(Feb. 25, 2016) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a meeting at town hall on Monday, Feb. 22.
Peach Pageant
This year’s Peach Pageant will coincide with the “Summer Movie Nights” series. The council approved the annual pageant, now set for June 18 at 5 p.m. on Main Street.
Either “Tuck Everlasting” or “Runaway Bride” will screen later that evening, presented by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District committee and the Berlin Parks Commission.
The parks commission will meet on March 1, at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall, with plans to finalize Summer Movie Nights. Also on Monday, the town announced on its Facebook page that the six-film screening series would include “Finding Nemo,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Goonies” and “Princess Bride.”
Rezoning first reading
Two rezoning items, both recommended by the Berlin Planning Commission this month, received first readings.
A parcel on 109 Decatur Street, where the town hopes to build a new police station, requires a change from B-2 shopping district to R-1 residential.
Four parcels on Gay Street are requesting a change from R-2 residential to B-1 town center. Patrick Vorsteg, who recently purchased the empty lot on 15 Gay Street, hopes to build a two-story building similar to others in downtown Berlin, with storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead.
Three homeowners, at 13, 19 and 21 Gay Street, asked to be included in the change. If approved, all four properties would also become part of the town’s historic district.
A public hearing on both items will occur during the next mayor and council meeting, on March 14 at 7 p.m. at town hall.
Highway user revenues
The council unanimously approved a resolution to back the reinstatement of highway user revenues from the state.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the Maryland Municipal League and the local mayor’s association has taken up the issue during recent years. The purpose of the resolution, he said, was to encourage the restoration of funding.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “The new administration, under Gov. Hogan, has made a commitment to steadily restore these funds over the next few years – assuming it gets legislative approval.”
Because of the sharp decline in funding from the state, many towns in Maryland have not made highway improvements for years, Williams said.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said Berlin experienced a 91 percent decrease in funding from the state between 2008 and 2013. Current Highway User Revenues, she said, were 50 percent less than what the town received in 2008.
Water safety
Water Resources and Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said she has received several calls from concerned citizens following the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
Kreiter said the town, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and an independent third party, checks Berlin’s water for safety each year. Recent tests have shown no harmful contaminants and Kreiter said lead, specifically, has not been an issue in the Berlin water supply.
Cannery update
Asked about the Cannery Village Development on Flower Street, Kreiter said the builder was still working to fix sewer lines as of this week.
“The ball’s in their court,” she said. “We’re waiting to put meters in, but the sewer line still has not been corrected … it’s really up to them at this point.”
Zika virus
Allen said she had received calls about the town’s preparedness for a potential Zika virus outbreak.
“We do have a page on our website with a list of information from Worcester County Health Department [about the virus],” she said. “They’re relying on the Centers for Disease Control.”
For more information, visit www.berlinmd.gov/latest-zika-virus-info.
Peach Pageant
This year’s Peach Pageant will coincide with the “Summer Movie Nights” series. The council approved the annual pageant, now set for June 18 at 5 p.m. on Main Street.
Either “Tuck Everlasting” or “Runaway Bride” will screen later that evening, presented by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District committee and the Berlin Parks Commission.
The parks commission will meet on March 1, at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall, with plans to finalize Summer Movie Nights. Also on Monday, the town announced on its Facebook page that the six-film screening series would include “Finding Nemo,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Goonies” and “Princess Bride.”
Rezoning first reading
Two rezoning items, both recommended by the Berlin Planning Commission this month, received first readings.
A parcel on 109 Decatur Street, where the town hopes to build a new police station, requires a change from B-2 shopping district to R-1 residential.
Four parcels on Gay Street are requesting a change from R-2 residential to B-1 town center. Patrick Vorsteg, who recently purchased the empty lot on 15 Gay Street, hopes to build a two-story building similar to others in downtown Berlin, with storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead.
Three homeowners, at 13, 19 and 21 Gay Street, asked to be included in the change. If approved, all four properties would also become part of the town’s historic district.
A public hearing on both items will occur during the next mayor and council meeting, on March 14 at 7 p.m. at town hall.
Highway user revenues
The council unanimously approved a resolution to back the reinstatement of highway user revenues from the state.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the Maryland Municipal League and the local mayor’s association has taken up the issue during recent years. The purpose of the resolution, he said, was to encourage the restoration of funding.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “The new administration, under Gov. Hogan, has made a commitment to steadily restore these funds over the next few years – assuming it gets legislative approval.”
Because of the sharp decline in funding from the state, many towns in Maryland have not made highway improvements for years, Williams said.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said Berlin experienced a 91 percent decrease in funding from the state between 2008 and 2013. Current Highway User Revenues, she said, were 50 percent less than what the town received in 2008.
Water safety
Water Resources and Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said she has received several calls from concerned citizens following the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
Kreiter said the town, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and an independent third party, checks Berlin’s water for safety each year. Recent tests have shown no harmful contaminants and Kreiter said lead, specifically, has not been an issue in the Berlin water supply.
Cannery update
Asked about the Cannery Village Development on Flower Street, Kreiter said the builder was still working to fix sewer lines as of this week.
“The ball’s in their court,” she said. “We’re waiting to put meters in, but the sewer line still has not been corrected … it’s really up to them at this point.”
Zika virus
Allen said she had received calls about the town’s preparedness for a potential Zika virus outbreak.
“We do have a page on our website with a list of information from Worcester County Health Department [about the virus],” she said. “They’re relying on the Centers for Disease Control.”
For more information, visit www.berlinmd.gov/latest-zika-virus-info.