By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 15, 2018) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday:

Pray for Wendell

Human Resources Director Jeff Fleetwood asked the mayor and council to “put Wendell Purnell in their thoughts and prayers.”

Fleetwood said Purnell, the superintendent of public works, remains at Genesis Health Care in Salisbury, formerly the Salisbury Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Unrelated, he said an employee recognition ceremony would be held on March 23 at noon in Town Hall.

Assistance Fair

Town Administrator Laura Allen said Berlin is working with several businesses and nonprofits to host an “Assistance Fair” on April 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the multipurpose building on Flower Street

She said partners included Delmarva Power, Choptank Electric Cooperative, the Salvation Army, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, the Worcester County Department of Health, and Shore Up!

To volunteer, contact administrative assistant Kelsey Jensen at kjensen@berlinmd.gov or 410-973-2289.

Police brief

Police Chief Arnold Downing said he recently spoke with the board of education and local law enforcement agencies about threat assessments at local schools “and finding a way to … do that better.”

“I, myself, have had the opportunity … to do a couple of active shooter trainings in the churches,” he said. “That is something that the agency is proud to look at proactively and to be able to go ahead and say to the community, we are providing this type of service.”

Downing said it is not only valuable to be in a safe environment, but is also important for the community to feel safe.

Heritage events

The council voted 4-1 to support alcohol permits for two Berlin Heritage Foundation events: a business after hours with the Berlin Chamber of Commerce on April 26 from 5-7 p.m., and Afternoon on the Lawn on June 10 from 2-5 p.m.

Councilman Thom Gulyas voted against the request.

“Please know I do support your group, it’s just the alcohol I have an issue with,” Gulyas said.

Tennis courts

Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said a preconstruction meeting for renovation of tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park was held last week. She said the project is scheduled to finish by June 17.

“Of course, timing is all dependent on weather, but it should get started any time after March 19,” she said.

Outage explained

Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said a large tree fell onto power lines behind the ice plant on March 2, causing a significant power outage.

He said high winds on that date gusted up to 60 miles per hour. Outages spread as far as Flower Street and some customers went without power for up to two hours, Lawrence said.