Fenwick Island
Delaware

PRESS RELEASE: TOWN OF FENWICK ISLAND STATEMENT RE: COASTAL POINT ARTICLE ALLEGING SECURITY BREACH

TOWN OF FENWICK ISLAND STATEMENT RE: COASTAL POINT ARTICLE ALLEGING SECURITY BREACH:

A recent Coastal Point article printed allegations that Fenwick Island Mayor Natalie Magdeburger “gained unauthorized access” to the Town’s police department and “breached the door” to the police building  on April 23, 2023.  The Coastal Point similarly repeated the characterization of a “security breach” at the police building.

These allegations are recklessly false, misleading and inflammatory.

For years, members of Town Council and Town staff have had access to the Town’s police building through the use of a security door code.  Chief Devlin had personally provided the Mayor with the security door code to gain access to the building and had shown her how to use it.

On April 23, 2023, the Mayor visited the police building, on her way home from being out of town, to obtain a copy of the police schedule so she could plan ride-a longs with officers the following week.  Because police cars were parked in front of the building, it was evident that officers were in the building.  The Mayor used the door code given to her by Chief Devlin to enter the outer door to the police building, and an officer in the interior of the police building (where the squad area and computer equipment is located) opened the interior door.  A second officer was also present in the building.  The Mayor was, at all times, escorted by officers while she was in the squad area of the police building.  The Mayor did not seek access, nor was she given access, to any information contained in the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (“DELJIS”).  The Mayor conversed with the officers in the police building, was provided a copy of a police schedule she had requested, and then left.

The Mayor and the Town Council take security very seriously.  The Town Council will request, and will fully cooperate with, a thorough, professional and independent investigation and review of procedures and actual events regarding security at the Town‘s police building.

The Coastal Point should exercise greater caution and restraint before making and repeating inflammatory allegations that turn out to be false and misleading.  Our Town deserves better. 

June 5th Presentation & Discussion: Lighting Plans for Replacement Bridge Project 3-437

All are welcome to attend the June 5th Residential Concerns Meeting from 10:00-11:00am where there will be a presentation and discussion about the lighting plans for the Replacement Bridge Project 3-437 on Lighthouse Road (SR54) over the Assawoman Bay. John Eberle and his design team from DelDOT will be participating in the discussion. Resident Rosemary Hoy has researched and presented her light pollution study originally to the Resident Concerns Committee will also be participating.

Bulk Trash Collection

Residents & Property Owners: Bulk Trash Collection will be May 30th, May 31st and June 1st. Please click here for the rules. 

Reminder to put your bulk trash out on the night of May 31st as it is not a guarantee to be picked up if you wait until June 1st.

Chief of Police Open Position

The Town of Fenwick Island, Delaware is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Chief of Police.  The successful candidate must have background that demonstrates experience with principles of policing, strong written and verbal communication and organizational skills as well as a commitment to fostering effective and collaborative channels of communication within their department, other Town staff, elected officials, and in the community. 

Starting Salary is $92,000 plus Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision), Life Insurance, Long-term and Short-Term Disability, accrued vacation and sick leave, uniforms, use of police vehicle and pension opportunities.

Interested candidates must be able to meet the following requirements:

1. Candidate must have ten (10) years of progressive responsibility in an organized police department, including experience with supervisory, fiscal and administrative responsibilities.
2. Candidate must be proficient in fiscal management, personnel management, supervisory techniques, accepted principles of policing, traffic calming measures, organizational management, community relations, and law enforcement administration.
3. Candidate must possess exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to establish effective and collaborative unified team working relationships with departmental officers, municipal administrators, staff and elected officials.
4. Candidate must have experience in planning and implementing effective traffic calming control measures for both highways and residential streets.
5. Candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge of creating policies and procedures within department that advance community focused results and have leadership, management and organizational skills to implement such policies and procedures.
6. Candidate must have experience in researching and obtaining grant money for law enforcement projects.
7. Candidate must be of good reputation and character and possess the utmost integrity and honesty.
8. Candidate must be willing to maintain a highly visible profile within the community and live or re-locate to within a 40-mile distance from the Town.
9. Candidate must currently hold certification by the Delaware Council on Police Training and a State of Delaware Driver’s License.

Applications can be found here: FIPD employment application or can be picked up at Town Hall at 800 Coastal Highway Fenwick Island, DE 19944.

Applications with a resume should be submitted by June 5, 2023.

Please submit application and resume to:

Patricia Schuchman, Town Manager

Town of Fenwick Island

800 Coastal Highway

Fenwick Island, DE 19944

or email to pschuchman@fenwickisland.org.  

