(July 27, 2017) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday night.
Opioid symposium
Managing Services Director Jeff Fleetwood recently attended an opioid awareness symposium at Salisbury University sponsored by Gov. Larry Hogan.
Fleetwood said the governor has earmarked $50 million for an anti-opioid campaign.
“One of the statistics that actually astonished my mind … nationwide, four out of 10 youth ages 18 and younger have had an experience with opioids,” Fleetwood said.
He related one story, told during the symposium, that he found particularly powerful.
“[The speaker] said she was a grandmother and she said she was very much at fault for something that she had done,” Fleetwood said. “She said that she had a grandson that played middle school football [and] came home from football practice one afternoon and his shoulder was hurting.
“She didn’t want to take him to the doctor, so what she chose to do, she broke off a piece of an oxytocin [and] gave it to him,” he continued. “She said it was the worst mistake I made. She said he liked it. And then he apparently got the medicine chest, took all of that, and then he elevated to the next [thing]. She said six months later she found him dead with a needle in his arm.”
Fleetwood said about 200 people attended the symposium.
Parks updates
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the prefabricated bathrooms ordered for Dr. William Henry Park were currently being built. She said the delivery date has not been set, but that hoped that would happen soon.
Most of the cost of the permanent restrooms, about $96,000, was covered by Community Parks and Playgrounds grant overseen by the Department of Natural Resources Program Open Space.
Bohlen added she would present an application for a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant for permanent restrooms at Stephen Decatur Park at the next Town Council meeting.
Berlin electric
Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence said the town recently had issues with two of the engines at its power plant on William Street.
He said engine two shut down because of a high exhaust temperature alarm essentially put the engine in protect mode when a part became clogged. The part was removed, cleaned and tested, but has not yet been reinstalled.
Lawrence said the engine was operating temporarily under a de-rated output setting.
Engine four also had some issues and an alarm was triggered. Lawrence said a specialist was brought in and parts were used from another engine to repair it.
“All four engines are up and running now,” Lawrence said. “Two and four were down at multiple times, but we were able to get them back up and running.”
Police outreach
Members of the Berlin Police Department and other volunteers recently took children from Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services to Jolly Roger, Police Chief Arnold Downing said.
He said Robin Tomaselli of Baked Dessert Café made desserts and lent a hand, and Main Street Deli provided lunches at a big discount.
Next, the police will participate in a trip with children from Worcester Youth to the Stratosphere Trampoline Park in Delmar.
“Worcester Youth is doing a wonderful job,” Downing said. “For most of the days of the week they have something going on.”
Planning updates
Planning Director Dave Engelhart provided several “calm community notes” on Monday.
He said no further road closures were expected on Seahawk Road because of the Oceans East apartment complex. He said some widening of the road near the complex would be done in August, before school starts, but no road closures would be needed.
Engelhart said some delays may be experienced this week near the new Atlantic General Hospital Cancer Center, because workers will be boring for utilities there.
He said the town received several calls from residents asking about repairs to the sidewalks on South Main Street. The State Highway Administration is working to make those ADA accessible.
Engelhart said the contractor is responsible for getting a release from property owners, especially if it would affect their front lawns, retaining walls or driveways, and provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.
In some cases, apparently, notice “wasn’t early,” Engelhart said.
“We’ve had some issues,” he said.
Baker Street meeting
Town Administrator Laura Allen said a meeting would be held for residents of Baker Street on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, to discuss plans for street repairs.
New police car
The council unanimously approved a $33,000 requisition order to buy a 2017 Chevy Tahoe. It will replace one of the last two Ford Crown Victorias in the police fleet.
Councilman Thom Gulyas noted he had opposed the planned purchase of Ford Interceptors, which were recently recalled.
Opioid symposium
Managing Services Director Jeff Fleetwood recently attended an opioid awareness symposium at Salisbury University sponsored by Gov. Larry Hogan.
Fleetwood said the governor has earmarked $50 million for an anti-opioid campaign.
“One of the statistics that actually astonished my mind … nationwide, four out of 10 youth ages 18 and younger have had an experience with opioids,” Fleetwood said.
He related one story, told during the symposium, that he found particularly powerful.
“[The speaker] said she was a grandmother and she said she was very much at fault for something that she had done,” Fleetwood said. “She said that she had a grandson that played middle school football [and] came home from football practice one afternoon and his shoulder was hurting.
“She didn’t want to take him to the doctor, so what she chose to do, she broke off a piece of an oxytocin [and] gave it to him,” he continued. “She said it was the worst mistake I made. She said he liked it. And then he apparently got the medicine chest, took all of that, and then he elevated to the next [thing]. She said six months later she found him dead with a needle in his arm.”
Fleetwood said about 200 people attended the symposium.
Parks updates
Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said the prefabricated bathrooms ordered for Dr. William Henry Park were currently being built. She said the delivery date has not been set, but that hoped that would happen soon.
Most of the cost of the permanent restrooms, about $96,000, was covered by Community Parks and Playgrounds grant overseen by the Department of Natural Resources Program Open Space.
Bohlen added she would present an application for a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant for permanent restrooms at Stephen Decatur Park at the next Town Council meeting.
Berlin electric
Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence said the town recently had issues with two of the engines at its power plant on William Street.
He said engine two shut down because of a high exhaust temperature alarm essentially put the engine in protect mode when a part became clogged. The part was removed, cleaned and tested, but has not yet been reinstalled.
Lawrence said the engine was operating temporarily under a de-rated output setting.
Engine four also had some issues and an alarm was triggered. Lawrence said a specialist was brought in and parts were used from another engine to repair it.
“All four engines are up and running now,” Lawrence said. “Two and four were down at multiple times, but we were able to get them back up and running.”
Police outreach
Members of the Berlin Police Department and other volunteers recently took children from Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services to Jolly Roger, Police Chief Arnold Downing said.
He said Robin Tomaselli of Baked Dessert Café made desserts and lent a hand, and Main Street Deli provided lunches at a big discount.
Next, the police will participate in a trip with children from Worcester Youth to the Stratosphere Trampoline Park in Delmar.
“Worcester Youth is doing a wonderful job,” Downing said. “For most of the days of the week they have something going on.”
Planning updates
Planning Director Dave Engelhart provided several “calm community notes” on Monday.
He said no further road closures were expected on Seahawk Road because of the Oceans East apartment complex. He said some widening of the road near the complex would be done in August, before school starts, but no road closures would be needed.
Engelhart said some delays may be experienced this week near the new Atlantic General Hospital Cancer Center, because workers will be boring for utilities there.
He said the town received several calls from residents asking about repairs to the sidewalks on South Main Street. The State Highway Administration is working to make those ADA accessible.
Engelhart said the contractor is responsible for getting a release from property owners, especially if it would affect their front lawns, retaining walls or driveways, and provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.
In some cases, apparently, notice “wasn’t early,” Engelhart said.
“We’ve had some issues,” he said.
Baker Street meeting
Town Administrator Laura Allen said a meeting would be held for residents of Baker Street on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, to discuss plans for street repairs.
New police car
The council unanimously approved a $33,000 requisition order to buy a 2017 Chevy Tahoe. It will replace one of the last two Ford Crown Victorias in the police fleet.
Councilman Thom Gulyas noted he had opposed the planned purchase of Ford Interceptors, which were recently recalled.