By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO – The mayor’s office in the town of Millsboro remains in Michelle Truitt’s hands.

Mayor Truitt, who in July 2019 became only the second woman to serve as Millsboro’s chief executive, was re-elected mayor Tuesday night in a show of unanimous support from council colleagues during the town’s annual reorganization meeting.

The vote was 5-0 with Ron O’Neal, Larry Gum, Jim Kells, Tim Hodges and John Thoroughgood, whom she succeeded as mayor, present. Councilman Bradley Cordrey arrived at the meeting after the council’s reorganizational session.

In other reorganization news, Mr. Hodges was re-elected vice mayor; Mr. Kells remains council’s secretary; while Larry Gum replaces Mr. Cordrey as treasurer for the fiscal year 2021-22.

Thelma Monroe was Millsboro’s first woman mayor, serving from 1979 to 1994.

“I’ll do it as long as they feel I’m doing a good job,” said Mayor Truitt, who was vice mayor prior to becoming mayor.

As mayor, Ms. Truitt spearheaded the town’s farmers’ market, a Saturday morning initiative that has proven quite successful.

Mayor Truitt outlined current town initiatives and projects Tuesday, with some slated this calendar year:

• State Street paving/sidewalk completion,

• Grant funding for bulkhead replacement/upgrade at Cupola Park,

• Stormwater upgrades,

• Create a shade area at the town-owned dog park, and possibly engage a Scout/community service project to undertake a canine obstacle course,

• Street lighting along Laurel Road.

This fall, Delaware’s Department of Transportation is scheduled to repave Main and Washington streets.

The town is also undertaking a major infrastructure upgrade. It includes a new 1 million-gallon water tower off Hardscrabble Road, a second water plant as well as sewer system analysis to address the town’s residential/business growth.

Employed at Millsboro Middle School as an interventionist, Mayor Truitt is teaming with her daughters Lindy and Leigha on a Christmas decoration project for holiday pole lighting that will extend west on Del. 24 to Godwin School Road.

“I try to be active and do projects and push them through to completion … and staying on top of things,” said Mayor Truitt.