By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — In response to city solicitor Daniel Griffith’s resignation notification, City Council on Tuesday approved Luke Mette to fill the position and J. Everett Moore Jr. to serve as counsel for the Board of Adjustment and Planning & Zoning Commission.

“Our current city solicitor, Daniel Griffith, notified us a few months ago of his intention to end his engagement with the city,” said city manager Charles Anderson. He did not cite a reason for the resignation.

Mr. Mette, with the Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico law firm, currently serves as solicitor for the town of Fenwick Island. He has 34 years’ experience.

“I appreciate the confidence. I am looking forward to undertaking this representation,” he said. “I (have a) firm behind me, and many, many lawyers who are able to be deployed.”

Mr. Moore, founder of Moore & Rutt P.A., started his practice in Georgetown in 1976. He has served as lead counsel for Sussex County for many years.

“The first thing you will notice is I am a native of Sussex County,” said Mr. Moore, author of the book, “Growin’ Up Country: Rural Life in the 1950s and 1960s.” “You can tell by my accent, and I’ve got the book and the lineage to prove it.

“I look forward to working with you. Likewise, we have a staff of attorneys that have extensive experience in zoning matters. One of our associate attorneys also does the Sussex County Board of Adjustment, as well.”

According to Vice Mayor Dan Henderson, it was Mr. Mette’s suggestion that the city go with two solicitors.

Mr. Anderson explained, “This separation of duties between the city solicitor and Board of Adjustment will help provide the city with representation should an issue be brought before the Board of Adjustment,” and the city may “want to take a position on it.”

Vice Mayor Henderson and Mr. Anderson were tasked with finding a replacement for Mr. Griffith, and they interviewed four candidates.

“Of these four, anyone could serve us very well,” said Vice Mayor Henderson. “It was a very difficult task. (But) I think we’ve landed on the right side.”

Mayor David Genshaw said he welcomes the change.

“It’s great to have that support and staff. Your legal support team becomes part of your community,” he said.

There was some opposition on the timing, however. During public commentary, resident Dan Cannon urged council to delay action on the solicitor hiring until after the April 20 municipal election, which includes two individuals seeking to succeed outgoing Mayor Genshaw and five candidates for two council terms.

“Selection of the new city solicitor should be the rightful duty of the newly elected mayor and City Council after voting citizens have made their decisions,” Mr. Cannon said.

But the vice mayor disagreed.

“We have an election on April 20, and we have a city solicitor who has announced his intention to not represent us anymore,” he said. “The current city solicitor should not be taking on any new business (or) new challenges. And the city of Seaford has business before it. To delay a decision puts the city in jeopardy because we will need legal representation during this period, and it would not be fair to have our current solicitor start business and hand it off to another person.”