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CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, April 14 -April 20, 2000- 15
Dewey prohibits hotels, m atels; tables vote on drug testing
By Jim Cresson
With very little discussion and
no real debate arising over the is-
sue, Dewey Beach Town Council
voted unanimously Saturday,
April 8, to not permit any more
hotels, motels or motor lodges in
town.
The vote came four months into
a six-month moratorium on is-
suance of building permits for
those land uses while town com-
missioners and a land-use consult-
ing firm study how to control den-
sity in the mile-long, two-block-
wide resort. The moratorium is set
to expire in early June, but could
be lifted earlier by a vote of com-
missioners.
The action to prohibit hotels,
motels and motor lodges was not
recommended by the town's plan-
ning and zoning commission dur-
ing its review of density issues in
January. That panel had recom-
mended those developments be-
come a conditional use of land
within the RB Resort Business
zoning district, giving the town
latitude to permit those uses with
stipulations.
Commissioner Bill Tansey put
forth the motion to adopt Ordi-
nance 430 prohibiting hotels, mo-
tels and motor lodges, saying:
"We're addressing density and
nothing is more dense than a mo-
tel. The 15 or 16 motels we al-
ready have in town is enough."
During discussions on the ques-
tion, planning and zoning com-
missioner Bronie Zolper said: "It's
time to put the lid on the motel is-
sue." That sentiment was shared
by town Commissioner Bob
Spengler, who said: "We don't
have the infrastructure to support
any more motels. It's time to stop
it."
Commissioner Jim Lavelle
agreed with the motion. "We have
a big density problem here. The
number of people are already very
high in Dewey Beach during sum-
mer. I don't think the town's able
to handle many more," said
State park
Continued from page 1
said there are many reasons why
the project will benefit the area,
including better traffic flow and
the repaving of roads that dated
back to Word War II.
"Traffic will definitely move
better in all directions," he said.
Specifically, fee booths will be
moved further from the park en-
trance and the entrance in and ex-
it out of the park will both become
one way roads.
That is expected to speed up
traffic and reduce traffic backups
and congestion around fee booths,
especially for exiting traffic.
Landscaping and burial of over-
head utilities should also help
beautify the area.
One of the improvements is a
multi-use trail that winds past the
office area and beyond the camp-
ground before tying in with an ex-
Lavelle.
Commissioner Pat Wright said:
"I feel the same way. A future
town council can come along and
change this someday, but I say
let's stop it now."
The vote was 4-0, with Mayor
Bob Frederick absent, because he
was attending the state Democrat-
ic Convention in Dover.
Council heard much discussion
on the proposed ordinance for
mandatory drug/alcohol testing of
the town's police and lifeguards.
Commissioner Wright, who
brought the issue to the table in
March, noted that Rehoboth
Beach and Bethany Beach have
similar codes on their municipal
books, and
Dewey Beach
should follow
suit. To talk
about the ex-
tent of drugs in
today's society,
Wright invited
Carolyn
Doolittle, a re-
WRIGHT tired Army
colonel and registered nurse who
now directs Sussex County Coun-
seling Services.
"In 1997, 20 million Americans
reported they used marijuana and
13 million said they were alco-
holic-type drinkers," said Doolit-
tle. "Fifty percent of the nation's
work force reported they had used
drugs at least once in the past
year. Drug use is not going to go
away; that's a fact. But preem-
ployment drug testing could be a
deterrent to using drugs, and it
could also cause some young
users to stop."
Doolittle said drugs may stay in
people's system and show up in
drug tests long after they last
used, depending on how often
they used prior to stopping. "Lab
tests can go to varying levels of-
thoroughness," said Doolittle.
"The most extensive testing can
cost more but will be very, very
deliberate- and find everything."
isting trail. That completes an in-
ternal northern park trail loop
over 3.5 miles long.
Revamping the entrance was
considered the number one priori-
ty of the state park master plan,
which was finally hammered out
last year after months of meet-
ings.
Salkin said he was pleased that
the state was able to move for-
ward with that first priority. "We
are just very excited about it in
many ways," he said.
A prepared statement from the
parks division said "the purpose
of these changes will provide vis-
itors with a safer, more clearly de-
fined and attractive entrance sys-
tem.
The new entrance will provide
more space for vehicles lining up
at the fee booths. Car lines will no
longer extend beyond park
boundaries, ultimately interfering
with ferry traffic, as has happened
in the past."
Tests generally cost from $56 to
$71 each, Wright said.
Many citizens voiced support
for the principle of mandatory
drug screenings before employ-
ment and then random screenings
during employment. "In private
industry, across the board, random
testing is the accepted norm these
days," said resident Chris Richter.
"It's a standard; it protects us.
We're not plowing new ground
here."
Dewey Beach already has a per-
sonnel policy authorizing manda-
tory drug/alcohol testing if a su-
pervisor has suspicions that a pub-
lic safety employee is under the
influence at work. Police Chief
Ray Morrison said after the meet-
ing that his employees also under-
go random drug testing as a norm.
"I firmly believe it's a good idea,
and I think it should be required
for all town employees, across the
board," Morrison said.
Dewey Beach Patrol Capt. Todd
Fritchman last month voiced con-
cerns over the cost and procedure
of testing his summer lifeguard
staff, wondering who would pay
for the tests and whether he would
have to pull guards off the beach
to test them. He said this month
that he doesn't believe his guards
use drugs or steroids, but added if
the town foots the bill for the tests
and if they are given after work
days, he is not against them in
principle.
Commissioner Jim Lavelle sug-
gested council "not rush this issue
to a vote, but table it for further
review and a possible vote next
month." That feeling was shared
by other commissioners, and the
issue was moved to the May agen-
da for action.
REDISCOVER THE
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THAT OTHER OUTDOOR STORES
DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.
LONG SLEEVE DENIM SHIRTS
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FOLDING LOUNGE CHAIR
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COMPARE SUNNY'S SUNNY'S
ELSEWHERE AFFORDABLE SPECIAL
PRICE PRICE PRICE
$35.00 $24.00 * 14 99
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NAME
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0FFI