The Agenda

South Bethany

• The South Bethany Town Council will hold a council special meeting/workshop on Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. at the town hall.

• South Bethany residents will go to the polls on Saturday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Hall to elect three council members. The four candidates running for office are: incumbents John P. Fields and Margaret “Marge” Gassinger, and John A. Rubinsohn and Christopher A. White. Councilman Bob Cestone is not running for re-election.

Absentee ballots are available at Town Hall for any property owner who cannot be present to vote. Ballots must be returned before the closing of the polls at 3 p.m. on May 27. Residents who may have questions regarding their qualifications to vote in the town election should contact Town Hall at (302) 539-3653 or 402 Evergreen Road, South Bethany, DE 19930.

Bethany Beach

• The Bethany Beach Planning Commission will meet Friday, May 20, at 9 a.m. at the town hall. The agenda includes a review of preliminary plans for a planned residential development (PRD) for Thomas Haley for 3 Kent Avenue, as well as for the Helen Loftus property on Garfield Parkway; discussion of residential sidewalks related to construction periods; an update on a proposed amendments related to setback allowances for open stairs on corner properties; and an update on the status of efforts to reconcile Sea Villas with town building code.

• The Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee will meet on Monday, May 22, at 1 p.m. The meeting is set to include a review of the committee’s April 26 cultural events and work to plan next year’s events; a museum update; an update on the walking-trail markers; and an oral history project update.

• The Architectural Guideline Development Committee for the C-1 and C-2 Zoning Districts (AGDC) will meet on Tuesday, May 23, at 10 a.m., to continue work to finalize draft architectural guidelines and related zoning ordinanaces.

• The Bethany Beach Communications Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. The agenda includes review of the town Web site, an update on the town’s skills inventory and work on development of a town map.

• Bethany Beach has pushed back its regular monthly council meeting for May, to Friday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m. A public hearing/workshop on uses for the former Neff and Christian Church properties will precede the council session, at 6 p.m. that evening.

The agenda for the council meeting includes: (1) consideration of an informational “white paper” on porous surface requirements for future driveways and walkways; (2) a motion from Vice Mayor Carol Olmstead to amend the 1997 council resolution establishing the Bethany Beach Historical Association; (3) consideration of concession awards for beach yoga and boardwalk exercise classes, as well as a contract for Fourth of July fireworks; (4) consideration of a resolution that would allow town employees to participate in state, county and municipal pension plans; and (5) a resolution regarding gubernatorial confirmation of aldermen.

Fenwick Island

• The Fenwick Island Town Council will hold its regular monthly meeting a week early, on Friday, May 19, at 3:30 p.m. in the town hall. The agenda for the meeting includes: (1) a possible amendment to the first reading of proposed floor-area ratio (FAR) ordinance and a possible survey of property owners on the issue; (2) policies on use of town hall and employee blood blank membership; (3) the town-center banner project; (4) a proclamation adopting National Incident Management System (NIMS); and (4) information on Operation Fish Tank, an environmental program.

• The Fenwick Island Board of Adjustments will meet Monday, May 22, at 2 p.m. On the agenda: a requested variance for the Zeccola property.

• The Town Manager Search Committee will meet Tuesday, May 23, at 4 p.m. The committee is scheduled to review and approve a draft job description for the proposed position, as well as a draft letter of recommendations for the town council.

• The Budget Committee will meet Wednesday, May 24, at 1 p.m. The agenda includes: discussion of income and expenses projected for all departments and general accounts, review of all capital expenses, and of a draft five-year plan for the town and the 2006-2007 budget, and setting of the remainder of the committee’s meetings.

Sussex County

Sussex County Council will hold its weekly meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, in Georgetown. Council members will hear a request for funding from the Town of South Bethany before listening to a budget presentation. After that presentation they will consider adopting the 2007 fiscal-year budget before hearing additional business at 11:15 a.m.