HB 323 Summary

• Removes reference to the Eighteenth Senatorial District and Third Councilmatic District from voter qualification requirements for City of Lewes municipal elections, replacing it with a requirement that voters be bona fide residents of the city.

• Simplifies voter eligibility to require only that a person be a qualified voter of the State of Delaware and a resident of the City of Lewes, eliminating conflicts with redistricting from the 2010 census.

• Adds new contract award provision allowing City Council to award contracts to non-lowest bidders if the city's interests are better served, provided the council makes a written determination explaining the reasons for the award.

• Permits unsatisfactory performance on prior contracts as a valid reason for rejecting a bidder in favor of another bidder.

• Clarifies that special development district and tax increment financing district contracts may proceed without competitive bidding, except for direct procurement of labor or materials for public improvements.