By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Feb. 25, 2021) The following took place during the Berlin mayor and Town Council meeting on Monday:

Covid-19 update

If the covid-19 positivity rate remains below 5 percent for seven consecutive days, Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said the plan is for employees to return to a full schedule on March 1. The following week government buildings would open to the public with limited capacity.

Park sale meeting

The Town Council agreed to move the public meeting about the potential sale of parcels 57 and 410 at Heron Park from March 22 to March 15 at 6:30 p.m. because a public hearing on the tax rate is also scheduled for March 22.

Councilmembers argued that the public should be allotted time to present ideas for the parcels. Tyndall requested that any presentations to Town Council be submitted at least a week in advance.

The public comment meeting will consist of presentations followed by public remarks. The meeting will be held via Zoom and live streamed on Facebook. Public input will only be accepted via Zoom, Tyndall said.

Farmers market

Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said the Berlin Farmers Market returns every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 2 to Sept. 26.

“Last season, we were faced with unprecedented challenges during the pandemic. We had to adjust to allow for physical distancing. We needed to come up with a new layout, thereby expanded the market from Pitts Street to include Commerce Street,” Wells said.

During the 2020 farmers market season, 30 farmers and other producers participated.

“At a time when the local grocery stores were running out of food, the community could depend on the ability to purchase local food, baked items, seafood and more right here in town, outside where it was safe,” she said, adding that masks were required.

She added that pedestrian traffic more than doubled, and the town’s small businesses benefited from the market as several merchants set up tables or racks of merchandise on the sidewalks in front of their shops.

“Much of the community and businesses alike have reached out, asking for Main Street to be closed for vehicular traffic on Sunday mornings,” Wells said. “After reviewing with this with staff, it is staff’s recommendation to close Main Street from Broad Street to the entrance of the parking lot next to World of Toys.”

She continued that a community gathering setting could be created by having the 13 café tables and 26 chairs awarded to the town through grant funding to be placed along the shoulders of North Main Street to provide additional seating and physical distancing.

Although some concerns were raised about notifying the Berlin Fire Company and residents of street closures, the council voted unanimously to ask the State Highway Administration for approval for a closure of Main Street during the farmers market. Tyndall added that the closure would benefit the market as well as the shops downtown.

Short-term rentals

Fleetwood and Mayor Zackery Tyndall said the Town Council is expected to discuss short-term rentals during its meeting on April 12.

Public Works Dept.

Administrative Manager Kelsey Jensen said James (Jimmy) Charles has been hired as the new Public Works Department superintendent and began working on Monday. He will step into the full-time role after current superintendent Dave Wheaton retires at the end of March.

Backyard Buffers Program

Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said the Berlin Parks Commission is working with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assist homeowners who have a waterway on or adjacent to their property to create a buffer for erosion of native trees and shrubs by providing a free “buffer in bag.” According to DNR’s website, the bag includes 20-30 native tree and shrub bare-root seedlings, approximately 1 to 2 feet in height.