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Berlin Briefs

(March 30, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a meeting at Town Hall on Monday.
CDBG appeal
Mayor Gee Williams said the town drafted a letter to state officials stating the importance of the Community Development Block Grant program. A function of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the program was left out of a budget draft presented by President Donald Trump.
During recent years, Williams said the town had been able to leverage $3.2 million in CDBG money to $10 million in grants that benefited 11 major projects in the community.
“This is critical and it’s nationwide. It means taking a program that benefits communities … from one of the most successful programs that we work with in terms of grants to nothing. It kills it,” Williams said. “In my opinion, regardless of where the idea came from, it’s ludicrous. And it’s very detrimental to the future of not only Berlin, but all communities throughout the country.”
Thefts from vehicles
Lt. Robert Fisher said the Berlin Police Department was investigating eight thefts from motor vehicles in the area, including several on Powell Circle and in the Decatur Farms area. He said the county sheriff’s department also responded to reports of several more in West Ocean City.
“We’re just trying to remind people, even though it’s not the holidays, lock your cars,” he said.
Risk Management Policy
The council voted to restate its Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland (PJM) Risk Management Policy, relating to the town’s wholesale purchase of electricity. The council also affirmed that Town Administrator Laura Allen would continue to represent Berlin in hearings before the Maryland Public Service Commission.  
Allen said Town Attorney David Gaskill recommended the restating be done each year and said there was no change to the policy. Williams said it had been standard practice for about six years.
“It’s a helpful administrative tool for us to have in place,” Allen said.
Spray site update
A year ago the council approved a resolution to establish a cooperative agreement with The Nature Conservancy. The organization was granted access to 196 acres of land along the Pocomoke River watershed that it hoped to improve.
Mike Dryden provided an update on that project on Monday. He said the organization, operating under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, worked in an area adjacent to a town spray site. Construction of breaches started a week after Christmas and wrapped about a month ago, creating 19 breaches, including 12 on town property.
The area was cleared and the elevation was brought to the flood plain elevation, which is based on the 100-year-flood level.
He said 182 acres of wetlands in town and 352 acres overall were restored, meaning an estimated 528 million gallons of stormwater would be stored in the reconnected floodplain before being let out into the Pocomoke River.
Withholding permits
In another vote, the council agreed to withhold requests for permits, licenses and other approvals if there were overdue taxes, fees, utility charges or miscellaneous billing related to either the property or the applicant.
Allen proposed a 10-day release period upon payment, but Councilman Thom Gulyas suggested reducing that to two standard business days. The other councilmembers agreed and voted 4-0.
Help with Clean-Up Day
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the town parks commission is looking for an organization to help provide food for about 100 volunteers during the annual Clean-Up Day, Saturday, May 22. Food traditionally includes hamburgers, hotdogs and canned sodas, she said.
Service agreement
The town will allow SonRise Church, on the north end of Main Street, to continue using Delmarva Power for one year. The church, which recently purchased a parcel of land there, hopes to develop part of it and sell it to commercial vendors, potentially for use as a hotel, restaurant and fast food chain store.
The council voted 4-0 to allow the transfer to town electric to hold off until that happens. One councilman, Dean Burrell, was absent.
Big losses
Williams said a friend of the community, Bill Taylor, passed away last week in Berlin. Taylor, a former volunteer fireman, died of natural causes, according to Williams.
Williams said he was “a true Berlin character” who would be remembered for his sense of humor. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Berlin Fire Company on Main Street in Berlin.
Berlin Falls Park Coordinator David Deutsch apparently also lost his son recently. Williams sent condolences on behalf of the town.