By Greg Ellison

Beautification Committee during its meeting on Monday.

Local nonprofits Hope4Recovery and Worcester Goes Purple received the go-ahead to hold a 5K run on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Patricia Ottey with Hope4Recovery said the agencies are putting together a “family fun” 5K run that begins and ends in front of the Atlantic Hotel on Main Street.

Ottey said participants would be encouraged to don “ugly sweaters,” to honor the onset of the Yuletide season.

Ottey said organizers would have a handful of tables where substance-abuse recovery literature would be located but would not be retailing items.

The event is a fundraiser for both nonprofits.

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said organizers have not requested street closures, but assistance would be provided if any participants need help reaching the finishing line.

“Generally, because they don’t have [road] closures, it doesn’t even come to the council,” he said. “We’ve done over 50 5Ks.”

The council also approved a trio of special Sunday event permits for Boggs Disharoon American Legion Post 123, scheduled for Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and 12.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said Post 123 has previously held Sunday events towards the end of the year.

“This is something Legion 123 has done historically year after year,” he said.

The council also voted unanimously to establish the Berlin Beautification Committee.

Mayor Zach Tyndall said the committee would be charged with maintaining and enhancing town aesthetics.

The five-member committee would serve two-year terms and be responsible for identifying town-owned spaces that could be beautified with natural plantings.

Public Works Superintendent Jimmy Charles has been tapped to serve at committee liaison.

Tyndall said the committee would help to promote Berlin’s adopt-a-flower-bed program, help create business support for initiatives and work with Public Works to create projects for local volunteers.

“The committee should take a holistic view, inventorying and developing a plan for spaces throughout Berlin,” Tyndall said.

Committee task lists include pruning, weeding, planting, mulching and watering.

The mayor and Town Council will receive an annual committee report.

“The goal would be having volunteers helping in these areas and Public Works could come behind and clean up [or] finish the project,” Charles said.