Mayor
Town Council
Town Manager
Asst. Town Manager
Treasurer
Town Clerk
Code Enforcement
Town Planner
Public Works/Utilities
Harbor
Library
Police
Welcome to the official Town of Cape Charles Newsletter. This publication is available by submitting your email address to gazette@capecharles.org or by contacting the Town Office at 757-331-3259 x10.
The purpose of this electronic newsletter is to pass factual, informative and timely information to the citizens of Cape Charles and to any other individuals who have a business, property, travel or historical interest in our Town.
The information contained in this newsletter is considered to be the "official word" on the Town’s activities as noted by our Town Manager. The Cape Charles Gazette will be a news source that will report weekly events, upcoming Town activities, articles of interest to our citizens, Town projects, safety & security issues, and emergency announcements.
We hope that you will enjoy receiving the Cape Charles Gazette.
For additional information please go to the Town’s website at http://www.capecharles.org/or contact us at gazette@capecharles.org.
HARBOR
Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that six (6) transient vessels arrived at the Harbor form various locations that included Oregon, California, Florida, New York and Deltaville, VA. Smitty reported that all of visitors enjoyed the Town and were very complimentary about Cape Charles "food".
Smitty said that he met with Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, Doug Smith, Code Enforcement, Tom Bonadeo, Planner, Heather Arcos, Assistant Town Manager and Bob Panek, Special Consultant regarding the Harbor design. Smitty reported that the Design Team completed the Phase I design and prints of the Harbor which included boat slips, inshore breakwater, electrical and water works, sewer plans, roadways and parking and the design of two (2) new restrooms. Smitty noted that the Town staff had all of their questions answered by the Design Team and he believed it was an informative meeting where a great deal was accomplished.
Smitty reported that he interviewed five (5) persons for the Town’s Beach Patrol and will select three (3) people for this position by the end of this week.
Smitty also submitted the following:
The Town of Cape Charles will be accepting sealed bids for 45 beach umbrellas and 70 beach chairs all of which are one year old. Bidders must include the quantity of each item and the amount per item and the total dollar amount in the bid along with name, address and phone number. Bids must be delivered to the Town Clerk (Municipal Building, 2 Plum Street, Cape Charles, VA 23310, no later than 12:00 noon on the 28th day of May 2008. Bids will be opened in the Council Chambers at 1:00 PM on the same day. All purchases must be paid either in cash or cashiers check and all sales are final. The Town reserves the right to sell in whole or in part. The Town also reserves the right to refuse any or all bids. For additional info contact Smitty Dize (Harbor Master) at 331-2357.
LIBRARY
Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler & Preschool Storytime had a total of eight (8) children and their caregivers at the event. Last week’s theme was "Mother’s Day" and the children colored a card and later presented it to their Moms.
Ann said a book order was sent to the Eastern Shore Public Library for 61 titles and five (5) of the books that were ordered are coming in with LARGE PRINT and one (1) book on CD. Ann said that the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) presented Peter & the Wolf at the Saint Charles Catholic Church on behalf of the Library. Ann said the event went over well and welcomes the VASO back to Cape Charles.
RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Jimmy Marvel, Youth Director, reported that 134 people used the Park this week and that he worked with 13 of our esteemed senior citizens at Heritage Acres this past week.
Jimmy Marvel has announced his intention to resign from his current position and the Town is now in the process of hiring a part time Recreation Coordinator. The starting salary will be commensurate with education & experience. If you have an interest in this position or know of someone who has the qualifications please contact Town Manager Joe Vaccaro at 757-331-3259 x20 for further details. Teachers with a four (4) year degree are highly encouraged to apply.
Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that the Mason Avenue Pump Station #3 will be back in service this week. The repairs from last week concerning the pump and the electrical system are near completion.
The Water Treatment Plant has submitted their Ground Water Withdrawal Permit to the DEQ and the Town has received approval for our Stage II Disinfectants and Disinfectants Byproducts Rule Standard Monitoring Plan from the Virginia Department of Health. This is the plan that monitors the quality of drinking water that is delivered by our water system.
