Darl Kolar, an environmental consultant from E.A. Engineering, Science, and Technology Inc., presents contract bids for the Graham Avenue Submerged Gravel Wetland Project to Berlin’s Mayor and Council during a meeting Monday night.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(June 27, 2019) The Graham Avenue submerged gravel wetland project hit a financial roadblock Monday evening after Berlin’s mayor and council rejected a contract when bids for the work came in well above what the town had budgeted.

The town received a $75,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for the project, and “the town committed $40,000 in stormwater funds as a match,” bringing the total budget to $115,000, according to the staff report.

The project was also approved in the fiscal year 2020 adopted budget, according to the staff report.

The submerged gravel wetland would be constructed on a piece of town-owned property that’s adjacent to the Burley Oak brewery and located on the corner of Graham Avenue and Old Ocean City Boulevard.

Darl Kolar, an environmental consultant from E.A. Engineering, Science, and Technology Inc., said the project’s main objective is to reduce flooding along Grant Avenue, treat stormwater runoff and to reduce runoff pollution.

Of the two bids presented, however, Goody Hill Groundwork Inc. was the low bid but, at $157,000 was still considerably more than the council had budgeted. Barker’s Landing offered to do the job for $299,580, according to the bid reports.

Kolar recommended the re-priced bid from Goody Hill Groundwork for $105,000. However, it did not include “measured pay items,” according to the bid report.

“We’re going keep trying to save a dollar,” Kolar said.

Councilman Troy Purnell pressed Kolar about how much of an impact the project would have on the area’s stormwater problem.

“It will help but it will not resolve it. It’s just a part of what we need to do,” Kolar said.

Kolar said the submerged gravel wetland project would shield Graham Avenue during small showers, but not large-scale rain events.

“This is not going to relieve the flooding entirely in this area,” Kolar said.

Kolar and Allen agreed funding from state and federal agencies is crucial to bring these types of projects to fruition in Berlin.

“It’s in our interest to do a really good job with this project, and get it done in a timely manner to make sure that our state and federal partners still see us as an attractive place to make their investment for stormwater infrastructure improvements,” Allen said.

Allen and Kolar also said they’ve been searching for grant opportunities from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the Maryland General Assembly.

Otherwise, the town would need to transfer roughly $37,500 from the town’s water utility fund to the stormwater fund.

Councilman Zack Tyndall expressed his “concerns about borrowing between the funds.”

Berlin resident Marie Velong agreed.

“That’s how we got into the problem with the general fund,” Velong said, referring to the fiscal year 2020 budget cycle.

Allen clarified that while they can’t “take” funds from the utilities, they are able to “borrow and replenish” the utilities if necessary. There is $81,544 available in the water utility’s contingency fund, according to the staff report.

However, Mayor Gee Williams stressed the importance of taking an aggressive approach with stormwater management.

“This problem is going to intensify, and we either address it or we don’t,” Williams said.

Brittingham moved to approve the Graham Avenue Submerged Gravel Wetland project contract, but the motion failed with a 1-3 vote. Councilmen Thom Gulyas, Purnell and Tyndall dissented.

Councilman Dean Burrell was absent from Monday’s meeting.