Millsboro Town Council Meeting – August 3, 2026: Honoring Randy Jones, Police Promotions, Rezoning, and Goal Setting
Millsboro Town Council Meeting – August 3, 2026: Honoring Randy Jones, Police Promotions, Rezoning, and Goal Setting
The Millsboro Town Council held its regular meeting on August 3, 2026. The meeting began with an emotional tribute to late staff member Randolph 'RJ' Jones, followed by routine approvals, committee reports, a public hearing on rezoning, discussion of employee background check policy, approval of a grant application for a park parking lot, and adoption of the town's goals and objectives for the upcoming year.
Recognition of Randolph "RJ" Jones
- The council and staff honored the memory of Randolph "RJ" Jones, a town employee and pastor who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. Jones was recognized for his heroic actions on July 10, 2026, when he intervened in a road rage incident where a driver had drawn a firearm. By calmly stepping between the parties, he de‑escalated the situation and likely prevented a tragedy. A letter from the Chamber of Commerce was read, detailing the incident. Chief Moya presented Jones’s family with a flag flown over the Millsboro Police Department and a coin. The council observed a moment of silence.
Committee Reports
- Millsboro Fire Company: Mr. O’Neill reported that the fire company covered 12,700 miles in July. EMS operations remain extremely busy. Upcoming events include a crab feast (September 12) and the 100th anniversary (October 17). Fire prevention activities are being scheduled.
- Millsboro Police Department: Chief Moya reported on the sergeant promotion process: following council approval to increase to four sergeants, Senior Corporal Dallas Milner was promoted to Sergeant. Milner’s family attended the pinning ceremony. The department will reach full staffing (21 officers) by September 4, 2026. The monthly enforcement report noted one additional collision on Delaware Avenue. The canine unit had a 30% drug detection success rate (on the higher end of the national average). The drone flew 624 minutes across 15 flights in the past month. The department received reaccreditation for the sixth time (17 years nationally accredited) after attending the IA conference in Omaha, Nebraska.
Public Hearings and Rezoning
- Rezoning of Properties on Union Street (Samuel Sloan): Two public hearings were held. The first approved annexation of parcel 133‑16.00‑138.04. The second covered three parcels (133‑17.17‑101.00, 102.00, and 103.00). Mr. Sloan explained that two parcels were supposed to have been rezoned to Urban Business around 2006 due to a paperwork error; parcel 101 was purchased in 2012 and his existing automotive repair business and parking lot extend onto it. The council voted to amend the comprehensive plan map (changing future land use from residential to commercial) and then rezoned all three parcels to Urban Business. All motions passed unanimously.
- Summerton Chase Amended Final Site Plan Approval: The council approved the amended final site plan after all agency approvals were received.
Employee Handbook Amendment: Background Check Policy
- Staff presented a proposed background check policy for all new hires, developed with an HR consultant and attorney. Council member Marty raised concerns about the financial criteria (e.g., 90‑day delinquencies, credit utilization) and suggested using a simple credit score cutoff. Other members noted the need for flexibility and inclusion of existing employees. The council tabled the item and referred it to the Personnel Committee for revision.
Grant Resolution for Community Park Parking Lot
- The council passed a resolution authorizing an application to DNREC for an Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Trails (ORPT) grant to construct a parking lot for the new Route 24 community park. The grant would offset the 25% match required for a future federal grant. The local match will be supported by a $75,000 Healthy Community Stellar grant.
Town Council Goals and Objectives for 2026‑2027
- Council member Jamie presented the consolidated goals for the budget year (July 2026 – July 2027). Key priorities include: downtown development exploration, Millstone Theater reopening, increased parking feasibility, DelDOT coordination on traffic issues (four‑way stop vs. signal at Delaware Avenue/Route 24), construction of a new sewer treatment plant, police technology and staffing (full staffing achieved by September), park planning (including a new community park and YMCA collaboration), river dredging, and administrative improvements (departmental budgeting, five‑year capital plan, consumption‑based utility billing). The goals were adopted by the council.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous vote to approve the agenda as amended.
- Approval of secretary’s report and treasurer’s report (payment of bills).
- Recognition and moment of silence for Randy Jones; his family received a flag and coin.
- Promotion of Senior Corporal Dallas Milner to Sergeant.
- Approval of annexation (parcel 133‑16.00‑138.04).
- Approval of comprehensive plan map amendment and rezoning of three parcels on Union Street to Urban Business.
- Approval of Summerton Chase amended final site plan.
- Background check policy tabled; referred to Personnel Committee for revision.
- Approval of resolution to apply for ORPT grant for Route 24 park parking lot.
- Adoption of the 2026‑2027 town council goals and objectives.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Today is Monday, August third, two thousand twenty-six. There's a meeting of the Middlesbrough Council, Town Council. Please join me to Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Presley. Present. Mr. Silva. Present. Ms. Conn. Yeah. Uh, may I please have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda with an amendment to move the recognition of Randy Jones to be next and then have the agenda continue in the posted order? So moved. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion passed. Thank you. Okay. Uh, good evening, everyone. Um, I'd like to take a moment to honor our dear co-worker and friend, Pastor Randy Jones. Uh, Randy was not only a valued member of our team, but also dedicated pastor who touched many lives through his faith, kindness, and service beyond self. He cared deeply for all of us. Friday afternoon, I was lucky enough to speak with him, and I remember asking him to pray for me. And our work family. He will be deeply missed. We are blessed to have known and loved RJ. So now please join me in a moment of silence to remember Randy to reflect on the impact he had on those around him. And hold his family and loved ones in our thoughts. Thank you. Chief Moya. So this was not what I had planned. And if it's okay, I'm going to turn a little bit so I can speak to the family as well. Um, you know, we had originally had planned to honor RJ for um heroic actions that he had taken while just doing his duties here at uh uh town of Millsborough. Um give a little bit of a backstory. Um he was out emptying the trash cans along Main Street like he normally did, and uh he heard an argument on hold, and there was a road rage incident where one of the drivers pulled a firearm and Randy and his Randy Way calmly stepped in between the shoes and uh would have been victim and just told him, hey, you don't want any of this, get back to the gave everybody his the way his piece and demeanor was calmed everybody down, they got in their cars and off. Um, you know, he put himself in a in a position um that would not normal people want to do. Um, and he was able to handle that. Uh I think a lot would do with his faith in God. Um anyways that he was constantly protected. Um, and then you know, to get the call this weekend that you know he passed away. You know, he put his life in danger that day and passed away from a heart attack. Um the only thing I can say to the family, because I've gone through this myself, is that there's a common myth amongst uh that people tell you all the time that God will never give you anything that you don't they can't take, and that's not true. That is not true. What he does say is cast your cares upon him for he cares for you, and so there is nobody's asking any family member to take this because you can't take this. So losing a loved one suddenly is hard, and nobody expects you guys to take it. But what we do here is we're a family.
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