The Town of Fenwick Island, Delaware provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

Open House Update

Thank you! to those who were able to attend the Planning Commission’s Open House on Saturday, May 20. We were pleased to be able to engage with the approximately 40 of you that attended!  Photos from the event are at the bottom of the page.

For those unable to attend, we have included the Power Point presentation, as well as handouts shared with the attendees on Saturday.  

We look forward to presenting the entire draft of the Comprehensive Plan to Town Council and the Community on June 8, at 3:00 pm in Town Hall. This meeting is open to the public and will also be available via Zoom. The presentation of the plan will be the only item on the agenda for this special meeting. Zoom link here for the Special Town Council Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84642302596

We anticipate availability of the Comprehensive Plan document on or about June 5, in advance of the presentation to Town Council and it will be posted to the Town website.

Thank you for your interest in this process. If you have any questions regarding the Comprehensive Plan, please email the Commission at FIplanningcommission.com.

Comprehensive Plan Update Open House in Town Hall

Chapter 3 Draft for Open House

FIPC Survey Topics Ratings Chart

2023 Hurricane Season Outlooks Released

Fenwick Island,

Please see the 2023 Hurricane Season Outlooks:

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2023-04-11-hurricane-season-outlook-atlantic

See the Emergency Management page here for how to prepare for a hurricane. Now is the time to prepare!

Approved First Readings 4/28/2023

Chapter 146-4 (Levying of Tax)

Chapter 61-14 (Hours of Construction)

2023 Fenwick Freeze Pre-Registration

The Fenwick Freeze will be taking place on Bayard Street, Sunday, January 1st at 10:30am. Pre-registration will take place from now until December 29th at Town Hall. You can also complete the form below and mail to Fenwick Island Beach Committee, 800 Coastal Hwy, Fenwick Island, DE 19944. Please make checks out to the Fenwick Island Beach Committee.

Please be advised there will be no rain date. If you pre-register, you can pick up your t-shirt at Town Hall, January 1st from 10:30am-11:30am. Additionally, there will be t-shirt sales for the public. 

2023 fenwick freeze registration form

Offshore Wind Public Hearing Rescheduled In Ocean City

The hearing meant to be held in person on Oct. 3 has been rescheduled to November 14th at 6pm and is now a virtual meeting, according to Ocean Wind 1.

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The public hearing on offshore wind originally scheduled for Oct. 3 will now be held on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., Ocean Wind 1 announced Friday.

Additionally, the original meeting was planned to be in-person at the Flanders Hotel, but it will now be held virtually over Zoom.

The hearing was postponed due to coastal flooding Ocean City was experiencing at the time. 

It comes after the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved the transmission line under Ocean City’s streets and coming up at the beach lots at 35th Street, coming as a surprise to Ocean City officials as it happened the night before a meeting was scheduled between the BPU and Ocean City/Cape May County officials.

The hearing is hosted by Ocean Wind, LLC, the developers behind Ocean Wind 1, a proposed offshore wind project that would be located 15 miles of the coast of Ocean City.

The proposed project has plans to run cables under Ocean City beaches at the end of 35th Street and south, and wetlands north of Roosevelt Boulevard Bridge. These are Green Acres areas, which are preserved for open space.

Those who wish to participate via video conference may access the hearing at https://bit.ly/ocw1-ga-pub-hearing (note: if manually typing, please use all lowercase text), or go to https://zoom.us/join and enter Webinar ID: 845 6140 0881; Passcode: 407304. Those planning to offer comments at the hearing may sign up to do so during the hearing. A dial-in option will be available, as well. If using one-tap mobile: +16469313860,,84561400881# or for telephone, (646) 931-3860 or (888) 788-0099 (Toll Free); Webinar ID: 845 6140 0881; Passcode: 407304.

All written comments must be submitted by Nov. 28, 2022 to Tom Suthard at Orsted Ocean Wind 1, 600 Atlantic Ave., Suite 2, Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 or Info@OceanWind.com. Please reference “Proposed Diversion” in the subject line. A copy of any written comments must also be submitted to the Green Acres Program at PublicLandCompliance@dep.nj.gov. Please include “Ocean Wind 1” in the subject line. Email comments are preferred, but comments may also be mailed to: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship, 401 East State Street, 7th Floor, Mail Code 401-07B, P.O. Box 420, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420 Attn: Ocean Wind 1 Application.

Ocean City and its residents have previously spoken out against the cables running through beaches multiple times.

-Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff

Sidewalk Plans in Fenwick Island

W. Houston- W. Indian

W. Georgetown- W. Houston

W. Farmington- W. Georgetown

W. Essex- W. Farmington

W. Dagsboro- W. Essex