(June 16, 2016) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting in Town Hall on Monday evening.
Purnell absent
Councilmember Troy Purnell did not attend the meeting. The body still maintained a quorum, with four of the five members present.
Summer movies
Berlin’s Movies on Main Street program, a collaboration with the A&E Committee, kicks off on Saturday, June 18, with a showing of “Tuck Everlasting” at 8:30 p.m. on Jefferson Street.
Contract renewals
The council unanimously passed four one-year contract renewals.
Angel’s Touch cleaning will continue to provide its services for the second year at a cost of $37,350. That’s a $1,000 increase over the previous year, because the company will also furnish the town with “paper products, soap and trash can liners,” according to an invoice.
Card Technology will continue to offer tech support and services at a cost of $2,280, per month and D3 signed a one-year renewal for web support services for $125 per month.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services will provide “youth services” at a total cost of $34,500. That includes $24,000 for conducting a youth program in the town, $8,000 for associated expenses and $2,500 for an intern.
Special events
The council unanimously passed a partial street closure on Commerce Street to allow for live music from 6-9 p.m. through Aug. 26. Steve Frene, co-owner of Victorian Charm, will play with his band at the corner of Commerce and Main streets, and will take care of closing the street and purchasing the necessary barricades.
Monthly 2nd Friday art strolls, run by the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, will also include a partial street closure on Jefferson Street from 4-9 p.m., through Sept. 9. During the event, vendors will be allowed to set up tables and tents on the street.
Public hearings
Three public hearings were opened and closed without comment and approved unanimously by the council.
Ordinance 2016-03 clarified a small portion of town code pertaining to stormwater, Annexation Resolution 2016-07 annexed the remaining portion of the former Tyson’s Chicken plant, now being referred to as Berlin Falls, into town, and Ordinance 2016-04 officially passed the fiscal year 2017 budget.
The $19.4 million budget was largely set during a meeting in May. It includes an overall spending increase of 13 percent, although there were no increases to the property tax rate and Berlin residents will not see increases in town fees for water, wastewater or stormwater.
The largest capital expense in the budget is the new $2.2 million police headquarters. The financial package also included pay increases for the mayor and council – the first in at least 25 years. Before those increase take effect, however, each official would have to pass through a municipal election.
Police station update
A contract with Crosby & Associates related to inspection and construction services for the new police department was approved unanimously. The town will pay the firm $63,900 for “inspector services” and $39,358 for “phase services,” according to the resolution.
An invoice in the council packet said the construction period would last 14 months.
Councilmember Dean Burrell made the motion to approve the contracts.
“It is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that actually I’m proud [to make this motion] … for our overdue, but well deserved new police station,” he said. “The time is right for us, the mayor and council, and the citizens of the town of Berlin to provide our number-one police department with a number-one [facility].”
Dog leash ordinances
Responding to a resident complaint during a meeting in April, two ordinances were passed that clarified town code requiring dogs to be on leashes in public.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said Ordinance 2016-05 and 2016-06 did not change the function of the town code, but rather clarified the language.
A public hearing will be held on the matter during the next council meeting, June 27.
New businesses
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said several new business developments were happening in and around Main Street. That includes the opening of the Brooklyn Baking Barons shop, near the visitor’s center on Main Street, as well as Patty Jean’s Boutique and Berlin Farm Supply on Broad Street.
Wells said the building that currently houses Cupcakes in Bloom, on Main Street, had been sold, and that the business would vacate after July 1.
Purnell absent
Councilmember Troy Purnell did not attend the meeting. The body still maintained a quorum, with four of the five members present.
Summer movies
Berlin’s Movies on Main Street program, a collaboration with the A&E Committee, kicks off on Saturday, June 18, with a showing of “Tuck Everlasting” at 8:30 p.m. on Jefferson Street.
Contract renewals
The council unanimously passed four one-year contract renewals.
Angel’s Touch cleaning will continue to provide its services for the second year at a cost of $37,350. That’s a $1,000 increase over the previous year, because the company will also furnish the town with “paper products, soap and trash can liners,” according to an invoice.
Card Technology will continue to offer tech support and services at a cost of $2,280, per month and D3 signed a one-year renewal for web support services for $125 per month.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services will provide “youth services” at a total cost of $34,500. That includes $24,000 for conducting a youth program in the town, $8,000 for associated expenses and $2,500 for an intern.
Special events
The council unanimously passed a partial street closure on Commerce Street to allow for live music from 6-9 p.m. through Aug. 26. Steve Frene, co-owner of Victorian Charm, will play with his band at the corner of Commerce and Main streets, and will take care of closing the street and purchasing the necessary barricades.
Monthly 2nd Friday art strolls, run by the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, will also include a partial street closure on Jefferson Street from 4-9 p.m., through Sept. 9. During the event, vendors will be allowed to set up tables and tents on the street.
Public hearings
Three public hearings were opened and closed without comment and approved unanimously by the council.
Ordinance 2016-03 clarified a small portion of town code pertaining to stormwater, Annexation Resolution 2016-07 annexed the remaining portion of the former Tyson’s Chicken plant, now being referred to as Berlin Falls, into town, and Ordinance 2016-04 officially passed the fiscal year 2017 budget.
The $19.4 million budget was largely set during a meeting in May. It includes an overall spending increase of 13 percent, although there were no increases to the property tax rate and Berlin residents will not see increases in town fees for water, wastewater or stormwater.
The largest capital expense in the budget is the new $2.2 million police headquarters. The financial package also included pay increases for the mayor and council – the first in at least 25 years. Before those increase take effect, however, each official would have to pass through a municipal election.
Police station update
A contract with Crosby & Associates related to inspection and construction services for the new police department was approved unanimously. The town will pay the firm $63,900 for “inspector services” and $39,358 for “phase services,” according to the resolution.
An invoice in the council packet said the construction period would last 14 months.
Councilmember Dean Burrell made the motion to approve the contracts.
“It is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that actually I’m proud [to make this motion] … for our overdue, but well deserved new police station,” he said. “The time is right for us, the mayor and council, and the citizens of the town of Berlin to provide our number-one police department with a number-one [facility].”
Dog leash ordinances
Responding to a resident complaint during a meeting in April, two ordinances were passed that clarified town code requiring dogs to be on leashes in public.
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said Ordinance 2016-05 and 2016-06 did not change the function of the town code, but rather clarified the language.
A public hearing will be held on the matter during the next council meeting, June 27.
New businesses
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said several new business developments were happening in and around Main Street. That includes the opening of the Brooklyn Baking Barons shop, near the visitor’s center on Main Street, as well as Patty Jean’s Boutique and Berlin Farm Supply on Broad Street.
Wells said the building that currently houses Cupcakes in Bloom, on Main Street, had been sold, and that the business would vacate after July 1.