7/19/2002

Dear Middlesex Beach Neighbor:

As most everyone in the Middlesex Beach community now knows, at approximately mid-day, June 20, 2002, we experienced two emergency incidents at nearly the same time, an elderly swimmer suffered a heart attack and a small fire at #10 Dune Road, required an emergency vehicle to enter and navigate around the Beach Side of Middlesex Beach.

Once again, our lifeguards performed up to our highest expectations and the heart attack victim was twice resuscitated by lifeguard Mike Lord and taken to the hospital where, tragically, he later died. A fire truck called to the scene because of the heart attack was coincidentally on Dune Rd. when a small brush fire was spotted in front of #10 Dune Rd., between Addy and Evergreen Rds. The firemen were quickly informed of the small fire, but it was suppressed before the fire truck got to #10. Once again it was the quick action of lifeguard Lord, using a water hose located on the property, who brought the situation under control. (Lord undoubtedly thought of this as a routine day, but he deserves our praise and our thanks, as do the other lifeguards who routinely handle such emergencies.) When the firemen arrived a few minutes later, they took steps to ensure that the fire would not resume, traced its origins to a utility pole on the property, and contacted Connectiv to attend to the pole, which they did that very afternoon.

Jay Foreman, MBA Vice President, who lives at #11 Dune Rd., heard the shouts of fire and trotted across the street to see if he could help. At the scene, Dan Lyons, a volunteer fire fighter and a neighbor, and Dick Creswell, a Dune Rd. neighbor, both pointed out that the fire truck had a difficult time navigating down Dune Road because of autos parked too close to Dune Rd. intersections. It was strongly suggested that no cars be allowed to park within one car length of some Dune Rd. intersections so that a responding fire truck and other emergency vehicles could easily and quickly maneuver to any emergency site.

Foreman immediately contacted the MBA Board by E-mail urging a speedy remedy. Joe Reardon, MBA President, called Tim Hill, of Wilgus Property Management, that same afternoon and instructed Hill to contact the Bethany Beach Fire Department to determine what they believed needed to be done. The very next day the two corner parking spaces on the west side of Dune Rd., one immediately north and one immediately south of Bridge Rd. were eliminated. Hill spoke to the fire chief and, following those recommendations, ordered signs reading “No Parking Here To Corner,” eliminated several other corner parking spaces, and had the new signs installed. Sensitivity to the need for parking spaces on the Beach Side was subordinated to the need, as determined by the fire department, to provide access for emergency vehicles. . (However, we were able, in the midst of eliminating certain corner parking spaces, to create two new spaces by eliminating the unnecessary reserved parking spaces across from the guardhouse. We are also freeing up some parking spaces by reminding the lifeguards once again that they are to park behind McDonalds and not on the Beach Side.)

The June 20 discussion about emergency vehicle access was the first time any current MBA Board member was made aware of any such problem. While we received no suggestion that the marked parking spaces on the Beach Side, other than certain corner spaces, needed to be eliminated, we have been advised that various obstacles located on or over MBA streets and abutting rights of way, which by their very presence further narrow Middlesex Beach roads, should be removed expeditiously. This would include anything that might impede or damage an emergency vehicle such as overhanging tree limbs or shrubbery. Also, trash can enclosures, mail boxes, and other items that might impede or damage an emergency vehicle, located on the MBA’s right of way on the east (the non-parking, fire lane) side of Dune Road will have to me moved back, off of the rights of way, onto private property. (Of course, these items should never have been located on the MBA right of way in the first place.)

We have also reiterated to the Middlesex Beach Patrol and to the security officers from Resort Investigations and Patrol how important it is to ensure that the fire lanes on both sides of Route 1 are kept clear of parked cars. (Reports of vehicles parked in fire lanes can be made to the guardhouse phone number 537-5763 or, in the evening if there is no answer because the security officer is on patrol, to Resort Investigations and Patrol at 539-5808.)

The MBA Board members have no less a stake in these matters than any other member of our community. We can assure you that when it comes to safety, to preserving and enhancing the values of our properties and to maintaining and improving our beloved Middlesex Beach community, we are one with the community.

The Board also wants to reiterate that we welcome communications recommending action that will benefit the community or constructively criticizing the Board’s actions on any matter, particularly matters of safety.

With hopes that you are having a wonderful summer, we are

Sincerely,

The Middlesex Beach Association Board of Directors