(March 2, 2017) Berlin Councilman Zack Tyndall will chair the “Naming Parks and Public Spaces Committee.” Carol Rose, the chairwoman of the Berlin Historic District Commission, will co-chair.
The committee, which also includes Councilman Dean Burrell, Berlin Parks Commission Chairman Mike Wiley, Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee Chairwoman Heather Layton and resident Bill Todd, held its first meeting, which included the election of officers, on Feb. 23.
Town Administrator Laura Allen serves as coordinator of the committee and will act as a tiebreaker in case of a stalemate. Town Attorney David Gaskill serves as an administrative, nonvoting member.
Todd spurred the creation of the committee in January when he approached the town council carrying a petition to rename of Berlin Falls Park in honor of former mailman James Tingle. He said, at the time, the public had a right to help name the park.
During that meeting, Tyndall motioned to establish the naming committee as a compromise.
“When I made the recommendation, I thought the committee would be formed as a way to shed some guidance on how we should name things,” Tyndall said. “I don’t think that we should focus on naming any particular area … but I do think we should look more broadly and focus on how this can be used throughout Berlin’s next 100 or so years.”
Committee members broke into groups during the first meeting, discussing which key components they wanted to see in the naming policy, and then sharing those ideas with the entire group.
Rose, for instance, said the town had a rich history of notable citizens that should be taken into consideration.
Todd said he wanted to see public input in the process and suggested including a ballot on any potential naming with regular town electric bill mailings.
“I’m a big fan of putting it in the public’s hands,” Todd said. “When we walk away from the whole thing, that’s a very important issue.”
Both Tyndall and Burrell said names should not be based on people who are living, because there was a danger the town would have to rename a place if the namesake did something “terrible.”
Tyndall added checking with emergency services to prevent duplication of names was essential, and said the mayor and council should have final say in any name, by a public vote.
All of the committee members agreed public facilities, like town hall, should not be named. Most said major donors should be considered during the naming process.
Burrell praised the spirit of collaboration that was evident during the meeting.
“This committee is made up of different people who think differently and bring different things to the table,” Burrell said. “We need to respect each person’s opinions and their thoughts. We don’t have to agree [on everything], but eventually we’re going to have to agree to a policy recommendation to the town.”
The committee will meet next on Thursday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at town hall.
The committee, which also includes Councilman Dean Burrell, Berlin Parks Commission Chairman Mike Wiley, Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee Chairwoman Heather Layton and resident Bill Todd, held its first meeting, which included the election of officers, on Feb. 23.
Town Administrator Laura Allen serves as coordinator of the committee and will act as a tiebreaker in case of a stalemate. Town Attorney David Gaskill serves as an administrative, nonvoting member.
Todd spurred the creation of the committee in January when he approached the town council carrying a petition to rename of Berlin Falls Park in honor of former mailman James Tingle. He said, at the time, the public had a right to help name the park.
During that meeting, Tyndall motioned to establish the naming committee as a compromise.
“When I made the recommendation, I thought the committee would be formed as a way to shed some guidance on how we should name things,” Tyndall said. “I don’t think that we should focus on naming any particular area … but I do think we should look more broadly and focus on how this can be used throughout Berlin’s next 100 or so years.”
Committee members broke into groups during the first meeting, discussing which key components they wanted to see in the naming policy, and then sharing those ideas with the entire group.
Rose, for instance, said the town had a rich history of notable citizens that should be taken into consideration.
Todd said he wanted to see public input in the process and suggested including a ballot on any potential naming with regular town electric bill mailings.
“I’m a big fan of putting it in the public’s hands,” Todd said. “When we walk away from the whole thing, that’s a very important issue.”
Both Tyndall and Burrell said names should not be based on people who are living, because there was a danger the town would have to rename a place if the namesake did something “terrible.”
Tyndall added checking with emergency services to prevent duplication of names was essential, and said the mayor and council should have final say in any name, by a public vote.
All of the committee members agreed public facilities, like town hall, should not be named. Most said major donors should be considered during the naming process.
Burrell praised the spirit of collaboration that was evident during the meeting.
“This committee is made up of different people who think differently and bring different things to the table,” Burrell said. “We need to respect each person’s opinions and their thoughts. We don’t have to agree [on everything], but eventually we’re going to have to agree to a policy recommendation to the town.”
The committee will meet next on Thursday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at town hall.