BERLIN– Dozens of leaders converged on Thursday, July 17 as the town hosted the Lower Eastern Shore Mayor’s Association monthly meeting.
Mayors and top officials from Ocean City, Salisbury, Pocomoke City, Crisfield and Sharptown were on hand during the meeting, held in Tex Mex & Country Cook’n’s newly renovated second-story dining room.
The light-hearted affair was filled with one-liners.
Berlin, as hosts, gave each guest a keychain keepsake.
“To show you that we appreciate the advantages of age, we left the back blank so you can write down what the heck it’s for,” said Berlin Mayor Gee Williams.
“I hope you appreciate the fact that, for this year, this is the coolest Lower Eastern Shore Mayor’s Association meeting,” Williams continued. “We’ve got a lot to share and a lot that we can help each other with. We’re Americans first, but right behind it we’re Eastern Shore.”
Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison, the outgoing LESMA president, gave way to Sharptown Town Commissioners President P. Douglas Gosnell during the meeting.
Williams introduced Gosnell and his wife Donna, saying he took the position “after much coercing and bribery.”
“I just saw a very surprised look on (my wife’s) face like, ‘you did what?’” Gosnell said.
A number of Berlin officials were introduced, including Mayor’s Assistant JoAnn Unger, Town Administrator Laura Allen, Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence, Human Resources Director Jeffrey Fleetwood, Senior Accountant Rondell Wise, Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day, Police Chief Arnold Downing and Councilmembers Lisa Hall, Elroy Brittingham and Dean Burrell.
“Gee, it’s nice that you took the opportunity to meet all of the people that work for the Town of Berlin,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.
The meeting also served to introduce Kim Lawson, who was elected Mayor of Crisfield in June.
“After 12 unsuccessful years on city council I thought I’d try to really ruin the whole (town),” he said.
Members approved the treasurer’s report, which included $2,240.95 in scholarship money, briefly discussed old business and set the next meeting for September 18 in Crisfield.
“We’re going to have a three-course dinner on potted meat,” quipped Lawson. “And I look around this room and there are a lot of you that are going to show up.”
Morrison said Pocomoke has “a lot of things going on,” including the digital projection and sound system upgrade of the town’s historic Mar-Va Theater.
“Please come to Pocomoke so we can be the coolest small town too,” he said.
Williams announced during the meeting that Berin’s 9-10 Little League team had just won the state championship.
“They’re going to be playing up in Rhode Island next (in the Regional championship) and this is the third or fourth year in a row that they’ve gotten that far,” he said. He also invited the attendees to take in the “highbrow art and entertainment” Bathtub races.
“Please come down, enjoy yourselves, but stay the hell out of the way of the bathtubs,” he said.
Lawson thanked people for attending the 38th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake held on Wednesday, July 16. More than 4,000 people attended.
“For those of you who had a great time, we hope you come back again,” he said. “I, as new mayor, ordered the first nice-weather day in 10 years.” The 67th National Hard Crab Derby returns on Labor Day Weekend.
Morrison also discussed the 310-foot wind turbine being built in the town.
“While everybody else is talking about it, ours is underway,” he said.
Meehan said Ocean City has something going on “every night of the week.”
“We’ve got fireworks Mondays and Tuesday nights, we’ve got laser light shows on Sunday nights, we’ve got concerts on the beach on Wednesday nights and movies on the beach just about every night,” he said. “I think the Eastern Shore is the place to be. I think anybody who isn’t here is missing out.”
Morrison thanked the crowd for supporting LESMA during his tenure.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it (and) I got a chance to visit every single town” he said. “I’d like to thank my wife Laura. She’s tagged along everywhere with me. She’s been my partner for quite a long time, and I’d like to thank you for your support this past year and helping me out.
“Please continue to support the Lower Shore Mayor’s Association,” Morrison continued. “Tonight’s a great turnout. Let’s continue to go to all the towns and support them.”
Gosnell was introduced as new president at the conclusion of the meeting.
