(March 17, 2016) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a meeting at town hall on Monday, March 14:
Utility recognized
Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence, first lineman Claude Littleton and line superintendent August Wienhold accepted a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability, from the American Public Power Association, on behalf of their department.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams presented the citation and said the town was in the top 25 percent in terms of reliability, averaging just 17 minutes per power outage.
“That … is the result of an extremely dedicated group of guys,” he said. “Mother Nature can’t throw anything at them that they can’t deal with. It’s amazing.”
Special events
The council unanimously passed a motion to approve a 5K race, on May 28 that will benefit Beach Lacrosse.
Organizers said they hope the event will be the biggest fundraiser for the 19-team youth lacrosse league. Participants range in age from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, and more than 300 children are expected to participate in the league this year.
The council also gave a green light to the return of the Boggs-Disharoon Memorial Day Service on May 29, and the annual Reindeer Run event, on Dec. 3.
Septic system
The council unanimously approved the installation of a private septic and well system at 9930 Deer Park Drive.
Williams said the situation was a rare instance, and that town water and sewer was not available at the property. Approval was contingent on the homeowner connecting to town sewer if services were made available after March 14, 2018.
Program Open Space
The council signed off on recommendations from Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen to request $99,000 in Program Open Space money from the state.
The request includes $40,500 for amenities at Berlin Falls, $9,000 for a tot lot expansion at Stephen Decatur Park, and two allotments – $4,500 and $45,000 – to develop John Howard Burbage Park on Williams Street.
Program Open Space money has not been distributed for nearly a decade, but town officials said they were hopeful the funding would be restored by the state this year.
Bohlen said the parks commission approved the recommendations during its meeting earlier this month.
Power savings
Berlin authorized a 2016 power supply schedule with energy provider American Municipal Power, Inc.
Williams said the move spelled great news for the town, enabling a new purchase power agreement that was lower than it had been for “many, many years.”
The town had been paying $47.31 per megawatt hour, which Williams said was already low, and would be pay about $39 per megawatt hour, starting Jan. 1, 2018, for three years under the new agreement.
Budget amendments
Finance Director Natalie Saleh recommended an amendment to the town’s 2016 fiscal year budget, “rebalancing” expense accounts related to operating and investment activities in the general, electric, water, sewer, and stormwater funds.
Williams said the effect of the amendments was “a wash,” and Saleh added the bottom line would not change at all. The council approved the motion.
Appointments
Appointments were unanimously approved on three town commissions. Carol Rose was reappointed to the town’s historic district commission as chairperson for three years. Robert Poli was named an alternate to the commission.
Newt Chandler was reappointed for a five-year term to the planning commission, and two residents, Lou Creter and John Briddell, were reappointed for four-year terms to the board of supervisors of elections.
Expenses
Two purchase orders, $15,000 to SHA for salt and “winter materials” and $58,616, to Cyrco Inc. for materials to replace heat transfer material in four cooling towers at the power plant, were approved.
Utility recognized
Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence, first lineman Claude Littleton and line superintendent August Wienhold accepted a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability, from the American Public Power Association, on behalf of their department.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams presented the citation and said the town was in the top 25 percent in terms of reliability, averaging just 17 minutes per power outage.
“That … is the result of an extremely dedicated group of guys,” he said. “Mother Nature can’t throw anything at them that they can’t deal with. It’s amazing.”
Special events
The council unanimously passed a motion to approve a 5K race, on May 28 that will benefit Beach Lacrosse.
Organizers said they hope the event will be the biggest fundraiser for the 19-team youth lacrosse league. Participants range in age from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, and more than 300 children are expected to participate in the league this year.
The council also gave a green light to the return of the Boggs-Disharoon Memorial Day Service on May 29, and the annual Reindeer Run event, on Dec. 3.
Septic system
The council unanimously approved the installation of a private septic and well system at 9930 Deer Park Drive.
Williams said the situation was a rare instance, and that town water and sewer was not available at the property. Approval was contingent on the homeowner connecting to town sewer if services were made available after March 14, 2018.
Program Open Space
The council signed off on recommendations from Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen to request $99,000 in Program Open Space money from the state.
The request includes $40,500 for amenities at Berlin Falls, $9,000 for a tot lot expansion at Stephen Decatur Park, and two allotments – $4,500 and $45,000 – to develop John Howard Burbage Park on Williams Street.
Program Open Space money has not been distributed for nearly a decade, but town officials said they were hopeful the funding would be restored by the state this year.
Bohlen said the parks commission approved the recommendations during its meeting earlier this month.
Power savings
Berlin authorized a 2016 power supply schedule with energy provider American Municipal Power, Inc.
Williams said the move spelled great news for the town, enabling a new purchase power agreement that was lower than it had been for “many, many years.”
The town had been paying $47.31 per megawatt hour, which Williams said was already low, and would be pay about $39 per megawatt hour, starting Jan. 1, 2018, for three years under the new agreement.
Budget amendments
Finance Director Natalie Saleh recommended an amendment to the town’s 2016 fiscal year budget, “rebalancing” expense accounts related to operating and investment activities in the general, electric, water, sewer, and stormwater funds.
Williams said the effect of the amendments was “a wash,” and Saleh added the bottom line would not change at all. The council approved the motion.
Appointments
Appointments were unanimously approved on three town commissions. Carol Rose was reappointed to the town’s historic district commission as chairperson for three years. Robert Poli was named an alternate to the commission.
Newt Chandler was reappointed for a five-year term to the planning commission, and two residents, Lou Creter and John Briddell, were reappointed for four-year terms to the board of supervisors of elections.
Expenses
Two purchase orders, $15,000 to SHA for salt and “winter materials” and $58,616, to Cyrco Inc. for materials to replace heat transfer material in four cooling towers at the power plant, were approved.