By Greg Ellison

(April 21, 2022) The Town of Berlin has received state funding for public safety improvements to keep gatherings peaceful downtown and to deter crime and vandalism.

Berlin officials last week announced the receipt of a Community Safety Business District Grant of $76,300 that was awarded through the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the grant would cover the acquisition of security cameras for the business district.

“Our police department has always wanted security cameras downtown,” she said.

In total, 20 security cameras are being added to monitor downtown streets and parking lots.

“It’s a whole security camera package,” she said.

The setup includes an app that sends real-time notifications if shenanigans occur.

“There’s been a couple of shoplifting incidents where security cameras would have been helpful for our police department,” she said.

The largest portion of the grant, however, will be used to buy vehicle barriers, including cones and barrels, to block off streets during public gathering.

“We’ve needed those for decades,” she said.

Moreover, $48,000 is earmarked to buy modular vehicle barriers that can be placed on the perimeter of event locations.

“The Department of Homeland Security came here and assisted our police department with some suggestions to keep the town safe,” she said.

Wells said a dozen barriers would be purchased at a cost of $4,000 each.

“This particular barrier stops the car in its tracks,” she said.

Although light enough to transport and easy to set up, the barriers have proven an effective means to maintain public safety.

“If a car rams into it, it stops it,” she said.

Wells said the equipment should be ready to use later this summer.

“We have to have these when the roads are closed,” she said. “We live in a new world and we have to be prepared.”