By Brian Gilliland

GEORGETOWN — After stating that the office above his pole barn is in violation of county code and “I don’t care,” Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission member Brian Butler invited inspectors to his property, only to be told he was mistaken.

Mr. Butler’s statement came during a May 8 commission meeting.

On Wednesday, the county’s public information officer Chip Guy addressed the inspector’s visit.

“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,” he 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 code, he wouldn’t be alone. Sussex County has issued more than 3,700 notices of such violations since October 2021 and has collected more than $331,000 in fines during that time, Mr. Guy said.

The most common violation regarded grass and trash, accounting for more than half of the complaints in that period, he added.

During the Planning & Zoning Commission’s May 8 meeting, members were discussing proposed rules about accessory dwelling units.

“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 at mediasite.sussexcountyde.gov/mediasite/catalog/catalogs/public-archive.

Members of the commission are appointed by County Council, usually tapped by the incumbent council member representing the same district. But that didn’t happen with Mr. Butler.

Instead, in July 2023, the candidate offered by District 2 Councilwoman Cynthia Green was rejected, and Council Vice President John Rieley, representing District 5, nominated Mr. Butler, which violated no written rule.

Mr. Butler’s nomination was approved, for a term ending in 2026.

In response, Councilwoman Green lodged protest votes against Councilman Rieley’s and Council President Michael Vincent’s continuation as council leaders. However, they were reelected.

“Standards for elected and appointed officials should be higher for ourselves than our constituents,” Councilwoman Green said regarding Mr. Butler’s comments about his property. “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 to a request for comment from the Daily State News. In addition, Mr. Butler did not respond to a completed form provided to contact commission members.