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.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Doug Smith, Code Enforcement Officer, reported that as of Friday, May 23, 2008, the Town’s fire siren motor will be transported to Caddell Electric in Virginia Beach for re-winding and it will be installed on Monday, June 3, 2008. Doug further reported that the electrical contact and overload unit has been received and it will also be installed this week. The new sheet metal cover for the siren will be ready on or about Friday, May 30, 2008. Doug will contact "Barry" at Townsend Garage for the use of his crane during the first week of June 2008 to install the unit. The purpose of this fire siren is to alert the Town’s citizens in the event of weather emergency or other calamities that can strike this Shore community. This is all part of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that the Town has been developing over the last eight (8) months. Doug is the Town’s "lead" on the EOP.
Code Enforcement issued a permit for a new home on Madison Avenue. Welcome to the Town!
Jeb Brady, Assistant Code Enforcement Officer, is attending the National Fire Academy this week for a course entitled Principles of Fire Inspections. The Town expects to have its Fire Marshal Program in place as of July 2008. The purpose of this program is to ensure fire safety for the Town and its citizens. This program also ties into our Alleyways Project where we are attempting to re-open the Town’s alleyways in the event of a fire, police activity or for maintenance purposes.
Doug reported that the Town received one (1) proposal regarding engineering services on the Town Hall. This proposal relates to the Town’s "possible" Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In the mean time the Town is preparing for the upcoming hurricane season and will attempt some "work around" regarding the EOC. Doug has also started working on a public notice "handout" for construction practices in the high wind zone as per the adoption of the 2006 United States Building Codes.
HARBOR
Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that the Gazebo, located on the east side of the Harbor adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station, was used extensively over this Memorial Day weekend.
Smitty would like to welcome Amanda Wimbrough, Jonathon Beckett and Laura Paige Steelman to the Harbor’s Beach Patrol Staff. Smitty said that all three (3) Beach Patrol employees worked over the Memorial Day weekend and reported that there were no major incidents on the Beach. The Town would like to remind everyone that we’re trying to "grow" the Beach and we respectfully request that you do not climb the dunes or go into the roped off areas. These "roped off" areas contain the new beach grass we’re attempting to grow.
The Widening of the Docks Project (construction phase) has been completed and the Harbor crew will now apply the sealant to the dock area. A thanks to Kent Pruitt, Assistant Harbor Master, and Kathie Stevens, Crew Member, and Tim Wivell, builder, for their outstanding work. The Harbor is now illuminated at night and we encourage citizens to visit the Harbor to view Kent, Kathie & Tim’s magnificent work.
Smitty reported that the Harbor had thirty-two (32) vessels docked there over this Memorial Day weekend and over eighty (80) people from those vessels who absolutely enjoyed the Town, our restaurants and our citizens.
PLANNING
Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, reported that the Planning Commission held its second meeting of the month to complete the regular agenda and an "official" zoning map of the Town is nearing completion.
The Historic Review Board reviewed and approved two (2) projects and Tom noted that the projects were modifications and repairs to existing structures in the Town.
Tom reported that he met with the architect for the old Cape Charles High School Project and later met with the Trail designers regarding historical "content" for these projects. Tom said that some design modifications are being completed to ensure practical usage of the projects and to maintain the historical aspects of the surrounding area.
Tom said that he met with the South Port architects for a pre-application meeting regarding their design for a building on the east dock area. Tom has also been working with South Port on zoning and use issues and reported that South Port is waiting on additional permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start their work.
LIBRARY/TOWN CLERK
Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler & Preschool Storytime was attended by eight (8) children and their caregivers. The theme for last week’s event was "The Alphabet".
Ann noted that fifty-one (51) people visited the Town’s Library this past Saturday, May 24, 2008 and the majority of them were "out of Town" visitors who were exploring our Town.
Ann also reported that she attended a Customer Service Workshop that was presented by our friends at the Eastern Shore Community College. The Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, has required that all Town Department Heads and Town Employees attend these training seminars to better serve the general public.
Joy Pelletier, Town Clerk, reported that the Clerk’s Office continues to receive FOIA requests on Town properties, Town documentation and Town procedures. The public is welcome to any & all the information the Town has but we need to remind the public that there are certain items that are exempt from FOIA that includes: Tax, scholastic and other confidential records, Personnel records, Working papers and correspondence of the Mayor or Chief executive Officer (Town Manager), Written advice of legal counsel, Library use records, Tests and examinations, Computer software developed for the government body, Customer account information of a public utility, Appraisals and cost estimates of real properties prior to sale, Confidential bid information, Security related information, Identity of anyone making a land use or zoning complaint, Certain criminal incident information etc. A Point of Fact is that there are over eighty (80) exemptions from public records disclosure. Please come in and see the Town Clerk or the Town Manager if you have any questions regarding information you are seeking.
