(Aug. 13, 2015) The Berlin mayor and council discussed or took action on the following topics at their public meeting at Town Hall on Monday:
Event approvals
The council approved the annual Berlin Fall Cruisers, sponsored by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, for Oct. 10, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as an expanded October Fest on Oct. 17 from noon to 6 p.m.
Octoberfest will include a sidewalk sale as well as children’s activities, a beer garden by Burley Oak Brewing Co., and the inaugural Born to Be Wild Hobby Horse Steeple Chase Race.
Ivory Smith, president of the Worcester County chapter of the NAACP also briefed the council on several upcoming events.
On Aug. 27, the NAACP and Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care will hold a meeting at Ambassador for Christ International Ministry in Berlin at 7 p.m.
NAACP will host a Sickle Cell awareness walk on Sept. 19 at Stephen Decatur Park in Berlin from noon to 3 p.m. Registration is free, a deejay will play music and participants will be eligible for giveaways.
The group will hold its Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Oct. 17 at Stephen Decatur Middle School. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. NAACP will honor Al “Hondo” Handy, Atlantic Physical Therapy, Sun Rise Church of Berlin, WWII veteran William Briddell, activist Patricia Dufendach and former Pocomoke Police Chief Kelvin Sewell. For more information, contact Smith at 443-944-6701 or email ivos4@aol.com.
Park restrooms
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen is working on a grant application that would help pay for permanent restrooms at both William Henry Park and Stephen Decatur Park.
Bohlen said the restrooms would have running water and sewer services and an estimated a cost of $300,000. Public works and wastewater will assist with the application, due Aug. 19.
If approved, construction would likely be completed in 2017.
Monument coming
The Public Works department has purchased and will install a monument to Dr. William Henry at Henry Park within the next two weeks.
National Night Out
Police Chief Arnold Downing praised community partnerships during the annual Berlin division of National Night Out.
Downing said the fire marshal, sheriff’s office and state police provided assistance and demonstrations, as well as nonprofits BRAVE, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services and the Berlin Community Association.
Berlin Area Ministries provided food, Burbage Funeral provided tents, and town staff offered additional assistance.
“The only reason we ever have successful events is because of successful groups coming together,” Downing said. “It goes a long way.”
Planning approvals
Planning and zoning recently provided final approval of signs for new Royal Farms and Arby’s stores. The committee also reviewed final site plans for both stores on Wednesday, after press time. Also on that agenda was approval of a site plan for the Ocean’s East apartment complex, on Stephen Decatur Road.
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said a text amendment for the complex would require a public hearing and council approval, likely in September. Current code restricts multifamily dwellings (apartments) to be 12 units wide at their maximum.
Contest
Berlin is holding a contest to come up with a new slogan for the national “Beat the Peak” initiative. Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said her office will give a $25 Main Street gift card to the winner who comes up with a new slogan localizing the initiative to Berlin.
Gallery opening
New Berlin gallery Art in the Fields will hold a ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 28 at a time to be determined. The gallery’s first exhibition will feature original work by Andy Warhol.
Event approvals
The council approved the annual Berlin Fall Cruisers, sponsored by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, for Oct. 10, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as an expanded October Fest on Oct. 17 from noon to 6 p.m.
Octoberfest will include a sidewalk sale as well as children’s activities, a beer garden by Burley Oak Brewing Co., and the inaugural Born to Be Wild Hobby Horse Steeple Chase Race.
Ivory Smith, president of the Worcester County chapter of the NAACP also briefed the council on several upcoming events.
On Aug. 27, the NAACP and Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care will hold a meeting at Ambassador for Christ International Ministry in Berlin at 7 p.m.
NAACP will host a Sickle Cell awareness walk on Sept. 19 at Stephen Decatur Park in Berlin from noon to 3 p.m. Registration is free, a deejay will play music and participants will be eligible for giveaways.
The group will hold its Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Oct. 17 at Stephen Decatur Middle School. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. NAACP will honor Al “Hondo” Handy, Atlantic Physical Therapy, Sun Rise Church of Berlin, WWII veteran William Briddell, activist Patricia Dufendach and former Pocomoke Police Chief Kelvin Sewell. For more information, contact Smith at 443-944-6701 or email ivos4@aol.com.
Park restrooms
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen is working on a grant application that would help pay for permanent restrooms at both William Henry Park and Stephen Decatur Park.
Bohlen said the restrooms would have running water and sewer services and an estimated a cost of $300,000. Public works and wastewater will assist with the application, due Aug. 19.
If approved, construction would likely be completed in 2017.
Monument coming
The Public Works department has purchased and will install a monument to Dr. William Henry at Henry Park within the next two weeks.
National Night Out
Police Chief Arnold Downing praised community partnerships during the annual Berlin division of National Night Out.
Downing said the fire marshal, sheriff’s office and state police provided assistance and demonstrations, as well as nonprofits BRAVE, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services and the Berlin Community Association.
Berlin Area Ministries provided food, Burbage Funeral provided tents, and town staff offered additional assistance.
“The only reason we ever have successful events is because of successful groups coming together,” Downing said. “It goes a long way.”
Planning approvals
Planning and zoning recently provided final approval of signs for new Royal Farms and Arby’s stores. The committee also reviewed final site plans for both stores on Wednesday, after press time. Also on that agenda was approval of a site plan for the Ocean’s East apartment complex, on Stephen Decatur Road.
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said a text amendment for the complex would require a public hearing and council approval, likely in September. Current code restricts multifamily dwellings (apartments) to be 12 units wide at their maximum.
Contest
Berlin is holding a contest to come up with a new slogan for the national “Beat the Peak” initiative. Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said her office will give a $25 Main Street gift card to the winner who comes up with a new slogan localizing the initiative to Berlin.
Gallery opening
New Berlin gallery Art in the Fields will hold a ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 28 at a time to be determined. The gallery’s first exhibition will feature original work by Andy Warhol.