A Rehoboth Beach city commissioner delivered sharp criticism against a fellow board member during a recent public meeting, alleging months of inappropriate behavior that has disrupted city operations.
During the March 9 commissioners meeting, Susan Stewart made a formal statement targeting Commissioner Suzanne Goode’s conduct, describing what she characterized as documented misconduct spanning from September 2023 to the present.
Stewart outlined her concerns in a prepared statement to the board:
“I want to address something that is very troubling and I think the time has come that commissioners need to speak out about this. What I’m about to describe is documented, has been formally responded to by the city, and directly affects this body’s ability to serve our residents.”
The allegations Stewart presented included claims that Goode had engaged in racially and sexually inappropriate characterizations of city personnel, made defamatory statements under Delaware law, and harassed staff and commissioners based on religious beliefs. Stewart also accused Goode of making disrespectful comments about disabled relatives of other commissioners.
Additional accusations included unproven claims of corruption against the mayor and other commissioners, failure to fulfill elected duties, backing litigation against the city, and encouraging outside interference in municipal affairs.
Stewart noted that despite multiple formal cease and desist notices from the city, the alleged behavior continued and intensified.
“The City issued formal, multiple cease and desist letters, yet the conduct did not stop. It’s only escalated. That matters, because it tells us this is not inadvertent. It is deliberate,” Stewart stated.
Stewart requested that the city create a website link providing easy access to Goode’s email records, emphasizing that such communications are already public under open records laws.
“Because these communications are already public records subject to open records law, I am asking the City today to make Commissioner Goode’s full email record accessible by a link on our city website. This will not disclose anything private, it will simply make it easy for any resident who cares to see what’s happening to our City staff, come to their own conclusion. The public deserves to hear Suzanne in her own words,” Stewart explained.
The commissioner also advocated for potential formal disciplinary action, urging her colleagues to take a stand.
“I would like to see, in the future, consideration of formal reprimand. We keep sending letters requesting that Commissioner Goode modify her behavior. She’s either incapable or unwilling to do it. Policy decisions and differences are one thing. Repeated harassment, we some of it here today, so I am imploring other commissioners – I know it’s nice to be liked and not to stand out – we have a moral and legal obligation to protect the people that work for this City. And we need to stand up and we need to do it now,” Stewart concluded.
The city will not be adding a direct link to Goode’s emails on its website at this time. However, residents interested in reviewing these communications can file a Freedom of Information Act request through the city’s official website.
Contact information for inquiries: Brooke Thaler, Communications Department, 302-227-6181, ext. 522.
