FENWICK ISLAND, Del. - On Monday, the Fenwick Island Residential Viewpoint Committee held a meeting to discuss how they can bring members of the quiet resort community together, as well as address concerns.
Preserving Fenwick Island, broadening communication between town council and the community, and healing divisiveness were all topics of discussion at the committee meeting.
"We are the first people that meet them at their door ... that way we are capturing the new residents for you all, and developing relationships with them and getting them engaged," said one of the committee members.
The committee also focused on having more social events to heal divisiveness, which Janice Bortner says a lot of people feel is a big problem.
"The town hall can be used more for social events, instead of falling to the wayside, beach events, and holiday events," said Bortner. There was also an item of concern: allowing business owners to use residential property for parking and housing employees. The committee says it could have a negative impact on the family oriented community.
"I personally don't want a bunch of kids just with no chaperones, it could be 20 kids in a house, and parking all over the place coming in and out at all hours of the night," said Bortner.
Some locals have the same concern.
"Personally I don't want my street to be a frat house I can imagine a lot of noise and ruckus and cars driving up and down the street," said Steve Razmus, who has a home in Fenwick Island. But others say the town needs more employees.
"I think it's a great for the kids to have a place to stay, we need more workers and it's encouraging for them," said Mary Ellen Fuller, who also has a home in the town.
"I think it will be fine, I know down in Ocean City in the summertime, you have a lot of people coming from Europe, who work in those places, and you see signs all the time about help wanted," said John Eberle, a Fenwick resident.
The committee made a motion to recommend to city council that they prohibit group homes for businesses and limiting the number of people in a single home. The next meeting will be held on November 1st, and the committee says it is open to all the help they can get when it comes to community building.
