(Oct. 27, 2016) It was a night of department overviews and updates on projects but mostly it was a night to welcome Zachary Tyndall to the Town Council and to renew the oaths of Mayor Gee Williams and Councilman Elroy Brittingham.
In front of a full house at Town Hall this past Monday night, Williams was sworn in by Worcester Court Clerk Susan Braniecki, who then swore in both Tyndall and Brittingham.
After the ceremony, the three returned to the dais to elect a vice president of the council. Councilman Dean Burrell nominated Brittingham, the incumbent, who was elected by unanimous decision. The new and returning officials then delivered remarks.
Brittingham, who will mark 32 years on the council at the end of this new term, said he was happy to continue working with a mayor “who almost always shows up” — therefore downplaying his role as a stand-in for Williams if he is absent — to laughs all around.
He thanked the audience and town for their continued support, and promised to follow Williams’ lead during his new term as vice president.
“It’s a privilege and honor” to serve the property owners, visitors and friends of the Town of Berlin, Williams said, and he committed to keeping Berlin’s charm alive while avoiding the temptation to live in the past.
“Because we live in a small town, not a small world,” he said. “We’re all human and we all make mistakes, but you can never fix what you never do,” he said.
Williams said the town needed to progress, especially in the realm of technology, but would continue to do so in the most cost-effective manner possible.
He said his goal was not to make the town a cutting-edge technological marvel, but to keep pace with ongoing developments.
“The mayor and council will continue to do the right thing in the right way,” Williams said.
The council then heard various updates on its operations while Williams provided thumbnail sketches of the ongoing efforts for the benefit of the unusually large crowd.
Finance director Natalie Saleh said new software should be running by Jan. 8, giving her department new options and increased functionality over the old system.
Tim Lawrence, electric utility director, said the generator damaged by flooding during the recent storms has been removed and sent for repair. The generator should be back in operation in about a month, he said, and operations shouldn’t be affected by its absence.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells reported she had “an abundance” of façade grant funding available and those interested are invited to apply. She also said the Christmas parade is now full with 80 entries, and Fin’s Ale House and Raw Bar is currently in the “soft opening” phase and invited residents to check it out.
The only action the council took was at the end of the night when it approved, in a motion by Tyndall as his first act as a councilman, the installation of professional-grade lights on the town’s tennis courts at a cost of about $92,000. The cost is set to increase by three percent at the end of the year, Lawrence said, and the equipment will be stored until the courts are refurbished.
Councilman Burrell said he recalled a similar discussion regarding some local basketball courts that ended up budgeted in the past but faltered due to a lock of community support. He asked that the council take another look at installing lights on those courts as well, to which the rest of the council assented.
In front of a full house at Town Hall this past Monday night, Williams was sworn in by Worcester Court Clerk Susan Braniecki, who then swore in both Tyndall and Brittingham.
After the ceremony, the three returned to the dais to elect a vice president of the council. Councilman Dean Burrell nominated Brittingham, the incumbent, who was elected by unanimous decision. The new and returning officials then delivered remarks.
Brittingham, who will mark 32 years on the council at the end of this new term, said he was happy to continue working with a mayor “who almost always shows up” — therefore downplaying his role as a stand-in for Williams if he is absent — to laughs all around.
He thanked the audience and town for their continued support, and promised to follow Williams’ lead during his new term as vice president.
“It’s a privilege and honor” to serve the property owners, visitors and friends of the Town of Berlin, Williams said, and he committed to keeping Berlin’s charm alive while avoiding the temptation to live in the past.
“Because we live in a small town, not a small world,” he said. “We’re all human and we all make mistakes, but you can never fix what you never do,” he said.
Williams said the town needed to progress, especially in the realm of technology, but would continue to do so in the most cost-effective manner possible.
He said his goal was not to make the town a cutting-edge technological marvel, but to keep pace with ongoing developments.
“The mayor and council will continue to do the right thing in the right way,” Williams said.
The council then heard various updates on its operations while Williams provided thumbnail sketches of the ongoing efforts for the benefit of the unusually large crowd.
Finance director Natalie Saleh said new software should be running by Jan. 8, giving her department new options and increased functionality over the old system.
Tim Lawrence, electric utility director, said the generator damaged by flooding during the recent storms has been removed and sent for repair. The generator should be back in operation in about a month, he said, and operations shouldn’t be affected by its absence.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells reported she had “an abundance” of façade grant funding available and those interested are invited to apply. She also said the Christmas parade is now full with 80 entries, and Fin’s Ale House and Raw Bar is currently in the “soft opening” phase and invited residents to check it out.
The only action the council took was at the end of the night when it approved, in a motion by Tyndall as his first act as a councilman, the installation of professional-grade lights on the town’s tennis courts at a cost of about $92,000. The cost is set to increase by three percent at the end of the year, Lawrence said, and the equipment will be stored until the courts are refurbished.
Councilman Burrell said he recalled a similar discussion regarding some local basketball courts that ended up budgeted in the past but faltered due to a lock of community support. He asked that the council take another look at installing lights on those courts as well, to which the rest of the council assented.