Joy further noted that the Town’s Youth Mentor Program is continuing to build momentum and two (2) additional applicants have submitted their packages for participation in the program.
RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The Town will start interviewing people for the Youth Director position this week. The Town received five (5) applications for the position and more than one half of them have extensive experience in recreation & youth activities.
Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that the sidewalk repairs continue and noted that the Town of Cape Charles is paying for these repairs.
Dave said that the PWD Crews have spent over ten (10) "man hours" placing rope barriers along the Town’s Beach and dune areas. Please see the comments under HARBOR for an explanation of this "roped off" area.
A special thanks to Matt Pruitt, Assistant Director of Public Works, Linwood "Buddy" Owen and Dennis Bradford for their assistance over the Memorial Day weekend. The Town received several compliments about how "clean" the Beach and roadways looked over this holiday weekend. Good job!
The Town continues to await the results of the water testing from the Virginia Health Department regarding East Well III. Jay Bell & Billy Powell continue to work on the "grit collector" at the Mason Avenue Pump House. We respectfully ask that citizens refrain from dumping disposable diapers and elements of clothing down their toilets. Over the holiday weekend Jay & Billy responded to a home in the Town that reported a "backed up" waste water system. When Jay & Billy removed the valve at the residence they discovered someone from the residence had thrown a piece of clothing down the toilet. Please help us to protect our environment and the equipment the Town uses for Waste Water Control.
Another thank you to the Water Treatment Crew consisting of Thomas Stratton, Lead, Robert Zibita and Ron Bailey for all of their extra hours at the WT Plant ensuring that the Town has clean water despite the fact that we are operating off of one (1) Well.
POLICE
Chief David Eder reported that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) issued 5 (five) summons for traffic infractions and 3 (three) parking tickets over the holiday weekend. In addition to that, the CCPD answered 3 (three) calls for domestic disturbances, 3 (three) burglary alarms, 4 (four) noise complaints and assisted fire rescue 3 (three) times over the weekend. Chief Eder noted that last Sunday’s party on the beach was attended by approximately 250 people and there were no reported incidents. The Town would like to thank Sheriff Jack Robbins and Major Dave Dougherty for their assistance this weekend.
Chief Eder reported a larger than average number of people on the Town’s Beach on Monday, May 26, 2008. The estimated crowd at the Beach was over 500 people. He also said that the Monday, May 26, 2008 Memorial Day Service at Cape Charles was attended by over 125 people which made this one of the largest attended services here in years. Thank you to Vince Conroy who put together the program and served as the Master of Ceremonies. The Town also would like to thank American Legion Post 400 & American Legion Post 56 for their participation and service to their Country.
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER
The Town of Cape Charles welcomes our second grocery store to the Town. The latest grocery store, located at 524 Mason Avenue (the old EMS & frame shop) will be opened sometime in mid-June 2008. It will be a store to purchase sandwiches, milk, bread and some Brazilian cuisine. It’s being opened by Tina De Angelis-Alther and her husband Dave. The Town’s other grocery store, operated by Lenora Mitchell, is located at Jefferson Avenue & Peach Street.
The Bike MS tour will arrive in our Town from Saturday, May 31 2008 to Sunday, June 01, 2008. The route options are 60, 70 and 100 miles for the Saturday "run" and 75 and 100 miles for the Sunday "run". The start location is within the Town of Cape Charles and you can register for this great event at fight MS.com or call Shannon Rice or Kathy Whitlock at 757-490-9627. Come out and Bike MS!
The Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, has requested that the Town’s Department Heads provide him with a basic plan that will address their department’s individual needs and projections over the next two (2) years (2010), five (5) years (2013), eight (8) years (2016) and ten (10) years (2018). This is "assumptive work" that is due back to the Town Manager on Thursday, July 31, 2008. The purpose of this project is to move the Town forward into future plans, operations and budgeting and not continue to address issues on a yearly basis as we have unfortunately been doing for years. The subjects that the Town will address includes Water Treatment, Waste Water Treatment, Alleyways, Anticipated legal expenses, the Beach, the Park, the Police, the Public Works Department, Code Enforcement, the Library, the Old Cape Charles High School, additional Wells, Sewers & the DEQ issues, fiscal and infrastructure.
The Town would like to thank the businesses along Mason Avenue who assisted the Town last week with taking their signs down and moving their "sandwich" boards inside at night. Your professionalism and cooperation was greatly appreciated.
Thank you again for the privilege and opportunity to serve this great Town and all the citizens here.
"There is a path to the top of even the highest mountain."
An Afghan Proverb
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.