Bethany flowers in full spring

Credit to: Coastal Point, Susan Canfora

Bethany Beach’s colorful median flowers have become “a real crowd-pleaser,” Mayor Ron Calef said during this week’s Town Council meeting, expressing appreciation for Public Works staff and their “spectacular tulips and displays.”

Calef noted that both residents and visitors have been stopping to admire and photograph the displays, calling the response “incredible.” He also thanked Public Works employees for preparing the town for the busy summer season by powerwashing the bandstand and refurbishing boardwalk benches. Additional support is expected from DNREC workers, who are assisting with dune crossover maintenance and reconstruction.

As Bethany Beach gears up for the influx of summer visitors, the town plans to hire approximately 150 seasonal employees. This includes lifeguards, parking enforcement staff, beach ambassadors, trolley drivers, Public Works employees, and seasonal police officers, many of whom return each year.

Town Manager Cliff Graviet credited department managers for efficiently handling the large-scale hiring effort, noting the challenge of recruiting, training, and coordinating such a workforce in a short timeframe.

In legislative updates, Councilman Rich McHugh reported progress on plans for a medical school in Delaware, supported by $160 million in federal funding. He also discussed an ongoing legal dispute over a proposed electrical substation tied to an offshore wind project, with the state overriding Sussex County’s earlier denial of the permit.

Additional committee reports highlighted police cooperation with other agencies, enhanced training requirements for seasonal officers, and regional collaboration on pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives. Meanwhile, cultural programming continues with a town hall art exhibit and planning underway for the town’s 125th anniversary celebration.

Graviet also shared updates on town operations, including a planned switch to a more cost-effective emergency alert system and a major records cleanup effort that reduced stored documents from more than 300 boxes to 70, with 2.6 tons of paper shredded.

The council approved several measures during the meeting, including an ordinance allowing special event parking permits, a construction change order for ramp repairs, and updated parking maps reflecting recent changes.