NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Former administrator charged with fraud Berlin’s one-time manager Fleetwood named in probe after audit unearths issue By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Nov. 10, 2022) Former Berlin Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood has been charged with six counts of forgery of private documents and one
charge of theft and another for theft scheme, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations said on Monday. The theft charges, all felonies, are categorized involve an amount of between $1,500 to $25,000, according to a statement from WCBI. According to a press release, the bureau began its investigation after it was made aware of discrepancies re-
lating to the balances for Fleetwood’s sick leave and personal time that showed up in an audit. “Investigators discovered between October 2021 and April 2022, an additional 240 hours of sick leave and an additional 80 hours of vacation leave were added to Fleetwood's leave and earning statement,” the release said. “Investigators discovered that the total amount paid out to Fleet-
wood as a result of the additional leave was approximately $17,520.00.” Fleetwood, who resigned his Berlin post last April, is now the town administrator of Delmar and as of Tuesday was still in the office. Fleetwood deferred comments to his attorney, Ocean City-based Steve See FORMER Page 4
Matt Ortt, DeAngelus part ways Company statement says partnership terminated
PHOTO COURTESY MARY MILLER
LOOKING OUT
Two eagles are perched on tree branches near the entrance to Assateague Island on Halloween.
Online voting unplugged for now By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Nov. 10, 2022) The newly appointed Ocean Pines Elections Committee wasted no time in making moves during its first meeting on Nov. 3, deciding to suspend online voting for the association.
The move, which new committee chair Tom Piatti stressed was only for the time being, comes after a preliminary look into the ballot mailing and counting process for the 2022 Ocean Pines Board of Directors election. “What we found out, number one, the scanner that was used … was ex-
cellent,” said committee member George Alston. "I understand that (our IT department) is the one that suggested which to buy. It was an excellent choice. The speed was fantastic, doing approximately 3,400 to 3600 scans per hour … It uses multiSee NEW Page 5
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Nov. 10, 2022) The Matt Ortt Companies announced the immediate termination of its partnership with Ralph DeAngelus on Monday. The announcement from the restaurant company includes the complete divestment of DeAngelus and the termination of its relationships with his family members, Kearston Frey and her son, Tyler Mailloux. The statement made clear that the decision is related to the hit-and-run death of 14-year-old Gavin Knupp, of Ocean Pines, in July. The announcement comes following continued protests against the DeAngelus family and the Matt Ortt Companies, whom many in the community consider responsible for Knupp's death, in the case of the former, and complicit in it, in the case of the latter. In the days following Knupp’s death, the Maryland State Police received a tip about a black Mercedes that matched the police’s description of the suspected vehicle being hidden in DeAngelus’s garage in the Ocean See ORTT Page 3
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