FENWICK ISLAND – Town officials are preparing for the 2015 Municipal Election on Aug. 1 as Fenwick Councilman Todd Smallwood has resigned his position with two months left in his term.
During Friday’s Town of Fenwick Island Council meeting, it was announced Smallwood had sold his property in Fenwick, leaving him ineligible to serve per Fenwick’s charter.
“I want to thank Todd for his service. He gave quite a few years to this town and did a great job,” Councilman Bill Weistling said.
Treasurer Gardner Bunting echoed Weistling’s comment.
“He was very involved,” he said.
Town Manager Merritt Burke thanked Smallwood for his service as he recalled the councilman served on the search committee when he was hired.
“I respect Todd’s passion for the community, and his passion for the beach and all the issues surrounding DNREC [Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control]. He will definitely be missed,” Burke said.
The council accepted Smallwood’s resignation and voted to approve former Councilman Richard Mais to fill the position for the remainder of the term.
“He has previously served on the council and has worked very hard with the Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan,” said Bunting in nominating Mais.
In related news, Burke presented the council with the updated Voter Registration List.
“Per Chapter 13 [Town Charter] I have certified the council a list of voter registered individuals who are deceased or failed to vote in the past five municipal elections, or for any other reasons failed to qualify as a registered voter according to the Town Charter. This list is from the State that we will use for the Aug. 1, 2015 Municipal Election,” Burke said.
The council voted unanimously to approve the updated Voter Registration List.
Up next on the agenda were the members of the Board of Elections to receive the Oath of Office as their three-year term is to start anew. Lynn Andrews was the only member to receive the Oath of Office for the Board of Elections as Richard Bowman and Mary Wright were absent. Bowman and Wright will be sworn in at a later date.
There are four council seats up for election this year — Mayor Audrey Serio, Vice Mayor Gene Langan, Councilman Roy Williams, and interim Councilman Richard Mais, who is serving out the remainder of Smallwood’s term.
The 2015 Municipal Election will take place Aug. 1 at Town Hall from 1-5 p.m. Candidates have until June 17 at 4:30 p.m. to file for election followed by a special council meeting at Town Hall at 6 p.m. to accept the nominees.
A municipal election is held each year as the seven-member council serves a term of two years. The 2013 Municipal Election had five candidates filing — Vicki Carmean, Langan, Serio, Smallwood, and Williams. However, Carmean withdrew her application leaving the four candidates to automatically fill the positions.
Next year Bunting, Weistling and Diane Tingle’s council positions will be up for election.