. Amend Section 11, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
11.5 Discount for Prompt Payment; Penalty for Late
Payment; Collection Fee. To all taxes paid on or before JuneJuly 1st next following the levy,
there shall be applied a discount as established, from time to time, by
resolution of the Town Council. On all taxes paid on or after September 30th of
each year, there shall be added a penalty to be determined by Council for each
month or fraction thereof such taxes shall remain unpaid, said penalty to be
effective on the thirtieth day of September, and said penalty shall be
collected in the same manner as the original amount of the tax. The Town
Council shall have the power to make just allowances for delinquencies in the
collection of taxes. All taxes unpaid on September 30th of each year shall be
considered delinquent. In effecting a collection of any delinquent tax, the
Town Council may impose a collection charge reasonably calculated to recover
the costs of collection, including all court costs, sale costs, reasonable and
necessary out-of-pocket expenses, and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by the
Town in such collection proceedings.
Section 22. Amend Section 12, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
12.2 Town Manager To Have All Powers Conferred Upon
Receiver of Taxes of Kent County. In the collection of delinquent taxes (including
any and all charges, costs, or other assessments owed to the Town and added to
the assessment list pursuant to Section 9.5), the Town Manager shall have all
of the same powers, remedies, and authority as conferred upon the Receiver of
Taxes of Kent County under 9 Del.C. Chapter 87, as the same may from time to
time hereafter be amended, or in accordance with any future corresponding
provision of law.
12.2 Town Manager to Have Tax Collection Powers. In the collection of delinquent taxes (including any and all charges, costs, or other assessments owed to the Town and added to the assessment list pursuant to subsection 9.5), the Town Manager shall have all of the same powers, remedies, and authority, including the monition method of the collection of taxes, as conferred by Title 9 of the Delaware Code, as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, or in accordance with any future corresponding provision of law, upon those individuals and/or departments authorized to collect delinquent taxes in Kent County and New Castle County.
Section 23. Amend Section 13, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
(3) Any Special Election held pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be conducted by voting machines, electronic voting systems, or printed ballots as permitted by law which shall have the following designation:
[ ] For the proposed borrowing.
[ ] Against the proposed borrowing.
The voter shall be instructed to mark the box for which
he casts his/her vote. The Mayor of The Town of Smyrna, by and with the advice
and consent of the majority of the Town Council shall appoint three (3) persons
to act as a Board of Special Election. The polling places shall be opened for a
minimum of six (6) hours as specified by resolution of the Town Council.
Persons in the polling place at the time appointed for closing of the polls
shall be entitled to vote.
The voter shall be instructed to mark the box for which he/she casts his/her vote. The Board of Elections established pursuant to subsection 5.5.5(f) of this Charter shall act as a Board of Special Election. The polling places shall be opened for a minimum of six (6) hours as specified by resolution of the Town Council. Persons in the polling place at the time appointed for closing of the polls shall be entitled to vote.
Section 24. Amend Section 13.8, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
13.8 Form of Bonds. The form of the bonds or certificates of indebtedness authorized under sections 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 and/or 13.7 and the thereunto attached coupons, if any, the time or times of payment, the interest rate, the classes, the series, the maturity, the registration, any callable or redeemable feature, the denomination, the name thereof and any other relative or appurtenant matter pertaining thereto shall all be determined by the Town Council after the final action required to authorize the issuance of such bonds or certificates of indebtedness has been completed (i.e. a majority vote of the Town Council under section 13.1; a super-majority vote following the holding of a public hearing under section 13.2 or 13.7; or a favorable vote of those natural persons and legal entities entitled to vote following the public hearing and special election procedures under section 13.3); provided, however, that the Town Council may delegate the authority to make all or any of the determinations described herein to the Town Manager, Mayor, or such special committee as he Town Council may appoint .
Section 25. Amend Section 23, Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
23.1 Power To Operate. The Town Council shall have the full power and authority to erect, construct, equip, maintain, repair, replace, lease, and operate plants, facilities, and systems for the generation and distribution of electric power and energy, including, but not limited to, renewable energy facilities, such as solar power : (a) for the use and benefit of the inhabitants and properties of the Town, (b) for the use and benefit of persons and properties lying outside the Town limits of the Town but within such proximity of the Town as to make provision of such service reasonable in the discretion of the Town Council, subject always to the authority of any governing state agency to regulate the service territories of electric distribution systems, and (c) for sale to other providers of electric capacity and energy through the Delaware Municipal Electric Company ("DEMEC"), its successors or assigns. The Town Council shall have the power to make contracts for the purchase of electric capacity and energy with any responsible persons, firms, or corporations, and to distribute the same to users within or without the said Town with the same full powers as if such electric energy and/or capacity had been initially generated or provided by the Town.
