JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Dave Wilson of Conservation Community Consultants is recognized during a recent Berlin Town Council meeting.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Dec. 20, 2018) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a Dec. 10 public meeting at Town Hall:

Community assistance donations

Finance Director Natalie Saleh said December utility bills would include a letter from the Town Council asking for donations to the Shore Up Energy Assistance fund.

Saleh said almost $64,000 had been raised during the last nine years and “distributed back to the community to assist with bills during a difficult time, through the holidays.”

She said residents and others could mail tax-deductible donations, with the town matching each dollar. Last year, $3,600 in donations were raised and the town matched that total, meaning $7,200 went to Shore Up to help local people pay for winter utility bills.

“Hopefully, we can beat the numbers from last year,” Saleh said.

Bird is the word

A proclamation presented to Dave Wilson of Conservation Community Consultants recognized 2018 as the “Year of the Bird in Berlin.”

This year is the centennial for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, “which protects birds in our backyards,” Mayor Gee Williams said.

According to the proclamation, “the Berlin area is home to one of North America’s largest migrations when we host thousands of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl throughout the region” as part of the Atlantic flyway.

More than 200 bird species are supported by Berlin’s natural resources, the proclamation said, including local cardinals and blue jays, and migratory osprey, great egrets and wood ducks.

Williams added that Wilson and his group “had a very important impact on our natural environment.”

Swearing in

Housing Board of Review member Mary Moore was sworn in for another term. Williams said it was important to do so publicly, “because it’s the only time folks get any recognition” and they put in a lot of time as volunteer board members.

Moore joked she was still waiting for a check for her services, but Williams countered, “You’ll be waiting a while longer” as laughter filled the room.

More parade kudos

Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells credited her former assistant Sharon Timmons with helping to organize the town’s annual Christmas parade. Timmons retired in October and was replaced in the department by new administrative assistant Allison Early.

“Sharon really set us up. She was outstanding [and] had an entire notebook dedicated to the Christmas parade,” Wells said. “I sent her a text the other day, thanking her for all the pre-work that she did to help Allison and I with the parade.”

Human Resources Director Jeff Fleetwood also recognized Delmar Pizza, which donated $1,000 worth of food to help feed parade volunteers.

Additionally, Police Chief Arnold Downing thanked neighboring police agencies for their assistance.

“I don’t know if anybody realizes how long it takes to plan that parade, and the amount of volunteers” and others who help make it a success, Wells said.

Each year, she said, there is space for 85 floats and about 150 groups that want to participate.

“It went very smoothly. [Emcee] Wayne Cannon even said it was the best parade that he’s been at for the town,” Wells said.

Christmas wishes

Councilman Thom Gulyas wished town staff a merry Christmas.

“You guys make our job very, very easy… and it’s a pleasure to work here,” he said. “We get comments when we’re in town, ‘Your town is so nice [and] you guys are doing a wonderful job.’”

Gulyas joked he often replies, “I didn’t do anything!”

“It’s the staff, it’s our department heads, it’s employees that do all of that, and I want to thank you guys for that,” he added.

Councilmen Zack Tyndall, Dean Burrell and Troy Purnell echoed those sentiments.