By Brian Shane Staff Writer Lower Shore legislator Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38C) is proposing that emergency shelter buildings be exempt from a state mandate requiring large public buildings to switch from fossil fuels to electric power. Hartman raised concerned that, during a weather emergency or prolonged power outage, reliance on electric power instead of gas… Read more »
News
Pines Library youth director’s work praised
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Friends of the Ocean Pines library recognized the branch’s youth director this week as the “Staff Member of the Year.” received the award at a March 11 luncheon following two weeks of voting by library staff members. Jim Meckley, the president of the library support group, said that this process… Read more »
Berlin renews agreement for tech services after audit, RFP
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Town of Berlin’s information technology management contract was awarded to incumbent TechMD after a third-party review. TechMD was recommended by third-party vendor Bulletproof IT Security Services, which was selected to handle Berlin’s information technology audit last year. The recommendation comes after Bulletproof created a Request For Proposals (RFP). Bulletproof… Read more »
Town adds request fee to annexation process
Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Town of Berlin formally established an annexation request fee of $515 in the municipality’s planning and general fee schedule. Officials said that previously, no fee was specified when a property owner submitted a request for annexation. Per the Berlin Town Council’s approval, the price of $515 will now be added… Read more »
Berlin approves expense to upgrade largest water well
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Berlin’s largest well, located at Powellton Avenue, is set to undergo replacement. The Town Council unanimously approved awarding the project work to East Coast Contracting for approximately $409,955. The motion to proceed with the well upgrade was agreed upon at the municipality’s March 10 Mayor and Council meeting. Officials said… Read more »
Yacht Club’s new vendor begins Tuesday; Rather than wait until lease ends April 30, parties agree to prepare now for season
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Touch of Italy will take over the Ocean Pines Association’s food and beverage services at the Yacht Club, the Beach Club in Ocean City, and the Clubhouse Bar and Grille earlier than originally planned. Instead of assuming control of the operations on May 1, after the agreement with the previous… Read more »
Microtel plan stirs opponents; Petition seeks signatures to show support for claims hotel could be safety hazard
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Opponents of the Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham, planned for the east side of Route 113 near Franklin Avenue in Berlin, are collecting signatures on a petition to bolster their claim that the project would create a safety hazard. The hotel, a planned four-story, 78-unit Microtel Inn and Suites,… Read more »
South Fire Station work expected to start in fall
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department continue to work toward a new South Fire Station, with an estimated construction start date of October 2025, given the timeline remains on track. At the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Feb. 22, OPVFD President… Read more »
County bolsters vehicle insurance coverage due to spike in accidents
By Brian Shane Staff Writer A rising trend of costly car crashes in Worcester County-owned vehicles has prompted officials to upgrade their auto insurance policy to include comprehensive and collision coverage. Without this coverage, the county bears the full financial burden of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by accidents, weather events, or deer strikes, according… Read more »
County tables WOC zoning code aimed at halting wind project
By Brian Shane Staff Writer Worcester County officials this week stopped short of tweaking the zoning code in order to prevent an offshore wind developer from legally operating as a public utility in the West Ocean City fishing harbor. The county’s Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 18 meeting considered a bill that would make… Read more »