Section 26. Amend Section 13.3.3(E)(1), Chapter 176, Volume 74, Laws of Delaware, as amended, by making insertions as shown by underlining as follows:
(E)(1) At such special election, any person(s) or artificial entity(s) (e.g. partnership, corporation, limited company) owning record title to real property in the Town shall be entitled to cast one vote for each separate parcel of real property (identified as such on the tax maps of the governing jurisdiction) owned (but not more than one vote shall be cast for any one property, however, the owner of more than one parcel in an unfinished subdivision or unfinished phase of a subdivision where the public improvements have not dedicated to the Town shall not have more than one vote for all the parcels located within the subdivision or subdivision phase); and any resident of the Town who does not own record title to real property in the Town who would be entitled to vote in the annual town election if it were held on that day, shall be entitled to vote.(For purposes of this section, "entitled to vote" shall include "registered to vote" if voter registration is required for the annual town election.)
Section 27. This bill shall become effective immediately upon the date of its enactment.
SYNOPSIS
|
Section 1 creates a simpler mechanism to update the Town's municipal boundaries.
Section 2 updates and revises annexation procedures in the Town. Under these procedures, an annexation vote is not required where 1) all persons of record either petition the annexation or consent in writing to the annexation and 2) no one who would have qualified to vote, had an annexation vote been held, files a written objection to the annexation. When an annexation vote is required, individuals and entities owning property in the annexation area are authorized to vote, as are residents of the annexation area who would qualify to vote in a Town election if the territory were to be annexed into Town. The section outlines the procedures for holding annexation elections, as well as the annexation procedures to be followed by the Town Council and Planning Commission.
Section 3 authorizes the Town to enact civil penalties or criminal penalties.
Section 4 provides a mechanism for the Town to ensure code compliance when common property owned by an association is not maintained in accordance with the Town Code.
Section 5 outlines the representation of the Town through Council members elected at-large and through representative districts, requires the Town to review the districts with the release of each decennial census to verify that districts are reasonably equal in population, and this section outlines procedures to be followed when new districts are created. This section outlines qualifications to run for Council and addresses what happens when no one files to run for a Council seat. This section outlines the election procedures that are followed in the Town and revises the procedures to conform to the Delaware Municipal Elections statute.
Section 6 prohibits elected officials from taking office sooner than 7 days following an election (in compliance with the Delaware Municipal Elections statute).
Section 7 outlines the duties and powers of the Mayor and procedural steps required for the Mayor to act in instances of emergency.
Section 8 deletes the provisions prohibiting contracting with the Town because this is controlled by 29 Del. C. Ch. 58.
Section 9 outlines educational opportunities available to the Town Council and authorizes reimbursement for business expenses.
Section 10 specifies the Town Manager's appointment, responsibilities, and contract provisions.
Section 11 sets forth procedures for the Mayor to appoint, and Council to confirm, boards, commissions, and committees.
Section 12 changes the deadline for the budget from the second Council meeting in December to the first Council meeting in December.
Section 13 corrects a typographical error that exists in the current Charter.
Section 14 changes the audit deadline from April 15 to June 30.
Section 15 specifies that the Board of Assessment shall be composed of 3 people who serve for a one-year term.
Section 16 requires the Town Council to assess property of the Board of Assessment by an affirmative vote of five Council members.
Section 17 clarifies that the Town may add to tax bills expenses the Town incurs to bring a property into compliance with the Town Code.
Section 18 clarifies that notice of the annual assessment shall include procedures for appealing the assessment.
Section 19 allows two or three members of Council to hear assessment appeals of taxpayers and clarifies that a Board of Assessment member shall be available at the appeals hearing.
Section 20 allows two or three members of Council to hear supplemental assessment appeals.
Section 21 changes the deadline for paying taxes early (in order to receive a discount) from June to July.
Section 22 amends the Town Manager's tax collection powers to comply with Title 9 as it has been recently amended.
Section 23 authorizes the Town's Board of Elections to act as the Board of Special Elections in borrowing proceedings and specifies that the voting polls in such proceedings shall be open for at least 6 hours.
Section 24 authorizes the Town Council to delegate the authority to determine the form of bonds (e.g. interest rate, classes, series, maturity, callable or redeemable features) to the Town Manager, Mayor or a special committee.
Section 25 clarifies that the Town's electric generation powers include renewable energy, such as solar power, and include the leasing electric facilities. Section 26 limits owners of more than one parcel in an unfinished subdivision or phase of a subdivision to only one vote in special elections for long-term borrowing. Section 27 makes this bill effective upon its enactment. |
