Kent County Community Board of Appeals Hearing on Appeal of Unregistered Vehicle Ticket – September 24, 2026

The Kent County Community Board of Appeals held a public hearing on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:05 PM (originally scheduled for 12:30 PM) in the Levy Court Chambers. The sole agenda item was an appeal by Michael W. Braun of an administrative fine (ticket #2026-3026) issued for violation of Kent County Code §205-27C(2) regarding an unregistered vehicle on his property at 18 Wimbledon Drive, Dover, DE. The board heard testimony from the appellant and staff, deliberated, and ultimately voted to table the matter for further information due to a split vote.

Public Hearing & Testimony

• Staff Presentation: Shannon Morris, Chief Code Enforcement Officer, presented the staff recommendation to deny the appeal. He explained that a notice of violation was sent on June 30, 2026, giving 30 days to correct. A follow-up site review on July 31, 2026, found the vehicles still unregistered, and a $100 ticket was issued on August 3, 2026. The violation was later corrected after the appeal was filed, but the county could not refund the $400 appeal fee unless the appeal succeeded. Staff argued enforcement procedures were followed correctly.
• Appellant Testimony (Michael Braun): Mr. Braun, an 80-year-old veteran and former executive director of Kent County Habitat for Humanity, testified that he made diligent efforts to comply within the 30-day period but encountered obstacles: the vehicle failed inspection, repair delays, tire issues, and a tow company sending the wrong truck twice. He stated he was never informed he could request an extension, and the county did not contact him to discuss the violation. He also argued that the $400 appeal fee (four times the ticket amount) was punitive and that the county offered to withdraw the ticket after the violation was corrected but still required him to attend the hearing or risk losing his appeal rights. He expressed concern that the process discriminated against his age and that the county encouraged anonymous neighbor complaints without investigation.
• Staff Response: Mr. Morris clarified that the correction order explicitly stated the option to request additional time if substantial efforts were made, but Mr. Braun never contacted the county. He acknowledged that a conversation occurred on Monday, September 21, about possibly withdrawing the ticket to save time, but it was not an offer to dismiss the ticket independent of the appeal process. Mr. Morris stated the county's practice is to seek compliance, not to issue tickets.

Discussion Items

• Board Deliberation: After testimony, the board discussed procedural matters. A motion to enter executive session was withdrawn because it was not on the agenda. The board then considered motions.
• Motions and Votes:
  • Motion to Deny the Appeal: Made and seconded. Vote: 2 in favor (Cahall, Melvin), 2 opposed (Hill, Cooper). Motion failed (tie).
  • Motion to Approve the Appeal: Made and seconded after clarification. Vote: 2 in favor (Hill, Cooper), 2 opposed (Cahall, Melvin). Motion failed (tie).
  • Motion to Table the Matter: Made and seconded to table until the next meeting with a full board of seven members or to seek additional information. Vote: 4 in favor (unanimous). Motion passed.

Key Outcomes

• The board did not approve or deny the appeal due to a 2-2 split on both motions.
• The matter was tabled (CBA-26-001) for further information or until a future meeting when the full seven-member board may be seated.
• The $100 ticket and $400 appeal fee remain pending pending the board's final decision.