By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Nov. 12, 2020) The following occurred during the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting on Monday:

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood discusses the four options for the transfer of the Maple Avenue property with the Berlin Mayor and Council on Monday.

Maple Avenue property

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said Ingerman Inc. has agreed to install a concrete sidewalk from Elizabeth Street into the Willows at Berlin for the transfer of an 11,000-square-foot property on Maple Avenue. Ingerman also agreed to pave Maple Avenue from the Willows at Berlin to Flower Street.

“We estimated the value of that 11,000 square feet of property. It will be approximately $10,000,” Fleetwood said. “And the work that they’re going to do with the sidewalk and street is estimated at about $28,000.”

On Nov. 23, a representative of Ingerman will be present for the public notice.

The Berlin Mayor and Council will make the decision at the meeting whether to give Ingerman the property, sell it to the company, barter for the transfer of property or have the site plan redesigned to make the project fit on the land Ingerman will own when the deal closes next month.

Bulk waste collection

Fleetwood said the bulk waste collection for Tuesday and Wednesday customers on Nov. 4 went smoothly.

Fleetwood said five tons of waste were picked up on Nov. 4, 2020, in comparison to 13 tons last year on the same date.

The bulk waste collection for Thursday trash customers will take place on Nov. 18. Berlin residents must complete a request for bulk collection prior to their collection date.

The free waste collection is limited to four items per household per collection date.

To review the special collections policy and submit a request form, visit berlinmd.gov/special-collections-policy/.

Tennis

Worcester County Recreation and Parks completed its tennis programming at Stephen Decatur Park several weeks ago, said Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen. Despite restrictions for the covid-19 pandemic, the turnout for drop-in tennis evenings and the tennis clinic were successful.

“We’re looking forward to continuing those kinds of programming with Worcester Recreation,” Bohlen said. “It’s definitely an asset for the town.”

Water tower

Fleetwood said the painting of the water tower on Route 346 was completed on Monday. “The lettering has been put back to the original color,” he added, from black to blue.

Grants

Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence is pursuing a grant to install a rooftop solar system, which will be a 23kW system, on Schoolfield Street.

Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, is also applying for a covid-19 relief grant through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to receive funding for the Berlin Main Street Program and all the downtown businesses.

Police reports

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said there were no incidents on Halloween.

In addition, he met with the Worcester County Board of Education last Friday before more students returned to campuses on Monday.

Downing said with many Worcester County Public Schools located in Berlin, there has been an influx of traffic. The police are working to help prevent long lines.

Lastly, the police academy is now in full training mode after the covid pandemic postponed training earlier this year.

New police officer

Patrolman First Class Anthony Rhode began his first night shift in Berlin on Monday after meeting the Berlin Mayor and Council.

Rhode is from Worcester County and currently lives in the Berlin area. He is also an alumnus from Stephen Decatur High School, Class of 2000.

“We’re proud to go ahead and have him as part of the Berlin Police Department,” Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said. “He just completed his acclimation period.”