APRIL 27, 2023
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
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Council going with slight tax increase Rate would be 1.25 cents higher than last year, but lower than first proposal
CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Ocean Pines maintains just under 98,000 linear feet of bulkhead. Some residents could have to move docks, lifts and landscaping to make way for the new, wider vinyl bulkheads.
Residents make room for new vinyl bulkhead
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (April 27, 2023) The Berlin mayor and Town Council agreed on a tax rate of 82.75 cents per $100 of assessed property value following a public hearing Monday night, so will this be the tax rate for FY2024? Maybe. Probably. In a 4-to-1 vote with Councilmember Jack Orris opposed, the council approved an ordinance that is poised to raise the annual property tax on a home assessed at $300,000 by $37.50. Originally, the ordinance presented to the mayor and council was for a rate of 83.5 cents, but despite assurance from Mayor Zack Tyndall
Architect gives Berlin plenty to think about
Some homeowners will face expenses to remove docks, lifts, landscaping By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (April 27, 2023) Anyone who drives past Pintail Park has seen the extensive bulkhead replacement work being done in Ocean Pines, as old wooden bulkheads are being replaced with vinyl. “With switching from wood to vinyl bulkheading over the last several years, the life expectancy of bulkheads has increased from 30 to 50 years,” General Manager John Viola said. In total, Ocean Pines maintains just under 98,000 linear feet of bulkheads. It replaces 2,000 linear feet each year, with work scheduled to begin on or about Sept. 1 and be completed around May 1 each year. See RESIDENTS Page 4
and town staff that there was nothing “frivolous” in the budget, it was a hard sell for some of the councilmembers. “I feel like we don’t quite have all the information we need to successfully balance this budget,” Councilmember Jay Knerr said. “I think we need complete … the pay study, (determine) increases in fees to propose, things of that nature. It’s just difficult to say let’s go with (83.5 cents) and say let it be.” However, Planning Director Dave Engelhart said they could “amend any ordinance you pass,” but stressed that the budget is unique. Finance Director Natalie Saleh clarified that the tax rate needs to be set before the budget is approved. Essentially, it should be confirmed by the first week of June so she has enough time to send it to the state beSee COUNCIL Page 2
Promotes vision of going back to early development
Because vinyl bulkheads are corrugated, they will stick out further toward the water than the flat-surface wooden bulkheads they are replacing.
CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Dhiru Thadani explains New Urbanism development.
By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (April 27, 2023) More than 80 people turned out at the Berlin Library last Wednesday night for a “guided conversation” on the present and future growth of Berlin. “This is part of a multistage process geared toward a community-wide discussion on growth,” Mayor Zack Tyndall told the audience. “We want it to be community-focused and look at how we can protect the integrity of this town.” See NEW Page 3
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