BERLIN– A packed house and a full plate highlighted the most active Mayor and Council meeting in several weeks.
A public hearing on stormwater projects, a new festival, a potential new business, pedestrian safety updates and the fiscal year 2015 budget were discussed during the Monday meeting.
Mayor Gee Williams began by honoring 10-year-old resident Aeriel Zane, who wrote a book titled “If I Were Mayor.” The council also swore in 10 new members of the Boards and Commissioners.
The larger-than-usual crowd was there for the stormwater public hearing regarding the presentation of the Hudson Branch Stormwater Project. The project was approached last year, but the town was unable to obtain grants to fund construction.
The Hudson Branch overhaul would increase the size and capacity of the culverts on Flower and Williams streets, as well as create natural attenuating scour pools and bank stabilization, improving stormwater efficiency in and around Graham, Grice and Nelson streets.
This year the state has made $7.1 million available for block grants, including $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grant money. Berlin is applying for $800,000 in CDBG money, the maximum amount allowed, as well as $874,048 in FEMA grants. If both grants are approved the town will pay an additional $60,000 to complete the project.
Williams said first construction will begin on Flower Street. “The very first logjam we have is up there,” he said. “First we have to relieve that and then work our way back.”
After Flower Street, construction would follow on William Street and then on Graham, Grice and Nelson.
Barbara Gallagher, a resident of Graham Street, complained during the hearing that her street was atop the list for construction when the project was originally introduced a year ago.
“My main concern is, as is my neighbor’s because we have children involved, the area between our two houses is a swamp and I’m worried about mosquitos,” she said. “We have pets, we have children, and it’s got to be controlled.
“I have jokingly named my neighborhood,” she continued, “I live on Lake Nelson, I live across from Nelson Dam, Nelson Creek runs between our houses. It stays wet for days.”
Councilmembers tried to assure the resident of the grants’ potential for success. “That’s part of the reason we got the stormwater utility started,” said councilmember Lisa Hall. “Part of the reason we weren’t approved last year is because we didn’t have the funding source in place. Talking to other staff members, it really does look like we’re going to get approved for these grants in this next fiscal year.”
Hall said upgrades would have to begin on Flower Street before moving to other areas.
“Ours is an isolation,” Gallagher said. “I’ve lost hundreds of dollars of mulch.”
Williams defended the town’s actions, saying the town went from “don’t you dare create a stormwater utility” to “why can’t we have it tomorrow?”
“It was a tipping point, and that tipping point took a lot of effort,” he said. “The difference was the people who don’t have flooding decided to pay for the people who do.”
Since the stormwater utility was created a year ago, residents have had to pay a $50 per year “rain tax” to fund the utility. Those efforts, the council said, are why they are optimistic the grants will be approved.
“We feel extremely confident based on what are being told,” Williams said. “I have no reason to believe they have something to gain by misleading us.”
“I lived here for almost 16 years now, and it’s my understanding the area between our two houses once was a culvert,” Gallagher said. “The rain knows this is the way we want to go. It’s just frustrating.”
“I’ll just get my second pair of boots out,” she added.
Dean Burrell, who previously spoke about the importance of treating the town’s stormwater problems, motioned for the council to authorize the submission of the grant application. The motion was passed unanimously. Results of the application will be announced in September.
Burley Oak Brewing Company owner Bryan Brushmiller sought and received approval for the “Explore Berlin Festival,” a craft beer event to be held on his property on Saturday, September 27 from 2-8 p.m. The festival will invite Berlin businesses to take part in the event as vendors.
Twisters owner Carmello Solito has been attempting to move and expand her gymnastics business to Berlin for five years. Solito asked the council to set up a deferred or reduced payment plan to finance the required impact fees for new construction, as well as reduce or defer her property taxes for the first five years. The council denied the requested reduction of impact fees. Solito projected the expansion would bring 20-30 new jobs to Berlin.
Williams opposed the notion of reducing property taxes. “Property taxes are the very lifeblood of a municipality,” he said. “We are extremely fortunate that we’re the only municipality in Worcester County where the property tax income has not been reduced, and that’s because of all the new businesses.”
Councilmember Paula Lynch disagreed. “We’ve done this before; we did this with the Atlantic Hotel,” she said. “We’re getting very little (revenue from the property) now, so in five years I don’t see an objection to phasing this in.”
Patricia Dufendach, a member of the Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee, updated the council on improvements in town crosswalks. Enhancements were made on Bay Street and Route 113, where a local teen was struck and killed by a Maryland State Trooper in November. The intersection will be upgraded further to a countdown crosswalk in September.
Additional improvements included a hazard identification beacon, variable message sign and a speed reduction on Route 113 through Berlin. Safety improvements on routes 346, 376 and 818 are also in the works.
