(April 27, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a meeting at Town Hall on Monday:
Stormwater update
Public Works/Water Resources Director Jane Kreiter said work on a new culvert on Flower Street is nearly finished. Additional stormwater improvements are underway on West Street, where most of the storm drain construction has wrapped. Weather has been delaying related work on Broad Street, she said.
Kreiter said that would likely finish within the next several weeks and that road repairs to the affected areas would follow.
“We’ve had great cooperation. The neighbors have been wonderful. It’s been a real inconvenience at times, but the final product will make all the difference, I’m sure,” she said.
She said stormwater improvements on William Street were next on the town’s schedule.
Remembering Mumford
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said the passing of Worcester County Jail warden Gary Mumford on Saturday saddened him and other officers. Mumford was 57.
Downing called Mumford a role model and a friend and “a true professional in our craft.” He and said police would wear shrouds over their badges until he is interned.
“We are sending prayers to the family and friends, to the Worcester County Detention Center and its staff and family, and to everyone that Gary has touched through the many endeavors he has done throughout his life,” Downing said.
“He was a true gentleman, always,” Mayor Gee Williams said.
No annexation news
Responding to a public comment from resident Mitchell David, Williams said there were no actions pending related to annexation of the Bay Club.
Williams said Hugh Cropper, an attorney representing Bay Club developer, The Carl M. Freeman Companies, spoke about the project during a council meeting in December. The developer wants to covert the golf course into a luxury campground.
“Before we can weigh in with suggestions, support, concern we need to know more specifically what the impacts are on the town,” Williams said. “Traffic impacts being one, but also what kind of services would you like to have [and] are you not counting on having.”
Williams said he expected to learn more about the project later this spring or summer when Cropper returns to address the Town Council.
“We haven’t had the request yet [for annexation],” Williams said. “We don’t know if they’re actually requesting annexation, but they were considering requesting.
“Right now that determination has not been made because there’s not enough information for them to make one, nor for us to make judgment on,” Williams added. “We just don’t have enough to go on.”
Redefining “truck”
The council held a first reading for an ordinance to update the definition of a truck in town code. Previously, Berlin considered any vehicle with a gross weight exceeding one ton to be a truck. The amendment would change that to a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding five tons, or 10,000 pounds.
A second reading will be held on May 8, followed by a public hearing and a vote on whether to adopt the changes. The amended ordinance paves the way for limiting traffic and repairing the roadway on Baker Street.
Econ briefs
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said several shops would continue to offer discounts to people wearing yellow “Berlin Pride” bracelets during Take Pride in Berlin Week, which runs through April 29. Free bracelets are available at the Berlin Visitors Center and Town Hall and a list of participating businesses is available on the town’s Facebook page.
Wells said she was working with the Historic District Commission and local art groups on a utility box painting project, similar to one in Ocean City. She is also working with Baked Dessert Café owner and Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee member Robin Tomaselli on a design for new ADA-compliant signs that would replace existing sandwich board signs on Main Street.
Bustle, on 16 Broad Street, will close at the end of the month, according to Wells. She said several people had already expressed interest in the building, which had housed the bridal shop.
The Maryland State Arts Council will host its annual meeting in Berlin on June 5 at Town Hall, Wells said. The event will include a day of events and a tour of the town.
Clean Up Day
Kreiter said the town held a successful Clean Up Day on Saturday, drawing a record number of volunteers to help freshen up Dr. William Henry, Stephen Decatur and Berlin Falls parks, as well as the Berlin Visitors Center.
“Everybody was in good spirits. We got a lot of work done and there was a lot of community pride,” she said.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said members of the Girl Scouts and students from Salisbury University also took part in Clean Up Day events.
Radio requisition
The council unanimously approved an $117,818.79 requisition order to Worcester County Emergency Services for portable and mobile radios. Downing said they would replace outdated police equipment that had been in service since 2004 and were about eight years beyond their useful life.
