By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (May 3, 2018) New positions, salary increases and employee bonuses took center stage during Town of Berlin budget discussions on Monday night. Two weeks ago, the mayor and Town Council, with department heads present, discussed a $7.05 million general fund budget package in the first draft of a fiscal year 2019… Read more »
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Berlin budget work begins, but no tax increases planned
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (May 3, 2018) A Berlin water rate study is underway, but that won’t mean rates will be going up in the town’s 2019 budget, nor will the property tax rate be changing, Town Administrator Laura Allen said Tuesday. Allen said the results of the study won’t be delivered until later in… Read more »
Dorman reelected Snow Hill Mayor
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (May 3, 2018) Snow Hill Mayor Charlie Dorman was reelected to a fourth term on Tuesday, 188 to 106 votes, over challenger Brian Gilliland. Election officials said 29 absentee ballots and two provisional ballots were cast. Dorman, 76, was first elected in 2012 and reelected without opposition in 2014 and 2016…. Read more »
Clubs cmte talks about ‘meeting’
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) Members of the Ocean Pines Clubs Committee last Thursday addressed a controversial unscheduled meeting with the Matt Ortt Companies, which has been hired to run association food and beverage operations. Association members not affiliated with the committee apparently also tried to attend the meeting, but were denied access…. Read more »
Roads report shows Berlin byways grade at 50/50 split
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) An evaluation of Berlin roads released this week found that half the town’s 92 roads were in excellent or good condition, while the other half were in fair or poor shape. According to an executive summary of the report, by Salisbury engineering firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc.,… Read more »
Tattoo cmte to seek council backing
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2017) The Berlin Tattoo Ordinance Committee wants Worcester County to provide health inspection services for any parlors that open in the town. First, however, they will seek Town Council support to help lobby the Worcester County Commissioners on that point. According to a staff recommendation provided by Town Administrator… Read more »
Snow Hill election, mayoral showdown, Tues.
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) Snow Hill residents will chose between two mayoral candidates in the town election on Tuesday, May 1. The polls, at the old train station on Belt Street, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Incumbent Snow Hill Mayor Charlie Dorman, 76, was the director of public… Read more »
Liquor board delay cuts off Pocomoke American Legion
By Brian Gilliland, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) Along with issuing several fines and letters of reprimand to local businesses for selling alcohol to undercover, underage police cadets, the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners held a lengthy hearing about the Pocomoke American Legion’s request to renew its license, a move protested by neighbors, the Pocomoke… Read more »
‘Tens of thousands’ worth of bad food tossed
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) One of the first things personnel with the Matt Ortt Companies have had to do as they take over operations of the Ocean Pines yacht and beach clubs is dispose an excess of inventory, apparently bought at season’s end last year. Making that job worse, much of the… Read more »
Talks continue, but numbers don’t add up for Berlin, BFC
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 26, 2018) The Town of Berlin and Berlin Fire Company are far apart on budget numbers for fiscal year 2019, although both sides appear to be working together better than during recent years. Last week, the town unveiled a general fund budget draft that included $250,000 for the Berlin Fire… Read more »