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Berlin retains same tax rate as last year

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Discussion suggests levy will go up in years ahead By Greg Ellison (April 14, 2022) The Berlin Town Council’s discussion Monday of where to set the property tax rates in the new fiscal year resulted in an airing of concerns by department heads who said their needs are being ignored again. During first reading for… Read more »

Berlin utility funds capital requests reviewed by town

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By Greg Ellison (April 14, 2022)  The Berlin mayor and Town Council reviewed roughly $3.5 million in FY23 capital budget requests on Monday for utility funds, including electric, water and wastewater. Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence said FY23 expenditures totaling $695,000 would be covered by estimated operating revenues of $458,000 and $237,000 from new development… Read more »

OP Fire gets state aid for big project

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Officials say South Station needs $7 million rebuild By Greg Ellison (April 7, 2022) After securing $1.35 million in state funding, Ocean Pines Fire Department officials are looking to rebuild the four-decade old South Station for approximately $7 million, with the community on the hook for about half the tab. Ocean Pines Fire Department President… Read more »

Auxer creates ‘Berlin Love Locks’ to mark memories

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By Greg Ellison (April 7, 2022) Hoping to spread positivity and warm memories, blown-glass artisan Jeff Auxer referenced visions from Italy to create “Berlin Love Locks,” a trio of large gate-like panels outside his studio and gallery on Jefferson Street. “Love Locks,” a long popular romantic tradition for couples in Europe and elsewhere, are padlocks… Read more »

Pines Election Committee preps for pending board contest

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By Greg Ellison (April 7, 2022) In addition to testing new equipment and reviewing the ballot design, the Ocean Pines Election Committee last week produced candidate forum questions for this summer’s board of directors election. Three seats are open this year. They are now held by Director Larry Perrone, who was elected to a first… Read more »

Town Council reschedules tax hearing

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Department heads say they have cut budget to bare bones By Greg Ellison (March 31, 2022) With expenditure requests outpacing projected revenues in its FY23 draft budget, the Berlin Town Council voted on Monday to delay a scheduled public hearing for real property tax rates until April 11. During a first reading for the proposed… Read more »

Short-term rental rules win approval from Town Council

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By Greg Ellison (March 31, 2022) Following hours of commentary from supporters and opponents of rental regulations, the Berlin Town Council voted on Monday to create and impose new rules for short-term rentals as of July 1. Mayor Zach Tyndall said the hot-button topic has been bandied about for several years. “The intent is to… Read more »

OP Board mulls social media policy, potential ethics rules

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By Greg Ellison (March 31, 2022) The consideration of a possible social media policy for the Ocean Pines Board of Directors ballooned into a discussion about ethics codes during the board meeting last Wednesday. Director Doug Parks said in light of the multiple Pines-based social media platforms available, an official policy should be developed to… Read more »

Lakernick denied committee post

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Directors cut off discussion of why former candidate was rejected for 2nd time By Greg Ellison (March 31, 2022) Lingering political tension from the Ocean Pines Board of Directors 2021 election was on display at last week’s meeting, as the directors denied former candidate Stuart Lakernick a seat on a committee for the second time…. Read more »

Farr dissents on vote about ‘owner’ bylaw

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Electronic voting must be unanimous to be official By Greg Ellison (March 24, 2022) Despite initial assertions that the Ocean Pines Board of Directors voted unanimously by email last week to amend the definition of owner of record in its proposed bylaws revisions, it has since come to light that Director Rick Farr opposed the… Read more »