Renovation needed

Any number of things might be and probably have been said about the Berlin mayor and Town Council’s decision to renovate Town Hall, but “frivolous” or “excessive” should not be among them.

A better one-word description of the $2.5 million project scheduled to begin next year might be “practical,” even though it does entail a little bit of dressing up here and there.

But when the major components of an interior overhaul include “a new elevator, new HVAC systems, (seven of the eight existing units are not operating correctly) automatic fire sprinklers, and asbestos and lead remediation,” the remaining budget isn’t likely to have much room for extravagances.

Town Hall has never been what anyone would call a showplace, and it’s safe to assume that a visitor who last entered the building 10 years ago wouldn’t find many changes today, but it is the seat of local government and should look better and work better than it does. While there’s always the possibility of changes here and there, this is a project that just makes sense.

Mural has right mix

Put us down for a “Yes” vote on Evan Fitzgerald’s design for the side of the Poole Building in Berlin. It has just the right mix of realism in technique and its depiction of the seaside marsh landscape, and the touch of whimsy that makes Berlin more than a town that’s proud of its architectural heritage.

Although the town’s historic district is the foundation of the town’s image, it’s also a perfect backdrop to a community whose downtown has a little bit of a bohemian flavor and a big commitment to having fun.

Congratulations to the artist for having passed muster with Historic District Commission and for injecting a little humor into the downtown atmosphere.