By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Oct. 29, 2026) The Town of Berlin continued to move ahead with its lead pipe water line replacement project this week, approving a bond ordinance for work along William Street and accepting a separate $1.8 million funding package to replace lead lines along North and South Main streets.

During Monday night’s Town Council meeting, officials held a public hearing and unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the parameters for issuing general obligation bonds to finance Phase 1A of a project to remove lead from drinking water lines.

The council also unanimously approved a funding package from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for Phase 2.

The Phase 1A bond ordinance establishes the terms under which the municipality can issue general obligation bonds to finance, reimburse, or refinance eligible project costs. It also pledges the town’s full faith and credit, including its taxing power, toward repayment of the bonds.

Finance Director Natalie Saleh said the ordinance establishes the parameters for the town to proceed with the bonds. Asked when principal forgiveness would take effect, Saleh said additional details would be available once the town reaches settlement.

The Phase 1A project involves approximately $2.28 million in financing, including about $1.28 million in expected principal forgiveness. Earlier this month, the town approved a motion and resolution allowing it to proceed with Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration funding for the work.

Additionally, officials addressed the project’s requirements. Engineer Nick Bradley of Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. said municipalities must replace approximately 3% to 5% of their lead service lines annually, with the work completed by 2037.

Following the public hearing and discussion, the council unanimously approved the Phase 1A bond ordinance.

Separately, the council unanimously approved an MDE funding package totaling $1,838,350 for Phase 2 of the lead service line replacement project.

According to an Oct. 13 letter from Davis, Bowen & Friedel, the package offers 100% principal forgiveness. The amount matches the full sum Berlin requested in an application submitted in January 2025.

Phase 2 will replace lead lines along North and South Main streets, both Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) roads. Officials said prioritizing those streets would allow the town to replace the lines before SHA repaves them.

Bradley explained that the MDE funding became available after the money previously allocated to another project fell through.

Because of the time that has passed since the application was submitted, Tyndall said the town could have a hard time obtaining bids within the funding available.

“We might struggle to get bids within that scope, but we are certainly going to try,” he said.

Bradley said Berlin initially submitted a funding application in 2023 for work along William, Broad, and Bay streets. The town prioritized the three SHA roads to coordinate planned paving projects.

In 2024, the town received its original funding, but federal guidelines prohibited the initial approach of replacing service lines only between the water main and water meter, delaying the process.

In January 2025, the town had submitted a funding application for Phase 2 and prepared to bid the original Phase 1 project. However, the first bidding attempt produced no bids, Bradley said.

The town then worked with state officials to divide the original project into smaller components. Phase 1A covers William Street, while Phase 1B will address Broad and Bay streets.

Bradley said Phase 1B is ready to go out to bid once the town renews its permits, but funding has not yet been approved.

The town also has a third phase in the developmental stage that would involve Flower Street. Bradley said the project remains in its infancy. Officials expect to have more information after the holidays.