(Sept. 29, 2016) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday.
Presentations
Mayor Gee Williams read separate proclamations establishing Oct. 2-8 as National 4-H Week and the month of October as Craft Beer Month.
Accepting for 4-H were members of the Berlin Hoot Owls 4-H club and Kathy Becker, an administrative assistant with the University of Maryland Extensions office and a “proud 4-H grandma.”
Williams said statistics showed 4-H members were more charitable and involved in their communities.
“They don’t just let things sit around and complain – they do things about it,” he said. “You’re never too young, and you’re never too old, to lead by example.”
Ann Hillyer, CEO of ShoreCraftBeer.com, accepted the latter proclamation.
“I started ShoreCraftBeer a couple years ago to make the shore a craft beer destination,” she said. “Many of the businesses in Berlin, all over Ocean City and all over the shore rely heavily on this new, burgeoning craft beer industry.”
She said she hoped 2017 would be the year the Eastern Shore became on of the “top 10 craft beer destinations in the country.”
Habitat update
The council unanimously approved a resolution to support a $222,422 request for financial assistance by Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The nonprofit is seeking funds related to a project on 21 Jefferson Street in Berlin, the site of a planned three-story building that would include storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead.
Habitat Executive Director Andrea Bowland said work could start there as early as October.
Visitor’s center renovation
The council unanimously accepted a $26,500 bid by Harper & Sons Inc. to renovate the front of the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Main Street.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells, whose office is in the building, said the front window has been cracked for several years and that the heat and air conditioning was “literally going right out the window.”
The other bid received was for $29,665, by K.B. Coldiron Inc.
Special events
Two special event requests received unanimous approval: the second annual “Afternoon on the Lawn,” a benefit for the Berlin Heritage Foundation that will be held on Sunday, June 4 from 3-6 p.m., and the first “Get Ramped” event at Berlin Falls, Oct. 23 from 2-5 p.m.
Tres Denk from the Eastern Shore chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association, in the application for “Get Ramped,” wrote that the event would join local nonprofits “to provide mountain bike instruction, helmet safety, and ramps for skateboarding and biking.”
Stormwater/sidewalk up
Public Works and Water Resources Director Jane Kreiter said the wetlands project behind the multipurpose building was “nearly complete,” and all that was left was a little “beautification” of the site. The stormwater improvements there are expected to help reduce flooding in that area.
Kreiter said one of the next stormwater projects on the town’s list, on West Street, was sent out to bid. The bid opening date is Oct. 4.
She also said improvements to the Branch Street sidewalks were proceeding, and that the town had “every intention of starting this week.”
Bikeways grant
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said Berlin was still in the running for a $20,000 grant through the Maryland Department of Transportation Bikeways program. The council approved an application for the grant in May.
Engelhart said he hoped the town would hear from the state by Friday. If the grant is approved, additional funds could be available for construction. Engelhart said in May that initial funds would be used to secure licensing for an easement, as well as help pay for a feasibility study and address stormwater concerns.
Presentations
Mayor Gee Williams read separate proclamations establishing Oct. 2-8 as National 4-H Week and the month of October as Craft Beer Month.
Accepting for 4-H were members of the Berlin Hoot Owls 4-H club and Kathy Becker, an administrative assistant with the University of Maryland Extensions office and a “proud 4-H grandma.”
Williams said statistics showed 4-H members were more charitable and involved in their communities.
“They don’t just let things sit around and complain – they do things about it,” he said. “You’re never too young, and you’re never too old, to lead by example.”
Ann Hillyer, CEO of ShoreCraftBeer.com, accepted the latter proclamation.
“I started ShoreCraftBeer a couple years ago to make the shore a craft beer destination,” she said. “Many of the businesses in Berlin, all over Ocean City and all over the shore rely heavily on this new, burgeoning craft beer industry.”
She said she hoped 2017 would be the year the Eastern Shore became on of the “top 10 craft beer destinations in the country.”
Habitat update
The council unanimously approved a resolution to support a $222,422 request for financial assistance by Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The nonprofit is seeking funds related to a project on 21 Jefferson Street in Berlin, the site of a planned three-story building that would include storefronts on the ground floor and apartments overhead.
Habitat Executive Director Andrea Bowland said work could start there as early as October.
Visitor’s center renovation
The council unanimously accepted a $26,500 bid by Harper & Sons Inc. to renovate the front of the Berlin Visitor’s Center on Main Street.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells, whose office is in the building, said the front window has been cracked for several years and that the heat and air conditioning was “literally going right out the window.”
The other bid received was for $29,665, by K.B. Coldiron Inc.
Special events
Two special event requests received unanimous approval: the second annual “Afternoon on the Lawn,” a benefit for the Berlin Heritage Foundation that will be held on Sunday, June 4 from 3-6 p.m., and the first “Get Ramped” event at Berlin Falls, Oct. 23 from 2-5 p.m.
Tres Denk from the Eastern Shore chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association, in the application for “Get Ramped,” wrote that the event would join local nonprofits “to provide mountain bike instruction, helmet safety, and ramps for skateboarding and biking.”
Stormwater/sidewalk up
Public Works and Water Resources Director Jane Kreiter said the wetlands project behind the multipurpose building was “nearly complete,” and all that was left was a little “beautification” of the site. The stormwater improvements there are expected to help reduce flooding in that area.
Kreiter said one of the next stormwater projects on the town’s list, on West Street, was sent out to bid. The bid opening date is Oct. 4.
She also said improvements to the Branch Street sidewalks were proceeding, and that the town had “every intention of starting this week.”
Bikeways grant
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said Berlin was still in the running for a $20,000 grant through the Maryland Department of Transportation Bikeways program. The council approved an application for the grant in May.
Engelhart said he hoped the town would hear from the state by Friday. If the grant is approved, additional funds could be available for construction. Engelhart said in May that initial funds would be used to secure licensing for an easement, as well as help pay for a feasibility study and address stormwater concerns.