(Aug. 17, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday:
Meeting room use policy
The council approved a new policy for its public meeting spaces.
Nonprofit groups can reserve the council chamber and other meeting rooms in Town Hall for $10 per four-hour block of time. The first six meetings, each year, are free for nonprofits.
All other groups would pay $25 per four-hour block. Rules for using town equipment and changing the layout of the rooms were included in the policy.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the policy was essentially a revamped version of the one used by the Worcester County libraries. It will go into effect on Nov. 1.
Decatur Park bathrooms
A motion to approve a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant application for permanent restrooms in Stephen Decatur Park received unanimous consent.
The grant application will be for fiscal year 2019, for $120,000. The estimated cost of the restrooms is $133,450. Bohlen said the additional 10 percent cost could be made up using in-kind services provided by the town.
Parking on Jefferson Street
Berlin Police Arnold Downing said the town had received several complaints about parking and accessibility on Jefferson Street. He recommended placing “no parking” signs on the west side of the street.
Downing said residents on Jefferson were consulted and had no issues with the policy change. He said all residents in the affected area had on-site parking.
The new policy was approved unanimously and will go into effect in 30 days.
Rainouts
Bohlen said alternating weekends of rain throughout the summer had resulted in the cancellation of every screening of the Movies in the Park series, co-sponsored by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee and the Berlin Parks Commission.
She said organizers will attempt to continue with make-up dates, likely pushing the screening series into September.
Events planning
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the clock is ticking on filing paperwork for 2018 events. Under the town’s new event policy, all events occurring in the following year must be submitted between July 1 and Sept. 1.
“If you want to submit an event, your paperwork is due Sept 1. We had a slew of people come in today to turn in their paperwork in, which is great, and we are keeping a list of everybody who wants to hold an event in 2018,” Wells said.
On a related note, Cam Bunting of Bunting Realty Inc. said there is a rumor the council is trying to limit the total number of events held each year.
Mayor Gee Williams said that is not true. The town set a limit of six events that include the sale and public consumption of alcohol, but no policy exists that limits the total number of events.
“We’re trying to be reasonable, but we haven’t set a number,” Williams said. “Thank you for the rumor — the rumors aren’t true. All I’m saying is if you read it on social media, be dubious.”
After hours
Wells said a business after hours event sponsored by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce would be held at Bruder Hill today, Thursday, starting at 6 p.m.
Stormwater successes
Councilman Dean Burrell said heavy rains over the weekend showed off how much town stormwater improvements have reduced flooding, especially in the area of Flower Street.
“That was a wonderful thing to see — taxpayer dollars have been spent, I think, tremendously well,” he said.
Burrell, who represents District 4, added that Showell Street is in dire need of repairs.
“Showell Street is deteriorating by the day,” he said. “If we could do something with Showell Street I think that would really mean a lot in my neighborhood.”
Meeting room use policy
The council approved a new policy for its public meeting spaces.
Nonprofit groups can reserve the council chamber and other meeting rooms in Town Hall for $10 per four-hour block of time. The first six meetings, each year, are free for nonprofits.
All other groups would pay $25 per four-hour block. Rules for using town equipment and changing the layout of the rooms were included in the policy.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the policy was essentially a revamped version of the one used by the Worcester County libraries. It will go into effect on Nov. 1.
Decatur Park bathrooms
A motion to approve a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant application for permanent restrooms in Stephen Decatur Park received unanimous consent.
The grant application will be for fiscal year 2019, for $120,000. The estimated cost of the restrooms is $133,450. Bohlen said the additional 10 percent cost could be made up using in-kind services provided by the town.
Parking on Jefferson Street
Berlin Police Arnold Downing said the town had received several complaints about parking and accessibility on Jefferson Street. He recommended placing “no parking” signs on the west side of the street.
Downing said residents on Jefferson were consulted and had no issues with the policy change. He said all residents in the affected area had on-site parking.
The new policy was approved unanimously and will go into effect in 30 days.
Rainouts
Bohlen said alternating weekends of rain throughout the summer had resulted in the cancellation of every screening of the Movies in the Park series, co-sponsored by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee and the Berlin Parks Commission.
She said organizers will attempt to continue with make-up dates, likely pushing the screening series into September.
Events planning
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the clock is ticking on filing paperwork for 2018 events. Under the town’s new event policy, all events occurring in the following year must be submitted between July 1 and Sept. 1.
“If you want to submit an event, your paperwork is due Sept 1. We had a slew of people come in today to turn in their paperwork in, which is great, and we are keeping a list of everybody who wants to hold an event in 2018,” Wells said.
On a related note, Cam Bunting of Bunting Realty Inc. said there is a rumor the council is trying to limit the total number of events held each year.
Mayor Gee Williams said that is not true. The town set a limit of six events that include the sale and public consumption of alcohol, but no policy exists that limits the total number of events.
“We’re trying to be reasonable, but we haven’t set a number,” Williams said. “Thank you for the rumor — the rumors aren’t true. All I’m saying is if you read it on social media, be dubious.”
After hours
Wells said a business after hours event sponsored by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce would be held at Bruder Hill today, Thursday, starting at 6 p.m.
Stormwater successes
Councilman Dean Burrell said heavy rains over the weekend showed off how much town stormwater improvements have reduced flooding, especially in the area of Flower Street.
“That was a wonderful thing to see — taxpayer dollars have been spent, I think, tremendously well,” he said.
Burrell, who represents District 4, added that Showell Street is in dire need of repairs.
“Showell Street is deteriorating by the day,” he said. “If we could do something with Showell Street I think that would really mean a lot in my neighborhood.”