He said the county recommended replacement two years ago.
Stormwater update
Public Works/Water Resources Director Jane Kreiter said work on a new culvert on Flower Street is nearly finished. Additional stormwater improvements are underway on West Street, where most of the storm drain construction has wrapped. Weather has been delaying related work on Broad Street, she said.
Kreiter said that would likely finish within the next several weeks and that road repairs to the affected areas would follow.
“We’ve had great cooperation. The neighbors have been wonderful. It’s been a real inconvenience at times, but the final product will make all the difference, I’m sure,” she said.
She said stormwater improvements on William Street were next on the town’s schedule.
Remembering Mumford
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said the passing of Worcester County Jail warden Gary Mumford on Saturday saddened him and other officers. Mumford was 57.
Downing called Mumford a role model and a friend and “a true professional in our craft.” He and said police would wear shrouds over their badges until he is interned.
“We are sending prayers to the family and friends, to the Worcester County Detention Center and its staff and family, and to everyone that Gary has touched through the many endeavors he has done throughout his life,” Downing said.
“He was a true gentleman, always,” Mayor Gee Williams said.
No annexation news
Responding to a public comment from resident Mitchell David, Williams said there were no actions pending related to annexation of the Bay Club.
Williams said Hugh Cropper, an attorney representing Bay Club developer, The Carl M. Freeman Companies, spoke about the project during a council meeting in December. The developer wants to covert the golf course into a luxury campground.
“Before we can weigh in with suggestions, support, concern we need to know more specifically what the impacts are on the town,” Williams said. “Traffic impacts being one, but also what kind of services would you like to have [and] are you not counting on having.”
Williams said he expected to learn more about the project later this spring or summer when Cropper returns to address the Town Council.
“We haven’t had the request yet [for annexation],” Williams said. “We don’t know if they’re actually requesting annexation, but they were considering requesting.
“Right now that determination has not been made because there’s not enough information for them to make one, nor for us to make judgment on,” Williams added. “We just don’t have enough to go on.”
Redefining “truck”
The council held a first reading for an ordinance to update the definition of a truck in town code. Previously, Berlin considered any vehicle with a gross weight exceeding one ton to be a truck. The amendment would change that to a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding five tons, or 10,000 pounds.
A second reading will be held on May 8, followed by a public hearing and a vote on whether to adopt the changes. The amended ordinance paves the way for limiting traffic and repairing the roadway on Baker Street.
Econ briefs
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said several shops would continue to offer discounts to people wearing yellow “Berlin Pride” bracelets during Take Pride in Berlin Week, which runs through April 29. Free bracelets are available at the Berlin Visitors Center and Town Hall and a list of participating businesses is available on the town’s Facebook page.
Wells said she was working with the Historic District Commission and local art groups on a utility box painting project, similar to one in Ocean City. She is also working with Baked Dessert Café owner and Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee member Robin Tomaselli on a design for new ADA-compliant signs that would replace existing sandwich board signs on Main Street.
Bustle, on 16 Broad Street, will close at the end of the month, according to Wells. She said several people had already expressed interest in the building, which had housed the bridal shop.
The Maryland State Arts Council will host its annual meeting in Berlin on June 5 at Town Hall, Wells said. The event will include a day of events and a tour of the town.
Clean Up Day
Kreiter said the town held a successful Clean Up Day on Saturday, drawing a record number of volunteers to help freshen up Dr. William Henry, Stephen Decatur and Berlin Falls parks, as well as the Berlin Visitors Center.
“Everybody was in good spirits. We got a lot of work done and there was a lot of community pride,” she said.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said members of the Girl Scouts and students from Salisbury University also took part in Clean Up Day events.
Radio requisition
The council unanimously approved an $117,818.79 requisition order to Worcester County Emergency Services for portable and mobile radios. Downing said they would replace outdated police equipment that had been in service since 2004 and were about eight years beyond their useful life.
He said the county recommended replacement two years ago.