“This is my second time, so next time when the nominating committee comes out, look up,” he said. “I look forward to seeing everybody in Crisfield.”
Mayors and top officials from Ocean City, Salisbury, Pocomoke City, Crisfield and Sharptown were on hand during the meeting, held in Tex Mex & Country Cook’n’s newly renovated second-story dining room.
The light-hearted affair was filled with one-liners.
Berlin, as hosts, gave each guest a keychain keepsake.
“To show you that we appreciate the advantages of age, we left the back blank so you can write down what the heck it’s for,” said Berlin Mayor Gee Williams.
“I hope you appreciate the fact that, for this year, this is the coolest Lower Eastern Shore Mayor’s Association meeting,” Williams continued. “We’ve got a lot to share and a lot that we can help each other with. We’re Americans first, but right behind it we’re Eastern Shore.”
Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison, the outgoing LESMA president, gave way to Sharptown Town Commissioners President P. Douglas Gosnell during the meeting.
Williams introduced Gosnell and his wife Donna, saying he took the position “after much coercing and bribery.”
“I just saw a very surprised look on (my wife’s) face like, ‘you did what?’” Gosnell said.
A number of Berlin officials were introduced, including Mayor’s Assistant JoAnn Unger, Town Administrator Laura Allen, Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence, Human Resources Director Jeffrey Fleetwood, Senior Accountant Rondell Wise, Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day, Police Chief Arnold Downing and Councilmembers Lisa Hall, Elroy Brittingham and Dean Burrell.
“Gee, it’s nice that you took the opportunity to meet all of the people that work for the Town of Berlin,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.
The meeting also served to introduce Kim Lawson, who was elected Mayor of Crisfield in June.
“After 12 unsuccessful years on city council I thought I’d try to really ruin the whole (town),” he said.
Members approved the treasurer’s report, which included $2,240.95 in scholarship money, briefly discussed old business and set the next meeting for September 18 in Crisfield.
“We’re going to have a three-course dinner on potted meat,” quipped Lawson. “And I look around this room and there are a lot of you that are going to show up.”
Morrison said Pocomoke has “a lot of things going on,” including the digital projection and sound system upgrade of the town’s historic Mar-Va Theater.
“Please come to Pocomoke so we can be the coolest small town too,” he said.
Williams announced during the meeting that Berin’s 9-10 Little League team had just won the state championship.
“They’re going to be playing up in Rhode Island next (in the Regional championship) and this is the third or fourth year in a row that they’ve gotten that far,” he said. He also invited the attendees to take in the “highbrow art and entertainment” Bathtub races.
“Please come down, enjoy yourselves, but stay the hell out of the way of the bathtubs,” he said.
Lawson thanked people for attending the 38th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake held on Wednesday, July 16. More than 4,000 people attended.
“For those of you who had a great time, we hope you come back again,” he said. “I, as new mayor, ordered the first nice-weather day in 10 years.” The 67th National Hard Crab Derby returns on Labor Day Weekend.
Morrison also discussed the 310-foot wind turbine being built in the town.
“While everybody else is talking about it, ours is underway,” he said.
Meehan said Ocean City has something going on “every night of the week.”
“We’ve got fireworks Mondays and Tuesday nights, we’ve got laser light shows on Sunday nights, we’ve got concerts on the beach on Wednesday nights and movies on the beach just about every night,” he said. “I think the Eastern Shore is the place to be. I think anybody who isn’t here is missing out.”
Morrison thanked the crowd for supporting LESMA during his tenure.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it (and) I got a chance to visit every single town” he said. “I’d like to thank my wife Laura. She’s tagged along everywhere with me. She’s been my partner for quite a long time, and I’d like to thank you for your support this past year and helping me out.
“Please continue to support the Lower Shore Mayor’s Association,” Morrison continued. “Tonight’s a great turnout. Let’s continue to go to all the towns and support them.”
Gosnell was introduced as new president at the conclusion of the meeting.
“This is my second time, so next time when the nominating committee comes out, look up,” he said. “I look forward to seeing everybody in Crisfield.”