By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Oct. 19, 2023) The Berlin Council passed four motions regarding tennis courts, 2024 events for the town and the Taylor House Museum and a re-allocation of funding for the Berlin Fire Company.

The council approved a motion to allow We Heart Berlin, a non-profit organization, to raise money for agreed-upon projects in the town. During the meeting, the council authorized the group to proceed with striping the tennis courts for pickleball play in Stephen Decatur Park.

Tony Weeg reported that it will cost $3,500 to have the courts striped. Local businesses Iron Skillet and Bee House Soap as well as Michael O’Mallay, owner of PKLN Pickleball and the basketball coach at Worcester County Prep are donating the money for the project.

“Without the help of folks like We Heart Berlin, this project would take years. You are making it happen very easily,” Mayor Zack Tyndall told Weeg.

Weeg said the group is planning to do the striping within the next 30 days if the weather cooperates.

The council also approved the 2024 calendar of events for Berlin. Five annual events were approved that will serve alcohol: Berlin Jazz and Blues, Wine and Brews in May, Small Town Throw Down and Fiddlers Convention in September, Oktoberfest in October and the New Year’s Eve event in December.

Dr. Melissa Reid also received unanimous approval for all of the Taylor House events, which are the same as last year.

A final motion was approved to reallocate unspent Berlin Fire Company Emergency Medical Services funds from FY23 to FY24 in the amount of $8,884.08 to provide emergency staffing for town events.

The original request from the fire company was for the remaining funds to go to the ambulance replacement fund or to assist in re-establishing an EMS contingency fund.

Councilman Dean Burrell did not vote in favor of this motion because he did not believe the council should put strings on how the