Berlin Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence last week gave an update on tennis court renovations at Stephen Decatur Park, including new lighting systems.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 19, 2018) The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at Town Hall last Monday:

Swearing in

The council swore in several new Berlin board and commission members appointed during a previous meeting.

Appointed were: Woody Bunting, Joe Moore, Jay Knerr and Doug Parks to the Board of Appeals; Mary Moore, Norman (Nornie) Bunting and Alan Palmer (alternate) to the Historic District Commission; Phyllis Purnell and David (D.J.) Lockwood (alternate) to the Planning Commission; and Tony Bowen for the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

“We’re so happy for all of you who are returning and, for those of you who are beginning a new adventure, we really appreciate it,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “[Volunteering] is something that makes small towns work so well.

“I just want to thank you and congratulate you – all of you,” he continued. “It means a lot to the mayor and council and to the citizens.”

Fair Housing Month

Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen introduced a proclamation designating April as “Fair Housing Month.” She said the designation, an annual practice during the first meeting in April, is required for the town to qualify for “certain grants and funding opportunities.”

The council unanimously approved the proclamation with one member, Councilman Dean Burrell, absent.

Williams also read a proclamation designating April 21-28 as “Take Pride in Berlin Week.” He said the designation was five years old and kicks off each year with Berlin Clean-Up Day on the Saturday closest to Earth Day.

“There is a lot of pride initiated by the citizens that we all benefit from,” Williams said. “Many people make that their day now to clean up their backyard … basically, people help each other out.”

Tennis update

Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said his department is continuing work on tennis court improvements at Stephen Decatur Park.

He said Aerial Crane was hired to drill six holes on the perimeter of the courts and new LED lighting was installed. Lawrence said the electric department assembled the lights and control boxes, and Aerial Crane lifted and set the poles.

The lighting system, he said, was a sophisticated design created by the same company that installed lights for Purdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Lawrence said Terra Firma would finish asphalt work on the court and another contractor would bore holes under the light poles, where power lines would be run.

Once finished, three different buttons spread out around the courts would control the lights, he said.

“If you’re anywhere on the court playing and the strobe light sends out a warning that the lights are about to go out, you can push any one of those three buttons and reactivate the lights,” he said. “Once it’s finished, it will be a great asset to the town.”

Open for business

Planning Director Dave Engelhart said the permanent bathrooms at Dr. William Henry Park are officially open.

“To get it over the goal line, we had a real team effort – Tim’s electric people, public works, water resources – we had a lot of help from Mr. [Jeff] Fleetwood and I’m glad we could get it open before the warm weather,” he said.

Hours of operation are currently 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Engelhart said those could be extended during the summer, when the park basketball courts are used often during the evenings.

Just walk

Engelhart said he recently met with Worcester County Health Department officials to discuss a Worcester County Walkability Plan, to be submitted to the State of Maryland.

He said planners came up with a draft document “and that should go out shortly.”

“The main influence for us would be the marketability of it, getting that public outreach through the schools, possibly a link with the hospital [and] more walking events in town,” he said.

He said assessment of sidewalks and walking trails connected to town parks would be included.

“They have some marketing cards and brochures, ‘Little-known Places to Walk in Worcester County,’” Engelhart said. “It’s an older document [and] a new one is going to be coming out, so we’ll try and … make sure everything we have is on there.”

Town newsletter

Town Administrator Laura Allen said the first “Berlin Bulletin,” an electronic newsletter sent to residents and property owners, was issued last week.

“The idea here is to provide immediate information on a monthly basis of what’s going on in town and have a link to the press releases, save the date information, and updates on projects,” Allen said.

“Right now we’re working on a subscription page for the website and you’ll be hearing more about this later. If you’re interested in subscribing and you haven’t already received it, just let us know and we’ll get you on the list.”