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.
References to external websites are for information purposes only. The Town makes no representation as to the accuracy of information on such sites, and reference to such sites is not intended as an endorsement by the Town of any materials or opinions expressed on such sites.
HARBOR
Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that the Harbor Crew will continue their work on painting the parking lot this week. They expected to complete the project this past Saturday but last week’s weather threw them off schedule.
Smitty would like to remind everyone again that the Harbor will receive their Virginia Clean Marina Certificate on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 11:30 AM at the Harbor. The public is invited to attend this historic event and celebrate the Harbor’s achievement. The Town of Cape Charles Harbor is the ONLY "working harbor" on the Eastern Shore to achieve this status. The Bay Creek Marina is the ONLY other Marina to achieve a Virginia Clean Marina status on the Eastern Shore. Congratulations to both locations and their staffs!
LIBRARY & TOWN CLERK
Ann Rutledge, Library Manager, reported that the Toddler Preschool Storytime was held last week and eight (8) children & their caregivers attended the event. The theme was "Halloween Fun".
Ann said that the Library has a new book display featuring a poster proclaiming Register, Read and Vote. The book display highlights books on the presidency, democracy and the election process. DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008!
Ann reported that she attended the Virginia Library Association Convention in Williamsburg, VA last week and had the opportunity to obtain information on library programs, funding and networked with other Library Managers.
She purchased one hundred and one (101) new books for the Library and this included seven (7) LARGE PRINT books and three (3) audio tapes. Please come in and enjoy this Town’s great asset! Reading is contagious and a great family event.
The Friends of the Library were out in force on Halloween Night and helped Ann pass out candy to the Town’s Trick or Treaters. Thanks again to this wonderful group of citizens who consistently assist and better this Community and its people.
Libby Hume, Town Clerk, reported that the Freedom of Information Act Training for ALL Town Employees (Mandatory), Elected Officials (Non-mandatory) and Commission & Board members (Non-mandatory) will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at the CCVFC starting at 2:30 PM. The Town staff is hoping to see our elected officials, commission & board members at this training session.
An Executive Session regarding the Water & Waste Water Project will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at the Town Hall starting at 5:00 PM. This is a closed session to the public since contract information & modeling systems will be discussed. It is anticipated that another "open session" will be held on a future date once the Town Council comes into agreement on a "way ahead" with this project. Details will be forthcoming.
There will be a Public Hearing on the possible Keck Property Rezoning (located off of Route 642 - Old Cape Charles Road) on Thursday, November 13, 2008 starting at 5:30 PM at the St. Charles Catholic Church Parish Hall. The Accessory Dwellings Work Session will take place at the same location starting at 6:00 PM and the regular Town Council Meeting will start at 7:00 PM, also at the same location. The public is highly encouraged to attend these sessions.
The Eastern Shore Broadband Management Team Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at the Town Hall starting at 2:00 PM.
Linda Carola, Assistant Town Clerk, continues to update the Town’s Code Books for the Town Council and is working with Libby on the past minutes from a variety of Town meetings. If anyone is interested in any specific topics please come into the Town Hall and see Libby or Linda regarding the information you seek. If they have not completed the typing on any minutes the Town will be happy to provide you with any information that we have to date on what you’re interested in.
RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that he has finalized the paint scheme for the Town bus. The Gazette reported last week that someone "permanently borrowed" the paint that was going to be used to finish painting the CCCCY bus.
Tad reminds everyone that the Fab Fall Dance is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2008 and it starts at 7:00 PM and ends at 10:00 PM. This dance is open to all youths between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age. A DJ has already been booked for the event and the Town will host this dance at the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company located on Mason Avenue. The Town thanks Chief Steve "Red" Wilson, President Billy Powell and Vice President Jeb Brady for their assistance in helping to make Cape Charles a better place for our children & youth.
Tad is also in the process of studying for his Commercial Driver’s License to drive the Town bus for children & youth events and assisted the Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, with this past Saturday’s event with the Brownies, Cadettes and Girl Scouts from Troop 191 Exmore, Troop 1456 Melfa, Troop 1063 Chincoteague, Troop 371 Chincoteague, Troop 37 Oak Hall, Troop 126 Temperanceville and Troop 615 Onancock. The Girl Scouts presented the Town with twenty-five (25) custom built birdhouses that they constructed for a Community Project. These birdhouses will be located throughout the Town and their locations will be posted on the Town’s Web site so the Girl Scouts can monitor their great work. Thank you very much for this "green gift" and a very special thanks to Barbara Lazenby for her assistance in obtaining these birdhouses for the Town.
Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that most of his crew was engaged in reading the Town’s water meters last week. The Town respectfully reminds the citizens that if you are having a problem with water bills please come in and see Tammy Teague, Utility Clerk, at the Town Hall (First Floor) as soon as possible or contact her at 757-331-3259 X 14. It is a criminal offense to turn the water back on at your residence or business if the Town "cuts off" your water off for failure to pay existing bills. Please come and see us BEFORE a problem occurs so the Town can work with you on payments.
Dave said that work has begun at turning the downstairs of the Town Hall into the police station. The purpose of this project is to save taxpayer money and create a positive, professional and work flow friendly environment for the Town citizens and staff.
The Town is currently receiving bids from various pest control contractors regarding termites & mice in the Library & Town Hall. Dave and PWD Crew member Kathleen Stevens attended the Ornamental & Turf Pest Control Class presented by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Program. Attending the class will enable them to take the three (3) certification examinations that are required for the Town to perform our own Spraying Program; thereby saving additional Town monies.
ENFORCEMENT OF TOWN CODE
In order to help us be more efficient at our tasks, starting in November there will be some changes in the way our Public Works crew will be handling the pickup of yard debris.
