JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Police Chief Arnold Downing discusses an award recently given to the new Berlin Police Station during a public meeting at Town Hall last Monday.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 4, 2018) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a Sept. 24 meeting at Town Hall:

Audit incoming

Finance Director Natalie Saleh said a rough draft of the annual audit of town finances was due in November. The finalized statement would then be reviewed during a December Town Council meeting, with auditing firm PKS and Company of Ocean City attending the meeting, she said.

Saleh said the audit was “the shortest in history,” finished in about three-and-a-half days.

Hurricane prep

Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said the town didn’t get quite what they thought in terms of rain and winds from Hurricane Florence, but workers did prep vehicles and charge up equipment.

Peak generation

Lawrence said the electric department generated electricity on 18 peak days of consumption between January and September. The process, also known as peak shaving, helps reduce the cost of electricity purchased through American Municipal Power.

He said the town was likely finished generating until December.

Mayor Gee Williams asked Lawrence to “pass on our appreciation” to the electric department crew.

“Not missing those peaks … significantly reduces power bills for every single individual and property owner in Berlin,” Williams said, adding he hoped the winter months would not “bring any surprises.”

Police awarded

Associated Builders and Contractors, a national construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 members, recently presented an Excellence in Construction award to the Berlin Police Department in recognition of its new headquarters.

“We’re really proud of the architect and the builders who actually did the work,” Police Chief Arnold Downing said. He said the award was presented to the builder and a corresponding award would be placed inside the police department.

Tourism video

Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said she would work with a Maryland Tourism film crew for a segment in a new promotional video.

“The ad … is going to be a family inside of a car driving to different locations in Maryland, so they’re going to be driving through here and filming them,” Wells said.

New hires

Human Resources Director Jeff Fleetwood said the town recently hired staff or extended offers for workers in customer service, the electric utility, water resources, public works, police and community development.

Upcoming dates

Fleetwood said a free flu-shot clinic would be held for town staff and their dependents on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at town hall.

“Bring your right arm, bring your left arm,” Fleetwood said. “There is no charge for that.”

A retirement ceremony was scheduled for Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. for Sharon Timmons, the departing administrative assistant in the economic development office.

Additionally, representatives from the town will be presented with a Sustainable Maryland award in Annapolis on Oct. 12, Fleetwood said.