While biking, walking shopping or just driving through town, you may notice two new faces wearing Cape Charles Police Department uniforms. The CCPD introduces two new officers, Anthony Jette and Andrew Spencer. Both Officer Jette and Spencer graduated from the police academy on May 4, 2017. Welcome aboard!

Terrence P. Flynn, General Registrar for Northampton County provided this information on candidates that have filled out paperwork for Board of Supervisors. Some are qualified, in that they have filed all necessary paperwork, and some are still in the process. Candidates have until 7 pm, June 13 to file paperwork:

District 1
John Coker-qualified
Jacqueline Chatmon-in process
Tony Sacco-circulating petitions
Jacqueline Chapman – just announced, in process.

District 2
David Fauber-qualified

District 3
Oliver Bennett-circulating petitions

The draft Northampton County Budget has been completed and is currently available on the County BoardDocs website. Interim County Administrator John Anrzejewski and Janice Williams, Deputy County Administrator coordinated the work that went into the draft that was presented during the public hearing.

Public Schools continue to eat the lion’s share–47% of the budget. Real estate taxes are holding steady, despite a tax rate increase for solar and wind generation farms, which are increased from 43 to 83 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The proposed budget includes a new position for an IT Specialist and one new position in the Planning Department. The Sheriff’s department will be getting new software and two new cars. The draft increases employees pay by 2% and contributes $300,000 to the Capital Reserve Fund. [Read more…]

With the summer beginning to heat up, so are the streets of Cape Charles. The April 2017 Police Report indicates an uptick in activity. 16 felonies top the list, with assaults and an emergency protective order thrown into the mix. The felony accounts involved two people for credit card fraud.

– Calls for service in Cape Charles: 26
– Calls for service outside of Cape Charles: 6
– Felony arrests: 16
– Misdemeanor Arrests: 8
– Traffic Summons: 1 (see below)
– Traffic Warnings: 9 (written& verbal):
– Parking tickets: 4
– Building Checks: 19
– Assisted Northampton County Sheriff’s Office: 5
– Assisted Virginia State Police: 1
– Assisted Federal Agencies: 0
– Assisted Fire& Rescue: 1
– Foot Patrol Hours: 26.5
– Bay creek patrol hours: 25

The following took place in April:
– Sgt. Bell and I completed 40hrs of in-service training with the CBBT
– Sgt. Potts completed 30hrs of field training officer school with the regional academy
– We participated in the “trunk of the trade” day at Kiptopeke elementary on the 20th
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[Read more…]

The Open Space District is comprised of the Town Public Beach and Central Park. At this time, the town zoning ordinance does not allow for commercial activity in that District. During the past year, several vendors, the majority being food truck owners have inquired about setting up in the Open Space District.

The issue of allowing limited and regulated commercial in the Open Space District has been brought before the Planning Commission and the Town Council. Despite concerns, Council expressed the possibility of a trial basis to “determine whether it was beneficial to the town, business owners, residents, etc.”

Tropi-Cool Ice, and Italian Ice vendor is requesting to be allowed to use the Open Space District near the beach. The vendor, Donald Middagh will be selling Italian Ice, drinks, and snacks, to pedestrians and beach goers visiting the area from a 5ft by 2ft vending cart under a 10×10 ez-up tent which has an attached sign advertising “Italian Ice”.

The cart itself is basically a large cooler that does not require any electricity or make any type of noise. The product is water-based and would not generate food wastes.

Tropi-Cool Ice is planning operation from 11AM through 7pm Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, dependent on weather and other events that may be occurring on weekends. From the last week of June through the third week in August, the vendor is requesting to be allowed in the space during the weekdays during the same hours.

Council approved the request, and Planning will be monitoring and gathering information about the practical extension of commercial activity in the Open Space District.

The construction of Strawberry Street Station where the former BELO supermarket was located has brought with it upgrades and improvements to the surrounding property, including the forthcoming construction of Strawberry Street Plaza.

The town has placed cardboard recycling dumpsters in the parking lots of the BELO building, however, due to new construction in the area, the location of the dumpsters has come under scrutiny, and is now considered no longer compatible with the current uses.

Three dumpsters have been relocated directly across the drainage ditch from their previous location and placed on the northern edge of the gravel parking area that is leased from the rail road. There is one outlier left behind the library that also needs to be moved.

While Davis Disposal services the dumpsters for no charge, the location at the library is less than optimal, and has caused damages to the Davis trucks trying to access it.

After discussion, the Town Council decided to place the cardboard dumpsters in the gravel parking lot along the railroad tracks behind Cape Charles Medical Center and Strawberry Street Station. One has been placed at each end and one in the center area.