Why Should Delaware Care?
Government works best when its citizens are knowledgeable and engaged. Delaware’s government has scores of commissions, working groups, agencies and legislative committees. All must hold meetings that are open to the public. Below we highlight a few of those meetings that are happening this week.
Below are some of the most important or interesting public meetings happening around the state this week.
- Delaware heads to the polls for primary election voting on Tuesday
- Georgetown could advance tiny home repeal
- Delmar Board of Education may fill consequential vacancy
- Sussex library board to discuss consultant
- Healthcare leaders to discuss industry woes
Delaware’s 2026 primary election is here
Delaware voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the state’s 2026 primary election.
Though we are still months away from the November general election, about 40% of all this year’s statewide or statehouse races will be decided by voters during the primaries. Increased partisan redistricting in recent decades also makes it more difficult to flip seats between parties, meaning the primary may be the best opportunity for voters to have a say in who represents them in Dover.
Delaware operates under a closed primary system, meaning voters must be registered with either of the two major political parties to participate. Independent, third-party or unaffiliated voters will not be able to cast a ballot until the November general election.
The deadline for most residents to affiliate with a party has passed, but voters who were automatically registered at the Division of Motor Vehicles without choosing a party can still participate by designating their affiliation in-person at their polling place.
📍 Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday across the state. For more information, including about polling locations near you, click here.
Georgetown leaders to consider repealing tiny home rules
The Georgetown Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to gather resident input as leaders consider repealing the town’s controversial tiny homes ordinance.
The discussion comes roughly nine months after the town council under former Mayor Bill West voted to approve the measure, following significant debate and public outcry.
The cottage housing ordinance allows up to 12 tiny homes on a single acre of land within town limits.
A 20-home project developed by the Ocean View-based organization Little Living already has town approval, and would not be impacted by a possible ordinance repeal.
Other projects still in the earlier stages of development, however, including a 120-home project proposed by Springboard Delaware, could be stymied if the town repeals the ordinance.
The newly-elected Georgetown Mayor and Town Council voted in late July to halt the review of any cottage housing development proposals while municipal leaders explored whether or not to repeal the ordinance.
Later in the summer, an ad-hoc Cottage Housing Review Committee recommended the town repeal the measure. The Planning Commission’s public hearing is the next step in that process.
It is unclear if the Planning Commission will vote on advancing the ordinance at Wednesday’s meeting. Regardless of when the Planning Commission vote ultimately takes place, it must then move to the Town Council for final approval before going into effect.
📍 The Georgetown Planning Commission is set to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday inside Town Council Chambers, located at 39 The Circle in Georgetown. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Delmar may fill board of education vacancy
Delmar Board of Education members may appoint a new member to fill a vacant board seat on Tuesday.
The question of whether the Delmar School District will move forward with its first tax referendum in more than a decade could depend on who fills the vacancy.
The meeting comes one month after board members deadlocked during a public meeting over two candidates for the position.
During interviews with the candidates — Shawn Brittingham and Farrah Morelli — board members asked each whether they would support raising taxes to support the district’s operations and capital expenses.
Morelli, who served on the Delmar Board of Education until her term expired earlier this summer, said she may support referendum requests, but would first need to see a proposal from the school district.
“I’m not going to vote just blindly because somebody says, ‘Here, we’re going to vote on operating expenses,’” she said.
Brittingham, who has served on the Delmar Board of Education and with the Delaware State Board of Education, said he supported a potential referendum, arguing that it could ease persistent overcrowding in the school district.
📍 The Delmar Board of Education will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday inside the District Board Room, located at 200 N. 8th St. in Delmar. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Sussex library consultant updates
The Sussex County Library Advisory Board is set to discuss the details of a consultant the county hired to examine funding challenges faced by libraries across the region.
County leaders announced the hiring of a consultant this summer to complete the study, following nearly a year of unsuccessful pleas from the 11 independent, nonprofit libraries in the county for more funding.
This past spring, the independent libraries launched an organized campaign calling for the county to increase its library tax rate so that roughly 90% of funding would be covered by a combination of county and state dollars.
In the past, independent library directors have described having to dip into their emergency reserves and working overtime to write grant applications in order to close a 13-to-52% gap in funding.
Sussex County did not include an increased library tax rate in its 2027 fiscal year budget, instead opting to hire the consultant.
So far, the county has released few details about how the consultant’s study will function. At an Aug. 19 Library Advisroy Board meeting, County Librarian Rachel Lynch said the consultant will speak with library employees, library users and non-library user residents throughout the seven-month study.
📍 The Sussex County Library Advisory Board is set to meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday inside the Sussex County Administrative Office West Complex Meeting Room, located at 22215 DuPont Blvd. in Georgetown. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Healthcare leaders to discuss industry woes
The Delaware Health Care Commission is set to hold a retreat on Thursday, where members will discuss the cost of healthcare and how the state can improve access for patients.
On its agenda, the commission said it will discuss Delaware’s healthcare worker shortage, which has vexed providers who are often competing with neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Maryland — who have prestigious medical institutions able to draw in top talent.
Additionally, leaders are set to discuss healthcare affordability in Delaware. In recent years, lawmakers have passed multiple bills aimed at lowering costs. In the coming years, the state will implement price caps on its hospital systems.
📍 The Delaware Health Care Commission will meet at 9 a.m. inside the Blue Hen Corporate Center, located at 655 S. Bay Rd. in Dover. For more information, click here.
Julia Merola, Maggie Reynolds and Nick Stonesifer contributed to this report.
