Georgetown, Del., March 24, 2020: Sussex County government will suspend public hearings for ordinances, land use applications and other matters requiring citizen input until further notice, yet another example of the extreme measures being employed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak affecting Delaware and the nation.

County Council President Michael H. Vincent and County Administrator Todd F. Lawson announced Tuesday, March 24, 2020, that public hearings already scheduled for the County Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment will be suspended indefinitely, and no new hearings will be scheduled for any County public body at this time. The action follows Delaware Gov. John C. Carney’s amended State of Emergency, specifically the ‘stay-at-home’ order issued for citizens that began Tuesday morning and is in effect through at least May 15 or until the public health threat has passed.

Meetings of the three Sussex County bodies will continue, as needed, in order for general business and other matters that have moved through the public hearing process to proceed. The public will not be permitted entry to any meetings, as permitted by emergency gubernatorial authority. However, all meetings will be broadcast live, and archived, on the County’s website at sussexcountyde.gov. The public is urged to monitor the County website for updates on future meetings and agendas.

Meantime, County offices remain operational, but closed to the public. Only those individuals needing to drop off or pick up critical documents are permitted entry to the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown during regular weekday business hours.

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