By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(April 9, 2020) The first online Berlin mayor and Town Council meeting will take place on Facebook Live Monday starting at 5:30 p.m. with a budget work session. Following the work session, the regular session will begin at 7 p.m.

Berlin Mayor Gee Williams

“Town staff has explored our most readily available options for ensuring that our municipal business can be conducted as seamlessly as possible while maintaining the public’s ability to be fully informed and to participate under the circumstances,” Mayor Gee Williams said in a press release.

The Town of Berlin will publish the meeting packets on the Town website by 5 p.m. the Wednesday prior to the meeting, allowing members of the public to submit questions and comments in writing up to noon on the meeting date. Submissions can be emailed to info@berlinmd.gov, faxed to 410-641-2316, dropped at Town Hall in either of the two drop boxes, or mailed to Town Hall, 10 William Street, Berlin, MD 21811.

Any public hearing held during the online meeting will not be able to accept any live comment from residents during the actual meeting.

“Can residents chime in when the meeting is being conducted? The answer will be ‘no,’” Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said. “What we’re going to do to accelerate the agenda, to make it available sooner than what we’ve done in the past, we are having the agenda available by close of business the Wednesday prior to the meeting. That way the public can take a look at the agenda if they have concerns, questions or any comments at all.”

Town officials recommend that comments be mailed no later than this Friday to help ensure receipt by the Town on Monday. The comments will be compiled for the mayor and council to provide them the opportunity to review and discuss during the meeting.

The meetings will be then be streamed live on the Town’s Facebook page, which can be accessed through the town government’s website at www.berlinmd.gov by clicking on the Facebook icon at the top of the page, or directly via Facebook by typing @berlinmaryland in the search bar.

The council’s Enterprise Fund work session will take place Monday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a regular session at 7 p.m.