Odessa council members begin new term, discuss budget, recycling
By Shauna McVey
Staff Reporter
shauna@middletowntranscript.com

            Odessa residents who wish to continue curbside recycling will see a $3 increase in their monthly bill due to a change in the town’s contract with Independent Disposal Services.
            At the May 5 meeting of the Odessa Mayor and Council, Mayor Kathy Harvey said there was a discrepancy in the trash contract. Residents currently pay $16.57 per month for weekly trash pickup and $1 for recycling, but recycling will increase to the normal amount the Delaware Solid Waste Authority charges.
            “Recycling is going to be $6 a month for biweekly pickup,” Harvey said. “Trash will go from $16.57 to $14.57, so our garbage cost is down in this contract. DSWA is going to give residents either a 65-gallon or 95-gallon container for recycling.”
            As discussed at April’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, a “No Outlet” sign will be installed on Cantwell Avenue.
            Two Odessa residents requested the sign last month to deter traffic from turning around in driveways and yards at the north end of Cantwell Avenue.
            “We went out. We looked. We priced the sign,” Harvey said. “I gave my recommendation of where I think that sign should be, which is a strip of land in the right of way. It won’t be in anybody’s front yard. It’s a strip away from the driveways and yards.”
            Harvey said the sign will cost about $145, which includes the post and installation.
            It will be located just south of Corbit Street, so northbound traffic that is unfamiliar with Cantwell Avenue will be alerted to turn left to head back onto U.S. 13.

Appointments
            Jeff Glueck and Bob Grove were sworn into their two-year terms on the council, and current councilmember John Freeman was reappointed to his seat for one year. He did not file.
            Tom Carle was appointed to a three-year term on the Planning Commission, and Debbie Buckson was appointed to a two-year term on the Historic Commission.
            Connie Miller was re-appointed to the Planning Commission for a three-year term.
            Laura Bedzyk was re-appointed to the Historic Commission for a three-year term.
            Richard Smith was re-appointed to the Tree Commission for a three-year term.
            Jessica Norton was re-appointed as the town secretary, Mike Savage was re-appointed as the zoning administrator and building inspector, and Cliff Hearn was re-appointed as the town solicitor.

Safety update
            Lt. Tom Logan of the Delaware State Police Troop 9 introduced Lt. Mark Daniels as the Troop’s new commander.
            Daniels has more than 30 years of experience with the DSP.
            Daniels said since last month’s meeting, there were two alarms, one animal complaint, two disorderly conducts, one driving under the influence arrest, three suspicious persons complaints and two thefts. There were 51 traffic citations written.
            Harvey said the Delaware Department of Transportation purchased two new metal doggie pots for the Odessa parks, because the original plastic pots were vandalized.
            Harvey reminded citizens there is a 9 p.m. curfew for kids 17 and younger.
Glueck asked if it’s normal practice for the police to stop and question children and teenagers who are out late at night.
            “Yes. We’ll stop and ask for their name, their address and their phone number,” Daniels said. “If there are kids that are suspicious or teenagers who seem to be in a place they shouldn’t be, give us a call and we’ll check it out.”
             
Budget
            The Mayor and Council met on April 28 for a workshop on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, in which they discussed several options to address accounting problems.
            The minutes from the workshop state they discussed changing the charter, which requires the treasurer to be a town resident, limiting the town’s ability to employ a professional to update the town’s processes.
            After a lengthy discussion at the May 5 meeting, the Mayor and Council did not approve the treasurer’s report due to several questions regarding the budget. They will research the cost to have an accountant go over their records to make sure the budget is correct.
            The workshop minutes state the council reviewed the tax rate and salaries, which will remain the same.
            The rate of tax on real estate within town limits is 20 cents per $100 of the assessed value for residential, and 75 cents per $100 for commercial.           
            The workshop minutes also stated the Mayor and Council noted there are no personnel procedures for the town’s employees.
            “I think it’s a good idea for us to get policies on the table,” Harvey said. “We should be good stewards and pass procedures on [to future council members].”
            The next meeting of the Odessa Mayor and Council will be Monday, June 2, at 7 p.m.