VOL. 13 NO. 48
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2009
50 cents
News Delmar CounCil - The Delmar Joint Council was updated on a proposal for a new house design in the Wood Creek development during its meeting last Monday night. Page 5 laurel CounCil - two Laurel Council members have opposed the passing of the town’s new fiscal year budget. Page 10 CeleBraTe - Laurel’s Independence Day celebration begins Saturday with a Prayer Breakfast and concludes with spectacular fireworks. Page 8 PoliCe - A knife thrown at a courthouse strikes and injures a five-year-old child. Page 35 Fame - Opening for the display focusing on sports heroes from Sussex County features some special appearances. Page 46 riVerFeST - Looking ahead to next weekend, the Seaford Riverfest program is inside this edition.
Sports FourTh oF july - Laurel’s 15th annual Fourth of July celebration is set for Saturday, starting with a 7:30 a.m. prayer breakfast at the Georgia House Restaurant and finishing with the fireworks demonstration at dusk. In addition there is a carnival, a parade at 10 a.m. and other events all day long. Photo by Cassie Richardson
Banner- The Laurel 9-10 year-old all-star softball team celebrates its District III championship by taking a lap with the banner following Sunday’s win over Woodbridge in the championship game. Photo by Mike McClure
INSIDE THE STAR Business
6
movies
7
Bulletin Board
16
oBituaries
21
ChurCh
20
Classifieds
32
Pat murPhy
19
eduCation
30
PeoPle
47
entertainment
26
PoliCe Journal
35
Gas lines
40
Puzzles
45
Gourmet
27
soCials
49
health
28
snaPshots
48
letters
50
sPorts
39
mike Barton
49
tides
7
Landlords in Laurel oppose proposed conditions of rental dwellings licensing By Tony E. Windsor Landlords and property managers of local rental units were on hand at Laurel Town Hall Monday night to express their dissatisfaction with the town’s attempts to impose what they feel are excessive rental licensing conditions. During the Monday, June 29, meeting of Laurel Mayor and Council a proposed ordinance, 2009-10, was presented for a first reading. The ordinance seeks to repeal Chapter 118 of the Laurel Town Code, which is the existing ordinances dealing with the “Licensing of Rental Dwellings.” This would be replaced with new language that imposes a “rental dwelling maintenance and safety program.” Laurel Town Manager Bill Fasano explained that the strengthening of the Laurel Codes relating to rental prop-
erty is largely driven by the number of incidents at apartment complexes that require police service. In addition to requiring rental property owners to obtain the traditional rental license and code enforcement inspection of the property, the proposed ordinance also requires rental property owners to perform criminal background checks on prospective tenants and maintain a written roster of all tenants and other individuals who are allowed to occupy the rental housing. Fasano told the Mayor and Council that the goal of the proposed maintenance and safety component of the rental licensing ordinance is to hold rental property owners responsible for the activities that occur on their property. The ordinance also establishes fine penalties for those rental complexes that have excessive numbers of police calls in a three-month period.
The language of the proposed ordinance states that the Laurel Chief of Police will calculate the number of calls for service for rental property every three months. For rental properties with more than four units, a fee shall be imposed for each call for service exceeding 0.25 calls for service per rental dwelling unit in any three- month period. For rental properties with four or fewer rental dwelling units, a fee shall be imposed for each call for service exceeding three calls for service in any three month period. For all rental properties, a fee shall be imposed for each call for service exceeding two calls for service to any single rental dwelling unit in any three month period. Calls to a dwelling unit for this purpose include calls specifiContinued on page 4