(Nov. 6, 2014) Strategic planning sessions asking for public comment on new town projects have again become a topic of discussion in Berlin.
Mayor Gee Williams pointed to the planning sessions after public outcry for a town recreation center erupted during a council meeting last week. Williams said a number of things stalled the sessions, which were introduced in April and slated for summer or fall.
One of the factors was the success of the town’s Little League team, which became a finalist in the World Series and another was Councilwoman Paula Lynch’s announcement that she intended to retire. In addition, a Salisbury University professor who asked to head discussion became involved in a heated election year issue.
“We originally contacted Memo Diriker because of his proximity, his knowledge of the local area and his reputation. But to my understanding he’s head over heels in the phosphorus management [study],” Williams said. “He did provide three very experienced people that he knows professionally, and the latest that I know is that we’ve reached out to them.”
Diriker’s study examined the economic impact of restricting the amount and types of fertilizer area farmers could use because of chemical runoff in the Chesapeake Bay. He believed he would be finished in time to aid in Berlin’s planning sessions, but delays and political implications of the study held him back.
“His circumstances changed pretty quickly and pretty dramatically,” Williams said. “He’s a great guy, so I’m sure the folks he referred us to are pretty qualified for the position.”
Williams said he hoped to receive a recommendation from the town staff at the Nov. 10 mayor and council meeting about when the meetings might resume.
“That’s the latest and the greatest on that to the best I know,” he said. “It’s all been good stuff – it’s not that bad things are happening. The expectations of the community and the unexpected pleasures of having the Little League become second in the nation and do so well – it’s just one neat thing after the other. We had a couple projects that needed to be acted on right away, like the sidewalk project on Tripoli Street, and other things have fallen together.
“It’s my experience that you have to strike while the iron is hot,” Williams continued. “That doesn’t mean this is any less important. If anything it means we will have to dive into it with more gusto, and a lot will depend on the citizens. I’ve very anxious to get their input.”
The citizens of Berlin, according to Williams, had plenty of ideas for leveraging the “Coolest Small Town” momentum in new public projects.
“Unfortunately we can’t do them all at once, but we can certainly get started on the ones that seem to have the most popular support,” he said.
Williams said the meetings would consist of both neighborhood outreach and townwide gatherings held at Berlin Town Hall.
“We had a preliminary talk last week and we’re going to try and really pin things down before the next meeting,” Williams said. “It’s like a living document up until a point and then we’ll try to make it pretty solid so the press and the public can know what to expect.
“I was very pleased and encouraged to see the folks who showed up at the last council meeting,” Williams continued. “That just reinforces what I already believe – that there is a lot of interest in the community for a number of things that will benefit Berlin.”
Mayor Gee Williams pointed to the planning sessions after public outcry for a town recreation center erupted during a council meeting last week. Williams said a number of things stalled the sessions, which were introduced in April and slated for summer or fall.
One of the factors was the success of the town’s Little League team, which became a finalist in the World Series and another was Councilwoman Paula Lynch’s announcement that she intended to retire. In addition, a Salisbury University professor who asked to head discussion became involved in a heated election year issue.
“We originally contacted Memo Diriker because of his proximity, his knowledge of the local area and his reputation. But to my understanding he’s head over heels in the phosphorus management [study],” Williams said. “He did provide three very experienced people that he knows professionally, and the latest that I know is that we’ve reached out to them.”
Diriker’s study examined the economic impact of restricting the amount and types of fertilizer area farmers could use because of chemical runoff in the Chesapeake Bay. He believed he would be finished in time to aid in Berlin’s planning sessions, but delays and political implications of the study held him back.
“His circumstances changed pretty quickly and pretty dramatically,” Williams said. “He’s a great guy, so I’m sure the folks he referred us to are pretty qualified for the position.”
Williams said he hoped to receive a recommendation from the town staff at the Nov. 10 mayor and council meeting about when the meetings might resume.
“That’s the latest and the greatest on that to the best I know,” he said. “It’s all been good stuff – it’s not that bad things are happening. The expectations of the community and the unexpected pleasures of having the Little League become second in the nation and do so well – it’s just one neat thing after the other. We had a couple projects that needed to be acted on right away, like the sidewalk project on Tripoli Street, and other things have fallen together.
“It’s my experience that you have to strike while the iron is hot,” Williams continued. “That doesn’t mean this is any less important. If anything it means we will have to dive into it with more gusto, and a lot will depend on the citizens. I’ve very anxious to get their input.”
The citizens of Berlin, according to Williams, had plenty of ideas for leveraging the “Coolest Small Town” momentum in new public projects.
“Unfortunately we can’t do them all at once, but we can certainly get started on the ones that seem to have the most popular support,” he said.
Williams said the meetings would consist of both neighborhood outreach and townwide gatherings held at Berlin Town Hall.
“We had a preliminary talk last week and we’re going to try and really pin things down before the next meeting,” Williams said. “It’s like a living document up until a point and then we’ll try to make it pretty solid so the press and the public can know what to expect.
“I was very pleased and encouraged to see the folks who showed up at the last council meeting,” Williams continued. “That just reinforces what I already believe – that there is a lot of interest in the community for a number of things that will benefit Berlin.”