Yard debris will be picked up on Monday. If necessary we will continue to pick up on Tuesday, but the Town WILL NOT "back track".
Yard debris MUST be stacked in the front yard between the sidewalk and the curb.
Limbs and branches MUST be cut in maximum 4’ lengths and stacked in piles no taller than 4’ or wider than 4’ (Town Code Sec. 58-32 (b).
No limbs larger than 2" diameter will be picked up.
Loose debris, vines and leaves must be bagged.
Construction debris will not be picked up by our Town crews.
Call Utility Administrative Assistant Tammy Teague at 331-3259 x14 if you have a large or bulky item to be picked up.
A $25 fee is charged for EACH large or bulky item.
POLICE
Chief David Eder reported that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) issued twenty-nine (29) tickets last month in the Town for speeding, driving on a suspended license, and running Stop Signs. The latest episode of running Stop Signs took place on Halloween Night when a driver was observed running the stop signs in the Town with his children in the vehicle.
Chief Eder reported that the Town had over 300 children Trick or Treating in the Town of Cape Charles last week. He also reported that most of the children were from "out of town" and their parents/caregivers expressed their beliefs that their children were "safe" celebrating Halloween in Cape Charles. Chief Eder obtained this information from the various parents/caregivers he spoke to while he was out on patrol. The CCPD & Library also passed out candy and treats to these wonderful Town guests.
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER
Mayor Dora Sullivan was injured in her home last week when she took a fall and is recovering at this time. Mayor Sullivan & the Town would like to thank everyone for their calls of concern and well wishes.
During the course of his Daily Inspections the Town Manager noted that several residents continue to dump their grass cutting and debris in the gutter. The latest episodes of this "illegal" dumping have occurred on Randolph Avenue, Strawberry Street & Harbor Avenue. The Town is spending thousands of taxpayer’s money to meet the DEQ requirements for safe & clean water; this continued "illegal dumping" defeats the purpose of the Town attempting to follow the DEQ Codes & State Laws. Code Enforcement has been notified to look into these areas and will issue notifications followed by legal action if the practice continues. Clean water is everyone’s responsibility in the Town.
Over the last few months it has become evident that some home owners are taking advantage of the PWD’s practice and orders to maintain "clear & safe" streets. Over the past week we had home owners on Madison Avenue & Jefferson Avenue take down several trees & bushes on their property. These home owners did nothing to facilitate the removal of the debris which was placed in the public roadway. In addition to that, it was not properly secured for removal. This "job" took twice as long for the PWD to complete due to the fact that the debris was illegally dumped and NOT in accordance with Town Code (Please see ENFORCEMENT OF TOWN CODE above). The Town will now start enforcing the Town Code regarding removal of vegetation and large scale/bulk items since the current practice seems to be"failing".
This means that if a citizen places a stove, large rugs, dish washer, clothes washer, television, etc. they will be charged $25.00 for the removal of each individual item. It also means that trees & brush must be packaged correctly prior to pickup. The taxpayers of our Town can not afford to have our work crews tied up for four (4) hours or more removing illegally dumped items & debris from "select" residences or businesses.
In effort to be better Stewards of the Economy; Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, has also started to track fuel usage of all Town owned vehicles. If anyone is interested in this data please contact Town Manager Joe Vaccaro at 757-331-3259 x20. The public has a "right" to know where their tax money is being spent. As of last week the public should no longer see any Town vehicles "idling" without employees being present in them.
"The poet and the politician have this in common: their greatness depends on the courage with which they face the challenges of life."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Arts Enter Cape Charles will present You Can’t Take It With You directed by Shelia Cardano at the Historic Palace Theatre. Performances are on Saturday, November 8 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for students. The public can order their tickets on line at www.artsentercapecharles.org. Please contact the theater for additional information at 757-331-2787 or 757-331-3669. Support the Arts on the Eastern Shore!
The Cape Charles Museum will host an Oyster Roast on Friday, November 29, 2008 at the Cape Charles Museum, Route 184, starting at 5:00 PM and ending at 9:00 PM. The spectacular Love Sick Cousins and the always magnificent DRB’s will be the musical entertainment for this great event. Tickets are $30.00 for adults and $10.00 for children 7 to 12 years of age. For additional information contact the Museum at 757-331-1008. Please come out and help support the Museum.
Citizen & Councilman Chris Bannon has announced that the Annual Epiphany Party is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2009. Chris said that he is still working on plans for where this popular event will be held next year and will provide that information as soon as it is confirmed. This event raises money for an individual(s) or organizations in need of funds. Chris requests that you bring your "least favorite" Christmas gift to the Epiphany Party which in turn will be raffled off to raise funds. For additional information or to volunteer for this great event please contact Chris at 757-331-2206. All of the funds raised at this event stay local and the Chili at this event is becoming "legend" on the Eastern Shore.
Northampton Chamber of Commerce
November 10th is our Volunteer Tea! We will meet and start our tour at the Cape Charles Hotel at 2:00 PM and then proceed to Sea Gate B&B, The Kellogg House and on to Cape Charles B&B where our hostess, Carol Evans, will provide a much needed TEA! If you are so inclined, hats and gloves are permitted!
Christmas Decoration Committee: Judi Foster has agreed to chair the Decoration Committee. She needs help! Please call her at (757)340-3434 or (757)434-6671 if this sounds fun to you!! Christmas will be here before we know it.
Executive Director, Linda Spence, extends an invitation to contact her with any suggestions or questions. The current phone number is 331-2304.
Contact the Chamber at: chamber@northamptoncountychamber.comJoe 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.