JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Town of Berlin workers on Monday saluted their bosses on the Town Council. Top, Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing gets a laugh from the audience, while, bottom Berlin Water Superintendent Marvin Smith talks about working for a “cool town.”

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(July 26, 2018) In what has become an annual tradition, Town of Berlin employees opened a Town Council meeting Monday by thanking their bosses.

“You do an awful lot for the employees of this town – I don’t know if you realize what you do,” Human Resources Director Jeff Fleetwood said.

He said the mayor and Town Council gave everyone a place to work, the equipment they needed do their jobs, and competitive wages and benefits.

“Most importantly, what you folks do, from our perspective, is you provide that direction,” he said.

Fleetwood said among the employees in the audience were some who had served for 40 years or more and one, Berlin Police Ofc. Kevin Lloyd, who had only been in town for about a month.

“Everything’s been great. I’ve been welcomed … I’m happy to be here,” Lloyd said.

“He has not been welcomed by everyone he’s encountered!” Police Chief Arnold Downing said with a laugh.

Russ Goehringer, a linesman apprentice with the Berlin Electric Company, has been with the town for about four years.

“I think it’s a great town. I enjoy coming to work every morning and just doing what I do,” he said.

Sharon Timmons formerly worked in Town Hall and now works in the economic development office.

“The town is an awesome place. You guys always give us the support we need, when we need it. We couldn’t ask for better bosses than you guys,” she said.

Water Superintendent Marvin Smith is among the most veteran employees on staff.

“We want to thank you all. It’s the coolest town – it’s the coolest town for a reason,” he said. “We’ve got the coolest council. We’ve got the coolest mayor. And we’ve just got the coolest employees, so it’s just a cool town.”

Fleetwood presented a cake decorated with the Town of Berlin seal and bearing the inscription, “Thank you from the employees of the town.”

“Does anyone else want to say anything?” Fleetwood asked.

“You have to know when to end it,” Downing said, deadpanning.

“That’s it! We’re done,” Fleetwood said, drawing laughs and applause from the several dozen workers and extended Berlin family in the audience.