Dave reported that the Town employees at the Water Plant are working longer than normal hours at the plant due to the fact that there is only one (1) well on line and it takes a great deal of time to fill our tower to ensure there’s water for the Town.
Dave said the Town’s water engineers (Stearns & Wheeler) visited the Town again last week to discuss some additives for the Towns water and are also examining the 'hook up' for East Well II ( the recently dug Well).
Dave said that six (6) months ago the Town’s unaccounted for water Loss was approaching 50% of the total output and the latest figures from Stearns & Wheeler indicate that the Town’s loss is now approximately 5%. This dramatic decrease is due to 1) The PWD "plugging" leaks at the Harbor 2) Closely monitoring construction sites 3) Metering areas that weren’t metered before and 4) The Public Awareness of our precious resource. Thanks to all for a great job!
Our Friends from the VDOT assisted the Town in "sweeping" our streets last week and it was noted that some of the citizens who have cut their grass early are back to their "old ways" of dumping the cuttings into the street. This practice of "dumping" the grass cuttings into the street & gutter clogs our sewer lines and creates havoc with our water systems. Please pick up your cuttings and bag them for pickup.
Dave said that the Town still hasn’t received any responses from anyone regarding herbicide spraying and anyone who is qualified and interested in this work should contact Dave ASAP at 757-331-3259 x17.
POLICE
Chief David Eder would like to remind everyone that there’s a "new" traffic pattern at the corner of Fig Street and Route 184 (Randolph Avenue). There is NO LONGER an EXCEPT RIGHT TURNS Sign at that intersection. It’s now a FULL STOP.
CAPE CHARLES VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Cape Charles Fire Department competed in the 79th Annual Delmarva Volunteer Fireman’s Association Convention last week in Denton, MD. Our Fire department received the following awards:
- Best Appearing Fire Company Overall
- Best Appearing Fire Company in Virginia
- Company traveling the longest Distance
- Best Appearing Aerial Device
- 3rd Best Appearing Tanker
- 2nd Best Appearing Apparatus 1935-1985
- 3rd Best Appearing Apparatus 1935-1985
- 2 Judges Awards for uniform appearance and attendance
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER
We have received some inquires from citizens regarding another publication that is written by a Council Member regarding the use of the term "Council lite" and we respectfully request that those inquires be directed to Councilman John Burdiss since the Gazette is not a "vehicle" for debate and was never intended to be.
The Town is in the process of re-examining our "Sign Ordinances" and the Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, will be addressing this issue with the Town staff this week. Over the last month the Town has received a number of complaints from citizens regarding signs and "blocked" sidewalks.
Section 62-12 Obstructing Sidewalks of the Town Code addresses this issue and reads: "It shall be unlawful for any person to display, obstruct or leave any vehicle, merchandise or any other commodity on the sidewalks or curbs in the Town so as to block, impede or endanger the safety of pedestrians in any manner. The Mayor or the Town Manager, at his (her) discretion, may issue special permits in writing for certain exceptions to this section".
Section 6-4 Erection of signs over, under or in streets or other public places of the Town Code addresses this issue and reads: "(a) No sign shall be erected in the Town over, under or in any street, highway, road, alley, bridge, underpass, or other public way or place without permission of the Town Council. A permit so granted shall designate the exact location, nature and dimensions of the signs. (b) After three (3) days’ notice to the owner of a sign erected under this section that such sign is not satisfactorily maintained, or that it is not in accordance with the permit or in any respect unsatisfactory to the Council, the sign shall be removed at the expense of the owner. (c) This section shall not apply to traffic signs or other signs erected by the state authorities or signs erected over a merchant’s place of business". (Ordinance of 3-17-81& 4.20)
Thank you again for the privilege and opportunity to serve this great Town and all the citizens here.
That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.
Thomas Jefferson
Joe Vaccaro
Town Manager
Town of Cape Charles, VA
757-331-3259 x20
All information contained in this publication is believed to be true and correct at the time of publication.
Not responsible for typographical errors.
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Municipal Corporation of Cape Charles
2 Plum Street
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-331-3259
Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.