(June 15, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday.
Berlin Intermediate
Three students from Berlin Intermediate School, Gary Hardy, Emily Biscoe and Davion Brown, made a presentation on their activities at the offland wetlands on Flower Street, behind the multipurpose building.
The children took part in a project to help stop a nitrogen and phosphorus flux in Newport Bay. They split into five groups to plant about 30 different native species of plants in four different areas.
Brown said he enjoyed working on the project because it was in his neighborhood.
“Now, I can see it from my backyard,” he said.
“On behalf of all of us … thank you,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “I’m glad this was a labor of love. It certainly sounded like it was, and it looked like a lot of work.”
Councilman Thom Gulyas joked, “We don’t like to get wet and we don’t like bugs, so thank you for coming down there and taking care of that for us. You did a great job.”
Special event
The council unanimously approved a fundraiser for Believe in Tomorrow on Aug. 12 from 6-9 p.m., downtown. Donna Compher, owner of Sister, helped to organize the event with Believe in Tomorrow coordinator Wayne Littleton.
Both described the event as family-friendly and said it would include live music, street vendors and activities for children. Littleton said he hoped it would draw about 500 people, including several families helped by the organization.
The Believe in Tomorrow is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates services such as the Children’s House by the Sea on 66th Street in Ocean City, a year-round facility that provides a free getaway to the beach for critically ill children and their families.
Stormwater agreement
The council unanimously supported a stormwater management inspection and maintenance agreement between the town and State Highway Administration related to the installation of a new culvert on William Street.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said the agreement was required by the state and was reviewed by Town Attorney David Gaskill.
Water Resources and Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said the town wanted to increase the size of the culverts, from 24 to 38 inches.
New police headquarters
The council voted unanimously to approve a $58,447.44 bid by the Absolute Security Group Inc. for security cameras, interview room systems, security doors and intercoms for the new police station, near the intersection of Flower Street and Assateague Road.
The bid was almost $10,000 lower than a competing proposal from Bay Country Security Inc.
Revenue bond
The town introduced a first reading to assist Atlantic General Hospital in obtaining a $10 million bond. Allen said the town would have no obligation, but would act as a conduit, or a shell, to help AGH obtain the money at the lowest possible rate.
She said the town had performed the same function for the nonprofit previously. A public hearing and formal vote on the matter will be held during a June 26 meeting at Town Hall.
Road closures
Partial road closures will occur next week on both Seahawk Road and Harrison Avenue in Berlin. The town will tie in water and sewer to both the new Ocean’s East apartment complex, on Seahawk Road, and the new library on Harrison Avenue.
Police Chief Arnold Downing said the work on Seahawk Road would take about five days, and the throughway would be opened each evening. He said the schools in the area, as well as emergency services personnel, had been contacted and that signs would be posted on Route 50 and on Flower Street.
Berlin Intermediate
Three students from Berlin Intermediate School, Gary Hardy, Emily Biscoe and Davion Brown, made a presentation on their activities at the offland wetlands on Flower Street, behind the multipurpose building.
The children took part in a project to help stop a nitrogen and phosphorus flux in Newport Bay. They split into five groups to plant about 30 different native species of plants in four different areas.
Brown said he enjoyed working on the project because it was in his neighborhood.
“Now, I can see it from my backyard,” he said.
“On behalf of all of us … thank you,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “I’m glad this was a labor of love. It certainly sounded like it was, and it looked like a lot of work.”
Councilman Thom Gulyas joked, “We don’t like to get wet and we don’t like bugs, so thank you for coming down there and taking care of that for us. You did a great job.”
Special event
The council unanimously approved a fundraiser for Believe in Tomorrow on Aug. 12 from 6-9 p.m., downtown. Donna Compher, owner of Sister, helped to organize the event with Believe in Tomorrow coordinator Wayne Littleton.
Both described the event as family-friendly and said it would include live music, street vendors and activities for children. Littleton said he hoped it would draw about 500 people, including several families helped by the organization.
The Believe in Tomorrow is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates services such as the Children’s House by the Sea on 66th Street in Ocean City, a year-round facility that provides a free getaway to the beach for critically ill children and their families.
Stormwater agreement
The council unanimously supported a stormwater management inspection and maintenance agreement between the town and State Highway Administration related to the installation of a new culvert on William Street.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said the agreement was required by the state and was reviewed by Town Attorney David Gaskill.
Water Resources and Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said the town wanted to increase the size of the culverts, from 24 to 38 inches.
New police headquarters
The council voted unanimously to approve a $58,447.44 bid by the Absolute Security Group Inc. for security cameras, interview room systems, security doors and intercoms for the new police station, near the intersection of Flower Street and Assateague Road.
The bid was almost $10,000 lower than a competing proposal from Bay Country Security Inc.
Revenue bond
The town introduced a first reading to assist Atlantic General Hospital in obtaining a $10 million bond. Allen said the town would have no obligation, but would act as a conduit, or a shell, to help AGH obtain the money at the lowest possible rate.
She said the town had performed the same function for the nonprofit previously. A public hearing and formal vote on the matter will be held during a June 26 meeting at Town Hall.
Road closures
Partial road closures will occur next week on both Seahawk Road and Harrison Avenue in Berlin. The town will tie in water and sewer to both the new Ocean’s East apartment complex, on Seahawk Road, and the new library on Harrison Avenue.
Police Chief Arnold Downing said the work on Seahawk Road would take about five days, and the throughway would be opened each evening. He said the schools in the area, as well as emergency services personnel, had been contacted and that signs would be posted on Route 50 and on Flower Street.