A public hearing on stormwater projects, a new festival, a potential new business, pedestrian safety updates and the fiscal year 2015 budget were discussed during the Monday meeting.
Mayor Gee Williams began by honoring 10-year-old resident Aeriel Zane, who wrote a book titled “If I Were Mayor.” The council also swore in 10 new members of the Boards and Commissioners.
The larger-than-usual crowd was there for the stormwater public hearing regarding the presentation of the Hudson Branch Stormwater Project. The project was approached last year, but the town was unable to obtain grants to fund construction.
The Hudson Branch overhaul would increase the size and capacity of the culverts on Flower and Williams streets, as well as create natural attenuating scour pools and bank stabilization, improving stormwater efficiency in and around Graham, Grice and Nelson streets.
This year the state has made $7.1 million available for block grants, including $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grant money. Berlin is applying for $800,000 in CDBG money, the maximum amount allowed, as well as $874,048 in FEMA grants. If both grants are approved the town will pay an additional $60,000 to complete the project.
Williams said first construction will begin on Flower Street. “The very first logjam we have is up there,” he said. “First we have to relieve that and then work our way back.”
After Flower Street, construction would follow on William Street and then on Graham, Grice and Nelson.
Barbara Gallagher, a resident of Graham Street, complained during the hearing that her street was atop the list for construction when the project was originally introduced a year ago.
“My main concern is, as is my neighbor’s because we have children involved, the area between our two houses is a swamp and I’m worried about mosquitos,” she said. “We have pets, we have children, and it’s got to be controlled.
“I have jokingly named my neighborhood,” she continued, “I live on Lake Nelson, I live across from Nelson Dam, Nelson Creek runs between our houses. It stays wet for days.”
Councilmembers tried to assure the resident of the grants’ potential for success. “That’s part of the reason we got the stormwater utility started,” said councilmember Lisa Hall. “Part of the reason we weren’t approved last year is because we didn’t have the funding source in place. Talking to other staff members, it really does look like we’re going to get approved for these grants in this next fiscal year.”
Hall said upgrades would have to begin on Flower Street before moving to other areas.
“Ours is an isolation,” Gallagher said. “I’ve lost hundreds of dollars of mulch.”
Williams defended the town’s actions, saying the town went from “don’t you dare create a stormwater utility” to “why can’t we have it tomorrow?”
“It was a tipping point, and that tipping point took a lot of effort,” he said. “The difference was the people who don’t have flooding decided to pay for the people who do.”
Since the stormwater utility was created a year ago, residents have had to pay a $50 per year “rain tax” to fund the utility. Those efforts, the council said, are why they are optimistic the grants will be approved.
“We feel extremely confident based on what are being told,” Williams said. “I have no reason to believe they have something to gain by misleading us.”
“I lived here for almost 16 years now, and it’s my understanding the area between our two houses once was a culvert,” Gallagher said. “The rain knows this is the way we want to go. It’s just frustrating.”
“I’ll just get my second pair of boots out,” she added.
Dean Burrell, who previously spoke about the importance of treating the town’s stormwater problems, motioned for the council to authorize the submission of the grant application. The motion was passed unanimously. Results of the application will be announced in September.
Burley Oak Brewing Company owner Bryan Brushmiller sought and received approval for the “Explore Berlin Festival,” a craft beer event to be held on his property on Saturday, September 27 from 2-8 p.m. The festival will invite Berlin businesses to take part in the event as vendors.
Twisters owner Carmello Solito has been attempting to move and expand her gymnastics business to Berlin for five years. Solito asked the council to set up a deferred or reduced payment plan to finance the required impact fees for new construction, as well as reduce or defer her property taxes for the first five years. The council denied the requested reduction of impact fees. Solito projected the expansion would bring 20-30 new jobs to Berlin.
Williams opposed the notion of reducing property taxes. “Property taxes are the very lifeblood of a municipality,” he said. “We are extremely fortunate that we’re the only municipality in Worcester County where the property tax income has not been reduced, and that’s because of all the new businesses.”
Councilmember Paula Lynch disagreed. “We’ve done this before; we did this with the Atlantic Hotel,” she said. “We’re getting very little (revenue from the property) now, so in five years I don’t see an objection to phasing this in.”
Patricia Dufendach, a member of the Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee, updated the council on improvements in town crosswalks. Enhancements were made on Bay Street and Route 113, where a local teen was struck and killed by a Maryland State Trooper in November. The intersection will be upgraded further to a countdown crosswalk in September.
Additional improvements included a hazard identification beacon, variable message sign and a speed reduction on Route 113 through Berlin. Safety improvements on routes 346, 376 and 818 are also in the works.