BERLIN, Ala. – At a special-called meeting Monday evening, the Berlin Town Council gathered to discuss the upcoming opening of the new town hall and farmers’ market. After updates that the foundation had been poured, the physical building would likely be delivered by the end of the week and preparations made to lay gravel for the parking lot, the council went on to finalize some details ahead of opening. Specifically, Mayor Patrick Bates briefed the council on the possible costs for water, cable and electricity fees for the town hall, as well as electricity fees for the market for lighting and a security camera system. He also stated that septic hookups were in the works and would probably take place in mid-May. On this point of business, the council voted to not renew the town’s P.O. box in favor of purchasing a secure mailbox for the town hall and also to give Bates a $1,000 budget to buy furniture (chairs, tables, filling cabinets, etc.) for the hall.
The council went on to discuss the increased duties of the town clerk with regard to the farmers’ market, as the clerk will act as the market manager. With a planned market schedule of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the council proposed a work schedule of 8 a.m.-2 p.m. each of those four days. With the increased workload (managing both the market and the hall), as well as the Tuesdays that the town hall will be to be open for elections, the council members also voted to give the clerk a 20% pay increase.
The final point of business regarded the transfer of responsibility of the traffic signal at County Road 747 and U.S. Highway 278 from Cullman County to the Town of Berlin. Resolutions 2020-3 and 2020-4 officially made Berlin responsible for the traffic signal and its maintenance, and also established that the Town would contact and pay the City of Cullman to do any work on the signal.
The next regular meeting will be Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
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