By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer
(Sept. 28, 2023) If it snows this winter, the Town of Berlin will have plenty of salt for its roads, following the Town Council’s approval Monday night of a three-year agreements with the state department of transportation.
The agreement will allow the town to obtain salt from the State Highway Administration (SHA) stockpiles during a snow storms.
The town will reimburse SHA for the costs of the salt and any other related expenses.
The cost of the salt is $106 per ton and includes delivery charges, subject to change.
Director of Public Works Jimmy Charles told the mayor and council the town’s relationship with the SHA is a good one because the town does not have to stockpile salt and the state’s storage facility is just two minutes away.
In other business, the council approved the job description of the town’s special projects coordinator, with the mayor breaking a tie vote. With Councilmember Shaneka Nichols absent, the vote had two nays —Councilmembers Jack Orris and Dean Burrell) and two ayes — Councilmembers Jay Knerr and Steve Green.
The concern by both Orris and Burrell was that the job description was overly broad and they wanted specifics on what the job holder will be doing under which department.
The council also unanimously approved submitting a letter of intent to participate in the Time to Care Act, Maryland legislation that establishes a state-administered Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program funded by employers and employees with contributions.
According to the Maryland Department of Labor, FAMLI “will ensure that workers in Maryland have access to paid leave when they need to be away from work to care for themselves or a family member.”
The program allows employees to take an additional 12 weeks of leave over what the national Families and Medical Leave Act provides.
A motion to approve the annual event calendar was delayed until the first meeting in October, as the economic and community development director, Ivy Wells, was not in attendance.