(June 29, 2017) The Berlin mayor and council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday:
Conduit financing
The council voted unanimously to approve several measures related to conduit financing of revenue bonds for Atlantic General Hospital, including a resolution on “post-issuance tax compliance producers for conduit tax-exempt obligations.”
Lindsey Rader from Baltimore firm Funk & Bolton explained the somewhat dense process of the town helping the nonprofit hospital secure the lowest possible rates for a bond, at no cost or burden to the taxpayers, and a public hearing was opened and closed without comment.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams joked the official resolution, numbered 2017-06, was “basically is just what Lindsey said it was.”
“I’m not even going to summarize,” he said with a laugh.
Parks code overhaul
Administrative Services Director Mayor Bohlen delivered for a first reading key changes to a chapter of town code related to parks and recreation. She said the Berlin Parks Commission approved the changes.
Those included adding a previously omitted section of definitions of terms specific to the parks, allowing alcohol at parks events at the discretion of the council, adding procedures for reserving parks and specific sections of parks for events, and allowing bicycles in the parks.
Town Attorney David Gaskill was asked to consider additional language that would address drone use in the parks. He cautioned some study and discussion should be done and said there were beneficial uses for drones in the community.
“I think this is not something that should be done on the fly,” he said.
A public hearing on the code changes will be held during the next Town Council meeting, July 10.
Town projects
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said road closures on Seahawk Road and Harrison Avenue, both of which were related to utility installation, had finished.
He said earthwork on the new AGH cancer center had started, foundation footings were approved for the new Berlin library, and the new police department building was now enclosed.
A new Shoreline auto dealership on Route 50 is expected to open by the middle of July, Engelhart said.
Social media milestone
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the town Facebook page had garnered more than 10,000 likes, as of Monday morning.
“That’s a pretty big milestone,” Wells said.
Conduit financing
The council voted unanimously to approve several measures related to conduit financing of revenue bonds for Atlantic General Hospital, including a resolution on “post-issuance tax compliance producers for conduit tax-exempt obligations.”
Lindsey Rader from Baltimore firm Funk & Bolton explained the somewhat dense process of the town helping the nonprofit hospital secure the lowest possible rates for a bond, at no cost or burden to the taxpayers, and a public hearing was opened and closed without comment.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams joked the official resolution, numbered 2017-06, was “basically is just what Lindsey said it was.”
“I’m not even going to summarize,” he said with a laugh.
Parks code overhaul
Administrative Services Director Mayor Bohlen delivered for a first reading key changes to a chapter of town code related to parks and recreation. She said the Berlin Parks Commission approved the changes.
Those included adding a previously omitted section of definitions of terms specific to the parks, allowing alcohol at parks events at the discretion of the council, adding procedures for reserving parks and specific sections of parks for events, and allowing bicycles in the parks.
Town Attorney David Gaskill was asked to consider additional language that would address drone use in the parks. He cautioned some study and discussion should be done and said there were beneficial uses for drones in the community.
“I think this is not something that should be done on the fly,” he said.
A public hearing on the code changes will be held during the next Town Council meeting, July 10.
Town projects
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said road closures on Seahawk Road and Harrison Avenue, both of which were related to utility installation, had finished.
He said earthwork on the new AGH cancer center had started, foundation footings were approved for the new Berlin library, and the new police department building was now enclosed.
A new Shoreline auto dealership on Route 50 is expected to open by the middle of July, Engelhart said.
Social media milestone
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the town Facebook page had garnered more than 10,000 likes, as of Monday morning.
“That’s a pretty big milestone,” Wells said.