GEORGETOWN — After stating the office above his pole barn was in violation of code and “he didn’t care” during the May 8 Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission, District Two representative Brian Butler apparently invited inspectors to the property only to be told he was mistaken.
“Regarding your question pertaining to Mr. Butler, at his invitation and in the interest of transparency and to ensure compliance, a Sussex County Building Code official has inspected his property since last week’s meeting,” Chip Guy, public information officer, said. “The Building Code Chief reports that a proper building permit was obtained in March for the construction of a pole building and upon inspection, no violations were found within the building.”
Had Mr. Butler been found in violation of some section of code, he wouldn’t be alone. Sussex County has issued more than 3,700 notices of violation since October 2021, and collected more than $331,000 in fines during the same timeframe, Mr. Guy said.
The most common type of violation is grass and trash, accounting for more than half of complaints since October 2021, according to the public information officer.
The figures from October 2021 to date are ones the most readily available to him, Mr. Guy explained.
During the May 8 planning and zoning commission discussions of proposed rules governing Accessory Dwelling Units within Sussex County, Mr. Butler, a controversial political appointment from District Two, said his office above a pole barn was in violation, and “he didn’t care.”
“I’ve got an office above my pole barn, probably in violation. I don’t know, I don’t care,” Mr. Butler said during the videotaped meeting, available here: https://mediasite.sussexcountyde.gov/mediasite/Catalog/catalogs/public-archive . Mr. Butler’s comments start just before the two-hour mark.
Members of the planning and zoning commission are appointed by the county council, and were usually tapped by the incumbent elected representing the same district, but that didn’t happen with Mr. Butler.
Instead, the candidate offered by District Two Councilwoman Cynthia Green was rejected, and Council Vice President John Rieley, representing District Five, nominated Mr. Butler, and violated no written rules in doing so.
Mr. Butler’s nomination was approved for a term ending in 2026.
In response, Councilwoman Green lodged protest votes against Mr. Rieley’s and Council President Michael Vincent’s continuation as council officers. The incumbents were reelected.
“Standards for elected and appointed officials should be higher for ourselves than our constituents,” Councilwoman Green said of Mr. Butler’s comments. “We must be good examples, and if the regulations aren’t working then you change them. To simply ignore it for yourself while implementing it for others is an insult to the members you serve.”
Councilman Rieley did not reply for the purposes of this article. Mr. Butler has not responded to the county form provided to contact commission members.
Staff writer Brian Gilliland can be reached at 410-603-3737 or bg@iniusa.org.
Most Popular
Comments / 0