Dewey Beach lifeguards seek wage hike

After a season in which its efforts to maintain peace and safety were showing results, the Dewey Beach Patrol has requested a wage hike to help close the gap with higher-paying area beaches and retain experienced lifeguards.

Todd Fritchman, captain of the Dewey Beach Patrol, presented his annual report to the town council at its Nov. 15 meeting.

Among his recommendations was increasing the starting hourly wage from $17 to $19. Fritchman said Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Ocean City, Md., pay more than $20.

Fritchman said all Dewey Beach lifeguards are nationally certified as professional lifeguards. That requires physical and rescue response training, as well as written and physical testing.

While Dewey Beach Patrol is an attractive place to work, it has lost experienced lifeguards who took jobs at other beaches for higher pay, he said.

“What would be the total cost to achieve parity in wages or at least approach parity?” asked Councilman Gary Persinger.

“It’s going to be close to a $50,000 increase if we go with the $19 and then look at the seniority of the other people that come back, the lieutenants,” said Town Manager Bill  Zolper. “If we want to be competitive with the other towns, where are we going to get the revenue for this? Or where do we have to cut things to get the revenue?”

The annual report included a summary of the beach patrol’s activities.

Lifeguards made six open-water rescues, the same as last year, which was the lowest recorded in the 25 years of data included in the report. The 128 rescues in 1999 was by far the highest number. There were also four assists this year, also a record low.

“We had one of the most mild summers that I’ve ever witnessed,” Fritchman said. “There were no storms. There were no big wind events. Except for the last two weeks of summer, when the hurricane came up, and that’s when we had a rescue.”

The beach itself has also become safer, according to statistics. The number of civil code complaints – some requiring police intervention – for alcohol, littering, unlicensed dogs, glass on the beach and breach of peace continued to decline since 2009. 

The number of cases dropped from 29 in 2009 to four this year.

A warning system initiated three years ago for violations of beach rules and local laws contributed to the reduction in the last few years, Fritchman said.

Printed warning cards were prepared for specific offenses. Between 3,000 and 4,000 warnings were issued for alcohol alone, in addition to verbal warnings, Fritchman said. This was the first year the patrol counted the number of cards that were distributed.

“I was wondering if more warnings were given, if that meant that the police had to be called in less,” said Commissioner Elisabeth Gibbings.

“There were [fewer] warnings given this year than prior years, and we had to call the police less this year than prior years, significantly less,” Fritchman said. “It was about a 50% drop. The reason why was because it is effective, it’s working.”

There are also cards warning for apparent violation of marijuana and loud music restrictions, Zolper said.

“It’s not just walking up and saying, ‘Hey, you’re drinking,’ Zolper said. “It says, ‘Welcome to Dewey Beach, but you are violating, and if you don’t [stop], the police will be called.’ People have been complying.” 

Fritchman suggested a mass marketing campaign through hotels, motels and other businesses emphasizing alcohol possession and its prohibited use on the beach. 

Among his other recommendations:

• A local law giving the Dewey Beach Patrol authority to regulate active recreational activities that may pose a threat to people’s safety during beach operational use hours, including kites, footballs, golf, drones, horseshoes, boomerangs, bocce ball and other flying objects
• Replace dilapidated lifeguard stands, most of which are more than 40 years old. 

Overall, it was a great beach season, Fritchman said.

“To explain the summer in one word, it was harmonious,” he said. “It was the most harmonious summer that I have ever seen. There were literally no problems other than managing the people.”