(Jan. 26, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a meeting at town hall on Monday, Jan. 23.
Events
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said a ShoreCraftBeer.com event would be held at The Globe restaurant in Berlin on Saturday from 4:30-6 p.m. to celebrate the launch of “FeBREWary,” designated as Craft Beer Lovers Month in Maryland. Sen. Jim Mathias and Wells will speak, and free beer samples will be given.
Additional upcoming events include a Valentine’s Day happening on Saturday Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children ages 4-10 who visit the visitor’s center on 14 South Main Street can decorate a valentine bag and visit downtown shops for free treats.
Carriage rides through town will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 4-8 p.m., for $30 each. Reservations are required and include chocolate, nonalcoholic “bubbly” and a rose from Bleached Butterfly. Wells said that event was about half full as of Monday evening.
EDU agreements
The council approved equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) agreements for the new Atlantic General Hospital cancer center and for the Ocean’s East Apartment Complex.
At the AGH center, four unused EDUs were borrowed from the Barrett Medical Office Building and another four were purchased. Councilman Dean Burrell, an employee of AGH, sat out the vote and the other four councilmembers voted in favor. Councilman Thom Gulyas voted “absolutely.”
The sale of 48 EDUs was approved for two new apartment buildings at Oceans East on Seahawk Road by a unanimous vote.
Also during the meeting, the council voted to approve an EDU policy for smaller residential and commercial properties.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said the resolution codified the existing practice of financing up to five EDUs for five years with a three percent financing charge.
Burrell briefly argued to remove a passage that would allow applicants who were denied to take the matter up with the mayor and council. A vote on that amendment failed 3-1, with Councilman Elroy Brittingham abstaining.
The original resolution, establishing the policy, passed 4-1 with Councilman Troy Purnell voting against. Purnell said he believed the number of EDUs in the resolution was arbitrary.
Luffman, an introduction
The council briefly said hello to Bunky Luffman, the Eastern Shore liaison to the state office of intergovernmental affairs.
Luffman said he regularly visits council meetings across his territory, from Cecil to Somerset counties, covering more than 50 different municipalities.
He said he would be checking in during council meetings from time to time, and that he had just had the “best fish taco of his life” at Fins Ale House and Raw Bar at Main Street in Berlin.
After hours
The council voted 4-1 to approve a special alcohol exception for a Berlin Chamber of Commerce business after-hours event at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on Thursday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m. Gulyas, who previously expressed trepidation over town events that allowed for consumption of alcohol, was the lone “no” vote.
Taylor House hours
During a brief discussion on the subject, Berlin Heritage Foundation President Jan Quick noted the Calvin B. Taylor House museum would offer extended hours, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., upon reopening for the season. The museum has never opened daily before noon, except during special events.
Parks meeting moved
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said a parks commission meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7 had been moved up to Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room in town hall.
Events
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said a ShoreCraftBeer.com event would be held at The Globe restaurant in Berlin on Saturday from 4:30-6 p.m. to celebrate the launch of “FeBREWary,” designated as Craft Beer Lovers Month in Maryland. Sen. Jim Mathias and Wells will speak, and free beer samples will be given.
Additional upcoming events include a Valentine’s Day happening on Saturday Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children ages 4-10 who visit the visitor’s center on 14 South Main Street can decorate a valentine bag and visit downtown shops for free treats.
Carriage rides through town will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 4-8 p.m., for $30 each. Reservations are required and include chocolate, nonalcoholic “bubbly” and a rose from Bleached Butterfly. Wells said that event was about half full as of Monday evening.
EDU agreements
The council approved equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) agreements for the new Atlantic General Hospital cancer center and for the Ocean’s East Apartment Complex.
At the AGH center, four unused EDUs were borrowed from the Barrett Medical Office Building and another four were purchased. Councilman Dean Burrell, an employee of AGH, sat out the vote and the other four councilmembers voted in favor. Councilman Thom Gulyas voted “absolutely.”
The sale of 48 EDUs was approved for two new apartment buildings at Oceans East on Seahawk Road by a unanimous vote.
Also during the meeting, the council voted to approve an EDU policy for smaller residential and commercial properties.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said the resolution codified the existing practice of financing up to five EDUs for five years with a three percent financing charge.
Burrell briefly argued to remove a passage that would allow applicants who were denied to take the matter up with the mayor and council. A vote on that amendment failed 3-1, with Councilman Elroy Brittingham abstaining.
The original resolution, establishing the policy, passed 4-1 with Councilman Troy Purnell voting against. Purnell said he believed the number of EDUs in the resolution was arbitrary.
Luffman, an introduction
The council briefly said hello to Bunky Luffman, the Eastern Shore liaison to the state office of intergovernmental affairs.
Luffman said he regularly visits council meetings across his territory, from Cecil to Somerset counties, covering more than 50 different municipalities.
He said he would be checking in during council meetings from time to time, and that he had just had the “best fish taco of his life” at Fins Ale House and Raw Bar at Main Street in Berlin.
After hours
The council voted 4-1 to approve a special alcohol exception for a Berlin Chamber of Commerce business after-hours event at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on Thursday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m. Gulyas, who previously expressed trepidation over town events that allowed for consumption of alcohol, was the lone “no” vote.
Taylor House hours
During a brief discussion on the subject, Berlin Heritage Foundation President Jan Quick noted the Calvin B. Taylor House museum would offer extended hours, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., upon reopening for the season. The museum has never opened daily before noon, except during special events.
Parks meeting moved
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said a parks commission meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7 had been moved up to Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room in town hall.