Small Town News

League Observer Corps provides its annual county council report

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Hiring planner, detailed maps on wish list

Sussex County Council is making an effort to speak into the microphones so the public can more clearly hear what council has to say in council chambers and during the live online stream via the internet.

That suggestion was one of seven presented March 29 by the League of Women Voters of Sussex County during its annual Observer Corps report.

The report also suggests more council agendas should be available during meetings and that provisions be made so additional copies can be made when needed. League members attend council, planning and zoning, and board of adjustment meetings.

Carole Somers, coordinator of the corps, said the idea that agendas must be readily available is only step one of the process. "Many times the information is so vague you don't know what they are talking about," she said. "It's like sitting in the dark."

She said the league believes the same information available to the press should be offered to the public.

"The PowerPoint presenta-tions they do are good, but they could do that more often," she said.

Hiring a certified land-use planner is high on the league's list of suggestions.

Another priority is detailed mapping of approved projects and those under way. Somers said when new projects are proposed, the average person has no frame of reference as to what is proposed in the same area.

Still another suggestion offered by the league is to computerize information about expiring and expired conditional-use applications and other timed approvals, with the information available to the pubic online. "The budget contained money for a new computer system and software to provide this information, but it seems to be low on the priority list," she said.

Somers said the corps does make a difference. "There were issues with the board of adjustment that were brought to light, and changes were made. We can't take all the credit, but at least we had people asking questions," she said.

Council President Mike Vincent, R-Seaford, said council would take the report under advisement. "It's nice to know someone is out there taking a look at things we could improve. It's a good thing," he said. "We will take a look at the report, but I can't say if we will make changes because of it."





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