HB22 Summary: Reincorporation of the Town of Townsend

• Reincorporates the Town of Townsend in New Castle County, Delaware as a municipal corporation with a five-member Town Council (Mayor and four Councilpersons) serving two-year terms.

• Establishes Council election procedures with annual municipal elections on the first Saturday in May, requiring candidates to be U.S. citizens aged 18+ with 12 months prior residency and 10 registered voter petition signatures.

• Grants the Town broad powers including taxation, utility services, eminent domain, zoning, building regulation, police/fire/rescue services, water/sewer systems, and special assessments (subject to voter approval in certain cases).

• Creates appointed town positions including Town Manager (chief administrative officer removable by four-member Council vote), Town Clerk, Town Attorney, Town Financial Officer, and Town Engineer.

• Authorizes short-term borrowing up to 1% of assessed property value or $200,000 without voter approval, and long-term bond borrowing up to 5% of real property value with voter approval for municipal improvements.