UPDATED: Sussex County Council has Amended the Retail Marijuana Store Ordinance
UPDATED – 11/18/25 – The Sussex County Council recognized a county retiree – Dina Monaco for 45 years of service to Sussex County! Monaco was most recently a Financial Representative III. She received a proclamation and plaque from the Council
The Council filled a District 1 vacancy on the Library Advisory Board with former County Librarian Carol Fitzgerald, who retired as the director of the County Department of Libraries in 2011 after 25 years of service to the County. The Library Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity to the County Library Administrator and the County Library Agency and bring local library needs to their attention. Fitzgerald will serve a three year term, which will expire in 2028.
County Administrator Todd Lawson brought the County’s meeting and holiday schedules before the Council. Next year’s holiday schedule includes two additional days – as it is an election year. The County will observe the normal holiday schedule as in years past, as well as Election Day and Return Day. The 2026 meeting and holiday schedule were approved by the Council.
In his administrator’s report, Lawson reminded the Council that Caroling on the Circle is coming up on Thursday, December 4th at 6pm in front of the County Courthouse on The Circle. Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at the Caroling on the Circle – however donations are being accepted in the Pack the Pod daily through the end of the year. The Pod has been in place on the Circle since the start of this month and food donations can be dropped off at any time – or monetary donations can be made through the Food Bank of Delaware website, which is partnered with the County in the food drive. All donations will stay here in Sussex County. Caroling on the Circle is the kick off to the Georgetown Christmas Tree lighting at 7pm followed by the Georgetown Christmas Parade.
There was just one Shining Star winner chosen for the 4th Quarter. Director of Human Resources, Karen Brewington, told the Council that there were 41 submissions and Ashley Paugh from Planning & Zoning was chosen by the Shining Star Committee.
A total of 13 County Employees have received Shining Star awards throughout 2025 and the Employee of the Year will be announced during the County Employee Mildred King Luncheon on Friday, December 5th. The luncheon recognizes all County employees for their service to the county government. County offices will close at noon and reopen the following Monday morning.
During the budget process, the Sussex County approved funding to upfit several of their vehicles from the current suburbans to pickups with a cap that would slide into the chassis of the truck. Director of Public Safety, Robbie Murray, during this week’s Council meeting told the council that a Request for Proposal for the 2026 paramedic unit vehicle upfit brought in three bids to upfit 8 vehicles. With the new vehicles – changing out a cap would require only about 2 weeks of down time – as opposed to a suburban damaged in a crash or fire – which would be down for nearly a year for replacement. Murray said that New Castle County is using similar trucks with success. He brought the winning low bid for the RFP for Council approval – with the contract awarded to Sussex Upfitters, LLC in Millsboro.
In Old Business the Council approved Conditional Use No. 2510 on behalf of Henry Villegas-Solis with a request from Council Vice President John Rieley that the people who spoke out against this application during the public hearing be notified by letter of the Council’s decision and the conditions that were included on the application.
There were five public hearings during the afternoon session. The Council approved a sewer annexation for Irwin Properties in the Ocean View area.聽 
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An ordinance to amend the County Code regarding the requirements for retail marijuana stores in Sussex County was approved by the Council. Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson told the Council of the proposed changes to the ordinance – which would allow retail marijuana stores as a permitted use in C-2 and C-3 districts – previously only allowed as a conditional use in C-3. Also the distance from a municipality was lessened to a half mile from 3 miles. The separation between retail marijuana stores is unchanged as is the distance between a retail marijuana store from churches, schools, colleges and substance abuse treatment facilities. The three mile distance between retail marijuana stores and churches, schools, colleges and substance abuse treatment centers is the same as in Delaware Code for liquor stores outside of municipalities. Robertson said that using that made more sense than just coming up with a different arbitrary number.
Councilman Rieley voted against the ordinance amendment say that this does not work for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Sussex County – and he doesn’t understand how this promotes that objective. The final vote was 4 to 1 to approve the ordinance amendment.
The Council approved all three of the land use applications – Conditional Use No 2483 for a roofing and siding contractor business on Route 9 east of Georgetown, Conditional Use No. 2500 for a 6 unit storage business east of Selbyville and Change of Zone No. 2027 for a 5 acre parcel west of Milton on Route 16.
The County Council does not meet on November 25th or December 2nd. The Council will meet on December 9th and 16th – the final meetings of 2025.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 11/17/25 – The Sussex County Council will meet on Tuesday morning in Georgetown. The Council will hear from Human Resources Director, Karen Brewington on the 4th Quarter Employee Recognition Awards. In Old Business the Council will revisit a conditional use application on behalf of Henry Villegas-Solis for an auto repair shop east of Millsboro on Layton Avenue off Jersey Road.
There are several public hearings for the afternoon session. The Council will hear public comment on the proposed expansion of the Irwin Properties sewer district near Ocean View as well as on Ordinance 25-01 to amend the requirements for retail marijuana stores in Sussex County. The Council will also hold public hearings on two Conditional Use applications and one Change of Zone.
The Council meets at 10am Tuesday in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
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