OCEAN CITY – The tables turned this week as the Mayor and City Council came to a complete agreement on an ordinance to change the pay scale for newly hired town employees.One of the ordinances proposed last year by the council in an attempt to lower costs for the town was to change newly hired… Read more »

BERLIN — Changes to state law will be required for Berlin to gain its first microbrewery, and the Mayor and Council threw their support behind the efforts on Monday.Bryan Brushmiller, owner of Burley Oak Brewing Company on Old Ocean City Blvd., appeared before the council to ask for its endorsement of a proposal to adjust… Read more »

SALISBURY – A request made by a local brewery stimulated the Mayor and City Council to approve a resolution on a Water and Sewer Capacity Fee Payment Plan.During Monday night’s City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve a policy proposed by Mayor James Ireton to allow for the payment of water and sewer… Read more »

BERLIN — Local legislators and elected officials all over the Eastern Shore this week came out in strong opposition to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s call for a ban on septic systems in new development, citing the potential loss of local control on planning and growth issues and, perhaps more importantly, a serious decline in property values… Read more »

SALISBURY — A new James M. Bennett Middle School in Salisbury remains on Wicomico’s capital improvement wish list, but county officials warned it doesn’t appear funding will be available for the project any time soon.The Wicomico County Council on Monday reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2012 capital improvement plan, which includes, among numerous other projects,… Read more »

ASSATEAGUE — Assateague National Seashore officials this week announced charges are pending against a Maryland man who allegedly shot and killed one of the barrier island’s famed wild horses during a two-day firearm deer season in January.On or about Jan. 16, one of the wild horses inhabiting Assateague Island was shot and killed during a… Read more »

SNOW HILL — A pair of similar cases received identical sanctions from the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) this week.Both involved the selling of alcohol to undercover Ocean City Police Department cadets on Jan. 7 and both resulted in a large fine.The first case discussed was an incident which occurred at the 85th… Read more »

SNOW HILL – After weeks of discussion, the Worcester County Planning Commission has finally made a decision over the future of solar panels in the county.The commission voted unanimously to support the latest revision of a plan drawn up by Development Review and Permitting Director Ed Tudor. However, commissioners found one sticking point in the… Read more »

BERLIN – A recent request made by a local to see tougher restrictions on the placement of chicken houses in Worcester County was not well received by members of the county’s Planning Commission.County resident Larry Ward presented the Planning Commission with a proposal to increase setbacks against new chicken houses. Ward hoped to convince the… Read more »