The Berlin Town Council and Mayor Tyndall during their July 10 meeting.

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(July 13, 2023) Berlin Town Council members once again delayed any decision on cannabis consumption in the town during their Monday night meeting.

Put before the council was a draft ordinance modeled after the one passed by Ocean City that prohibits onsite consumption establishments operating within town limits.

Mayor Zach Tyndall suggested the council take more time to understand how the new state legislation rolls out and what requests come in on the state level from the Town of Berlin.

“Let’s put a pause on it. Wait two weeks. Those licensees will not be granted until January.”

The could agreed they would identify any questions they have about the issue and give them to Town Attorney David Gaskill to explore.

In other business, the council passed an ordinance to allow the use of speed cameras in designated school zones. Cameras can be set up within a half-mile-radius of the schools. The following schools will be eligible for speed cameras: Buckingham Elementary, Berlin Intermediate, Stephen Decatur Middle and High School and Worcester Prep.

The ordinance specifies that before activating the cameras, the town must publish a notice of their locations on the town website and in a local newspaper. Any violation within the first 30 days will be issued a warning. The penalty for speeding in these areas will be $40.

The mayor and council also voted to allow  to host its third annual back to school movie night Sept. 2, from 6:30-10 p.m. at Henry Park in Berlin.

This back to school kickoff event brings students in from all over the community to watch a movie and collect school supplies.

“The Berlin Welcome Center is accepting school supplies on our behalf,” Kwanza Briddell said.

Briddell encourages people to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy popcorn, drinks and get free school supplies for all students.