Henlopen Acres hires new town manager

Henlopen Acres Mayor Joni Reich officially announced Anna Fagan as the new town manager at the town’s Sept. 13 organizational meeting.

The mayor had sent an email to town residents the day before.

Fagan, a resident of Rehoboth Beach, will begin Monday, Oct. 14. She is currently deputy director at the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, is a graduate of the University of Delaware and has master’s degree from Marylhurst University.

Reich said the employment offer to Fagan reflects a salary of $100,000, plus three weeks of vacation eligibility, and the town’s standard employee benefit plans package. It contains no provision for relocation benefits or purchasing a house, or any other special allowance, she said.

Fagan is replacing Sally Slook, who stepped down as town manager in early 2024 after about eight months on the job. Prior to Slook, former Town Manager Tom Roth had been with the town for 19 years.

Commissioners sworn in

Incumbent Commissioners Tiffany Derrickson and Beatrix “Paddy” Richards were sworn in for three-year terms during Henlopen Acres’ annual organizational meeting Sept. 13.

The two women defeated Ann Cameron and Alex Jacobs in the town’s election Aug. 31.

Reich said there were 248 registered voters, with 199 voting. She said there were 117 in-person voters and 82 absentee voters.

“All in all, it was a very good turnout,” said Reich.

After the swearing-in, town commissioners re-elected Reich as mayor, who then nominated Commissioner Tim Hidell as president pro tempore, Jeffrey Jacobs as treasurer, Derrickson as secretary and Anna Fagan, the town’s new town manager, as assistant secretary. The slate was approved unanimously.

It’s been a challenging year, with a lot of focus on hiring a new town manager, said Reich, who was appreciative of the continued support from her fellow commissioners.

“We’re all very excited about the new town manager. We’ll be able to start anew,” said Reich.

Tree canopy

Following a town-wide petition that garnered more than 100 signatures, Henlopen Acres commissioners agreed to explore ways to save the town’s tree canopy, beginning with an examination of how other towns address the issue.

Resident Wendy Jacobs presented commissioners with the petition. The response for a change to code that would protect the tree canopy has been overwhelming, she said.

Over the course of the past few years, especially near the ocean block, the town’s old-growth canopy trees continue to be taken down, said Jacobs. Six of the town’s recent new builds removed almost all trees, she said.

“We all love how the town looks,” said Jacobs. 

Reich said the pattern for new homeowners is to want to build a house to the maximum allowable size and to also have a pool. Unless commissioners are willing to pull back what is allowed to be done on private property, she doesn’t know what could be done, she said.

“Trees are the town’s defining element, and the trees are what make the town beautiful,” said Reich. “But it’s such a challenge.”

Derrickson was a vocal supporter of the cause. Henlopen Acres values trees and doesn’t wasn’t suburbia creeping in, she said.

“The town needs to do something,” said Derrickson.

Ultimately, while a consensus was reached to explore the issue, no decisions were made.