By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer
(Aug. 13, 2020) The following took place during the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting on Monday:
ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The Berlin Mayor and Council approved the grant application to the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program for $99,000 toward building permanent restrooms at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street.
Grant application
The mayor and council approved an application to the state’s Community Parks and Playgrounds Program for money for permanent restrooms at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street.
The project should cost a total of $110,000. The application details the itemized costs as $60,000 for building construction, $10,000 for site work, $20,000 for utilities, $10,000 for engineering design and permitting, $5,000 for engineering CA and inspection and a contingency fund of $5,000.
The town is requesting a $99,000 grant. Local funds will cover 10 percent of the cost at $11,000.
Relay for Life event
They mayor and council approved the drive-through Relay for Life of North Worcester Luminaria event scheduled for Oct. 3 from 7-9 p.m.
The event would require on-street parking to be cleared from 3-10 p.m., according to the event application.
Participants will drive down North Main Street and Harrison Avenue near the Berlin Fire Company.
Mary Bellis and Dawn Hodge of the American Cancer Society plan to line both sides of the curb of the sidewalks along Main Street from the intersection of Main and West Streets to the intersection of Main and Jefferson Streets with luminaria bags with names of cancer survivors as well as individuals who died from cancer.
At-large Councilmember Thom Gulyas and Hodge discussed using battery-operated twist lights rather than votive candles for the safety of participants.
Hodge said she also hopes to work with Ocean 98 Radio to broadcast the event live on Oct. 3.
Donations for bags will be made in advance, according to the special event application.
Storm damage
Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said Tropical Storm Isaias did some damage in Berlin last Tuesday, but nothing like that inflicted on nearby areas.
“In north Kent County and southern New Castle County, Delaware, as of [Monday night], they still have hundreds of folks without electricity,” Fleetwood said.
In Berlin, trees fell throughout town and the average power outage of residents lasted about 46 minutes.
Water issues
The town of Berlin has two water towers. The one out on Route 346 was taken off line a couple weeks ago for interior maintenance as well as exterior painting, Fleetwood said. Since then, there have been problems with pressure from the water tower on Franklin Avenue caused, presumably, by valve issues. Both towers were then put back on line. The external maintenance on the Route 346 tower will continue. The interior maintenance will be conducted after the valve issues are resolved.
Mask mandate
Gov. Larry Hogan’s expanded mask order that became effective on July 31 requires Marylanders ages five and older to wear a mask or face covering in public areas of businesses and buildings and in outdoor public areas when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Gulyas and District 1 Councilmember Troy Purnell did not wear masks or face coverings throughout the meeting on Monday. Gulyas said he was not wearing a mask because he was actively drinking a coffee during the meeting and was following social distancing guidelines for government buildings with an expected occupancy or attendance of 10 or more people. Purnell said he did not intend to violate any directives and believed the chairs were arranged six feet apart.
“I have asked Jeff Fleetwood to measure the distance so we all can be assured we are [six feet] apart,” Purnell said. “Also please note while arriving and departing I wore a mask.”