Berlin boards, commissions can now gather with limited capacity in hall chambers

By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(March 11, 2021) Berlin boards and commissions meetings resumed limited capacity in-person attendance this week following the Town Council’s approval on Monday.

The Berlin Town Council decided to transition to in-person meetings with limited attendance on March 22, while Berlin boards and commissions meetings started back in person this week.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood asked the councilmembers to consider that the Historic District Commission meetings usually require individuals to bring in materials to be seen before approval.

“We have a meeting scheduled for Wednesday of this week and there are quite a few folks on the agenda, so I need your support to move forward to have this thing move forward on  [March 10] live with modified restrictions,” Fleetwood said.

The Historic District Commission met for the first time Wednesday since Nov. 4, 2020.

Councilmembers also agreed on Monday to transition to in-person meetings starting March 22, when a public hearing on the tax rate is scheduled.

Mayor Zackery Tyndall proposed waiting until the first meeting in April to return to modified in-person meetings for the council because the audience would be restricted to 16 people and there are two public hearings scheduled this month.

Councilman Jack Orris argued that council meetings should be in person if boards and commissions meetings are held in person and government offices are open to the public with limited capacity.

Councilmembers also discussed meeting in the chambers and using Zoom for public participation, which would require each councilmember and presenter to bring their own devices because the monitors on the dais of the chambers are for viewing purposes only.

As of Monday, two individuals have asked to make presentations and two have asked to speak during the listening session about Heron Park on March 15.

Councilmembers Shaneka Nichols and Dean Burrell favored Tyndall’s proposal to wait until April to go back in person, while Councilmembers Jay Knerr, Jack Orris and Troy Purnell preferred to go back sooner on March 22.

The town has to re-advertise that the public hearing on March 22 will be held in person rather than via Zoom in addition to stating so clearly on the agenda.

The council meetings will continue to be livestreamed on Facebook when they return with a modified in-person attendance. However, the council will stop using Zoom.