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Berlin Approves Road Map For EDU Allocation

BERLIN - Half of Berlin's remaining equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) will be released for use as soon as the state approves the new capacity management plan, with the second half released the year after. The Berlin Mayor and Council approved the capacity management plan at the Monday night meeting. This type of plan is required by the state of Maryland whenever a wastewater system is at 80 percent capacity. 'It's required. It does explain how we're going to manage out existing...READ MORE

Berlin Sees Need For Master Plan Along With Comp. Plan

BERLIN - Berlin needs a master plan, not just a comprehensive plan, was the message on Wednesday night at the public hearing on Berlin's new comprehensive plan. Municipal master plans are far more detailed than comprehensive plans, offering a street-by-street design of how a town plans to look in the future, from future parks to streets and schools. At the public hearing, Planning and Zoning Superintendent Stacey Weisner revealed a $250,000 proposal by planning consultants Ayers...READ MORE

City Eyes Ways To Increase Skate Park Revenue

OCEAN CITY - With almost a year to go until expansion of Ocean City's skate park is expected to be complete, members of the Recreation and Park Committee sat down Tuesday morning to look at where the park stands currently and what can be done in the coming months to prepare it for the busy summer season. According to Kate Gaddis, superintendent of recreation, attendance at the park reached 9,383 visitors in 2006, a couple hundred shy of 2005's attendance. Even though the attendance...READ MORE

Compromises Needed For State Smoking Ban

ANNAPOLIS - It now appears a statewide smoking ban in Maryland will become a reality after both the full House and Senate approved their own versions of a bill this week, but there are some differences to iron out before the measures are passed along to the governor for approval. The House approved its version of a smoking ban bill for Maryland with a 98-40 vote during a special session last Saturday, and the Senate followed suit with the passage of its bill on Monday by a 33-13...READ MORE

County's Ethnic Changes Spill Over To Schools

NEWARK - Further evidence of the changing face of Worcester County was revealed last week during the Worcester County Board of Education monthly meeting when it was reported the number of students enrolled in the school system's English Language Learner (ELL) program has increased by 215 percent since 2000. Worcester County Schools ELL Coordinator Diane Stulz told school board members the current number of students in grades Pre-K through 12 enrolled in the program is 202, although the...READ MORE

Funding Issues Surround Affordable Housing Project

BERLIN - Questions and suspicions over the Cannery Village workforce housing project arose Monday night during what appeared to be a routine meeting over a block grant. At this week's meeting, the Berlin Mayor and Council questioned Don Bibb, executive director of project co-developer Housing Authority of Talbot County (HCTC), closely over the apparently diminished role of the New Beginning Covenant Ministries Church in the workforce housing effort and his own compensation....READ MORE

New GIS System Provides Berlin With New Tool

BERLIN - Berlin can now count updated geographic information among its planning and infrastructure tools, with the delivery of a new geographic information system (GIS). The Mayor and Council authorized the geographic information project to map the town's tax information, and sewer and water systems, last April, asking Dr. Mike Scott of Salisbury University's Eastern Shore GIS Cooperative to undertake the project. Scott presented the maps to the town council during the Monday meeting....READ MORE

Proposal Launches Dialogue On Fencing Parking Lots

OCEAN CITY - Superintendent of Public Works Maintenance Bruce Gibbs gave a presentation to the Mayor and City Council Tuesday concerning a fencing project that would add white, vinyl picket fences to the municipal parking lots downtown. Gibbs reported that the project is doable but did have a few concerns regarding the idea. 'For one, you would be limiting foot traffic,' he said. 'For now they can park their cars and walk where they want to walk. We put the fence up and they won't be...READ MORE

Local Teacher Cleared Of Child Abuse, Assault

SNOW HILL - A longtime Ocean City Elementary School teacher accused of child abuse and assault after allegedly throwing a problem student to the floor during a summer school session last July was cleared of all charges this week in an emotionally charged trial in Worcester County Circuit Court. Sheridan Hurley Brueckner, 64, a teacher at OCES for several decades, was charged with child abuse and second-degree assault for allegedly lifting a 6-year-old student from her desk and throwing...READ MORE

State OKs New Child Shield Laws

ANNAPOLIS - Maryland sex offender laws got much stronger this week when both the House and Senate passed the so-called Jessica's Law, which includes among other things no possibility of parole for convicted offenders serving minimum mandatory sentences. The full House approved House Bill 930 with a unanimous 138-0 vote, while the Senate approved the companion bill, Senate Bill 413, by an overwhelming 43-3 vote. The bill, now headed to Gov. Martin O'Malley for approval, adds some teeth...READ MORE

Ocean City Dog Park Details Surface

OCEAN CITY - A proposed park aimed at keeping residents' four-legged friends in shape and offering a place for their owners to share their love of their furry companions continues to be developed as early plans for a dog park were revealed this week. At the Recreation and Parks Committee meeting Tuesday at Northside Park, Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster presented fellow members with a rough blueprint of the park along with some other information currently being developed such...READ MORE

Del. Lawmaker Leaves Position Amid Controversy

OCEAN CITY - The final chapter in the ongoing saga of Delaware Representative John C. Atkins, who caused a stir over the last several months for his actions during and after a traffic stop in Ocean City last October, was likely written this week when the lawmaker officially resigned his position. Atkins resigned on Tuesday just before the Delaware House Ethics Committee was preparing to debate a censure resolution which, if approved, would have resulted in sanctions and penalties against...READ MORE

Council News In Brief

New Hangar Being Priced OCEAN CITY - During the Mayor and City Council work session Tuesday, Public Works Director Hal Adkins asked permission to solicit bids for the construction of a new hangar for the Ocean City Airport. According to Adkins, out of the 63-unit capacity the airport currently has only two units left, pending their lease, and they are for smaller aircraft such as a Cessna 172. However, the city has a growing list of individuals desiring to base their larger aircraft,...READ MORE

City Hoping To Bring More Visitors To Sunset Park

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City's newest addition, Sunset Park, located on South Division Street between Philadelphia Avenue and the bay and completed in August of 2006, continues to evolve as future plans for the downtown spot were discussed Tuesday morning at a Recreation and Parks Committee meeting. John Sullivan, Director of Special Events, came before committee members to toss around a concept of his that he hoped would attract more visitors to Sunset Park. 'What we are looking at is to...READ MORE

Berlin To Add Concerts For Second Fridays

BERLIN - Organizers are seeking to add new life to Berlin's Second Friday late openings with a bid to attract music lovers to the center of the town. Main Street coordinator Michael Day asked the Berlin Mayor and Council on Monday night for permission to hold concerts on Pitt St., between Williams St. and Main St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every second Friday. The street would be blocked off for a stage and space for spectators. The concerts were originally set to be staged in front...READ MORE