Two topics of notable interest on July 8 agendas

Two items on July 8 meeting agendas may be of particular interest to the public - and both items will be open for public comment.

Proposed Sussex County/Lewes wastewater agreement
During the Board of Commissioners workshop meeting scheduled for 9 am, Sussex County and the Lewes Board of Public Works will present information regarding their proposal to enter into a regional partnership with the City of Rehoboth Beach for use of the city's ocean outfall for their highly treated effluent in exchange for financial compensation to the city.

Ratification of the city manager's employment agreement
In response to the general attorney's determination that the City of Rehoboth Beach violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in considering the city manager's compensation package in executive session and without public comment, the Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 2 pm to consider ratification of the contract. This item will, as will the one above, include a public comment period. 

In response to the attorney general's finding last week, Mayor Stan Mills issued the following statement:

"To be clear, the City of Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners always believed that it was following Freedom of Information Act requirements and that discussion of the city manager’s employment agreement in executive session was permissible. We are disappointed with the attorney general’s determination.

That said, the Board of Commissioners supports the attorney general’s commitment to openness and transparency in government. Transparency in government is important, and the state’s Freedom of Information Act is our guide. To have been found in violation of FOIA laws signals a failure in the city’s transparency and is an injustice to our citizens. We are committed to adhering to FOIA principles. We can and will do better."

RBHA to host candidate forum July 20

The Rehoboth Beach Homeowners' Association will host a candidate forum from 10-11:30 am Saturday, July 20, in the second floor meeting room of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, 219 Rehoboth Avenue. Elevator access is available.

The forum is an opportunity to meet Board of Commissioner candidates one-on-one and to learn about their positions on multiple issues impacting Rehoboth Beach.

Four candidates are competing for two open Board of Commissioner seats. The candidates are:

• Suzanne Goode
• Rachel Macha
• Mark Saunders
• Craig Thier

To vote in City of Rehoboth Beach elections, voters must be:

• at least 18
• a City of Rehoboth Beach resident or freeholder (for at least 30 days) or 10-year leaseholder (for at least six months)
• registered in the city's Book of Registered Voters.

The deadline to register to vote in this election is 4:30 pm Thursday, July 11.

Absentee ballots are now available and will be mailed to all who have a request form on file. Absentee ballot request forms must be filed no later than noon August 9. Absentee ballots must be received via mail or in person before polls close on election day.

Questions regarding the annual election? Contact Donna Moore or Steven Perry at 302-227-6181, ext. 159.

City increases property tax rate

At its June 21 meeting, the Board of Commissioners voted to increase the city's property tax rate from 0.06 cents per $100 of assessed value to 0.0775 cents. This measure is part of a series of moves taken by commissioners to balance the city's fiscal year 2025 budget. Commissioners had previously approved increases to parking rates, the rental tax rate, and wastewater fees.

This is Rehoboth's first property tax increase since March 2019. The increase is expected to generate an additional approximately $590,000 in revenue.

The $0.0775 rate is for the tax period of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. Property tax bills are currently being mailed to property owners; property taxes are due August 31.

July 10 at Towers Beach
RBP again to host action-packed lifeguard competition

The Rehoboth Beach Patrol will once again host lifeguard-athletes from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region as they compete in sand and surf events this July for the right to compete in the United States Lifesaving Association’s national competition next month in South Padre Island, Texas.



The 2024 United States Lifesaving Association’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships will begin at 9:30 am Wednesday, July 10. The beach venue for this year’s competition will move from Rehoboth Beach to Towers Beach in Delaware Seashore State Park due to construction of Rehoboth’s beach patrol headquarters at Baltimore Avenue.

This will be the 27th consecutive year that the Rehoboth Beach Patrol has been selected to host this event, which draws 250-350 lifeguard-competitors from New York to Virginia.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to host the 43rd annual lifesaving championships just as we have for more than 25 years,” says Rehoboth Beach Patrol Captain Jeff Giles. “We’re looking forward to an expanded competition with additional events. The day is filled with action-packed competition that can’t be seen in any other forum.” 

This event showcases the skills and knowledge necessary to be an ocean lifeguard. The event schedule includes competitions traditionally held in Rehoboth such as a 90-meter sprint, 2K beach run, 4 x 90 soft-sand beach relay, 400-meter surf swim, swimmer rescue race, landline rescue race, paddleboard rescue race, run-swim-run, surf dash, and beach flags. In addition, surf skis and board events, which traditionally have been held in New Jersey, will be held in Delaware for the first time this year. 

Summertime events sizzle

Enjoy free Summer Concert Series performances at the bandstand at 8 pm every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through August. The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market is open 10 am-2 pm Tuesdays at Grove Park. Other upcoming city-approved events through July are listed below.

City-approved special events (and only those that are approved by the city) are posted to the City of Rehoboth Beach online calendar; typically a link to the event's website can be found there. Below is a list of upcoming events through early July.

Bandstand Summer Concert Series Special Performance: US Navy Band Commodores
July  4 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: High Noon
July 5 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Firecracker 5K
July 6 • 7:30-9 am • Grove Park

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: The Funsters
July 6 • 8 pm and after the fireworks • Bandstand

Independence Day Fireworks Display
July 6 • approximately 9:30 pm • Visible from along the beach and boardwalk

Sonrise Service on the Beach
July 7 • 8 am • On the beach at the bandstand

Dave Reynolds Biathlon
July 7 • 8-10 am • Boardwalk/Beach

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: The Whiskey Crows
July 7 • 8 pm • Bandstand

USLA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships
July 10 • 9:30 am-5 pm • Towers Beach, Delaware Seashore State Park

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: US Army Field Band Six-String Soldiers
July 12 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Jesse Garron
July 13 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Sonrise Service on the Beach
July 14 • 8 am • On the beach at the bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Scott Tournet & The Spark
July 14 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: lOWER cASE bLUES
July 19 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Best of the Eagles
July 20 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Sonrise Service on the Beach
July 21 • 8 am • On the beach at the bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: The Texas Chainsaw Horns
July 21 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Red Dirt Revolution
July 26 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Yellow Brick Road - A Tribute to Elton John
July 27 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Sonrise Service on the Beach
July 28 • 8 am • On the beach at the bandstand

Bandstand Summer Concert Series: Just Sixties
July 28 • 8 pm • Bandstand

Mar-Del Watermelon Samples
July 31 • 10 am-1 pm • Boardwalk