Berlin Snags New Administrator From Fenwick

BERLIN - After several months of searching, Berlin has hired experienced town administrator Tony Carson to replace retired Berlin Administrative Director Linda Bambary.

Carson, town manager of Fenwick Island, Del. for the last two years, will join Berlin in January.

As part of Mayor Gee Williams' reorganization of town hall positions, Carson's title will be town administrator, instead of administrative director.

Williams announced the decision and introduced Carson to the town during Monday night's Berlin Mayor and Council meeting.

'There were several well qualified candidates for the position,' said Williams. 'Tony was our No. 1 choice. Fortunately, he's as anxious to join our team as we are to have him join us.'

Williams said the town council was impressed with Carson's expertise in finance and his reputation for getting things done as well as the importance he places on customer service.

At the meeting, Carson said, 'I look forward to working closely with the Mayor and Council in order to continue moving the town forward. I am committed to maintaining the fiscal responsibility and sound decision making you've had here in Berlin.'

Carson said later he is confident he and the Berlin's elected officials are on the same page, which is crucial to running the town.

Before going into government work in 1997, Carson spent 20 years in the private sector, most recently managing an independent pharmacy in Ohio,

In the past, he has held government positions as a deputy auditor/appraiser and purchasing director. Then he served as county administrator in Trumbull County, Ohio, which has a population of 225,000.

Berlin's new hire also holds city manager credentials from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He will be one of seven ICMA credentialed town manager in Maryland when he takes over as Berlin's town manager.

Carson said he pursued the top administrative post in Berlin because he was intrigued by the challenges facing the town, such as the wastewater plant improvements and expansion, the ongoing electric utility controversies and the complex task of planning for future growth.

'I like challenges. I think I work best when there are things that need to be accomplished,' Carson said. 'I do everything I can to be successful.'

Berlin has a different dynamic than Fenwick, Carson said, with a full-time population numbering in the low thousands, versus Fenwick's full-time population in the low hundreds and a summer population over 10,000.

But, he said, there are similarities as well as differences between the two towns.

Carson first visited Berlin when he moved to the shore two years ago.

'People kept saying you have to go see Berlin,' Carson said. 'We really liked it, the historic significance, the shops.'

Carson said he has no intention of taking up his post in Berlin and attempting to make new initiatives or to effect alterations right away.

'It would be premature to come in and say, •€˜I want to make all these changes,'' said Carson.

Carson does not anticipate having any problems switching to a new state with new laws and regulations, as he has done so before.

'Public administration is public administration, no matter where you do it,' Carson said.