BERLIN – As part of an ongoing effort to clean up the Berlin town code and modernize its provisions, some minor changes to Berlin’s election laws were introduced this week at Monday night’s Mayor and Council meeting.The Berlin Board of Election Supervisors recommended making the changes after reviewing the election laws already on the town… Read more »

BERLIN – After years of prep work, the draft of the new Berlin Comprehensive Plan has been given a favorable recommendation by the Berlin Planning Commission.The commission, which met Wednesday night, agreed that the draft comprehensive plan should be sent on to the Berlin Mayor and Council for the next step in the approval process.The… Read more »

BERLIN – A new Berlin stormwater ordinance emphasizing the preservation of natural run-off patterns is slated for approval by the town in the next few weeks.The new stormwater approach has been mandated by the Maryland Stormwater Management Act of 2007, which calls for the use of Environmental Site Design (ESD) “to the maximum extent practicable.”… Read more »

SNOW HILL – If legislation to be considered Tuesday passes, county elected officials will legally be able to eliminate or consolidate county departments behind closed doors, as they did in late May when they decided in closed session to fold three departments into one and lay off 11 employees.The proposed law has sparked community concern.“Good… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Testimony began in Circuit Court this week in a high-profile murder case from Cambridge dating back to 2004, which was moved to Worcester last year after the state’s Court of Special Appeals overturned a conviction and life sentence in 2006 and granted the defendant a new trial.After some pre-trial motions were dispensed… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — The City Council shot down two new ideas last Monday aimed at furthering efforts in cleaning up Ocean City’s beaches, arguing the ideas could have the reverse effect.The local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has been credited over the past five years as coming up with and executing one of the best… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — Despite extending hours for bicycles to be permitted on the Boardwalk this summer until 11 a.m., the City Council had to deal with yet another conflict concerning bikes and the Boardwalk tram, albeit a small one.City Manager Dennis Dare noticed a potential conflict when the council recently passed an amendment to an… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — In the brief this week, the town continued its rightsizing efforts, the police department announced it’s getting ready to turn on a new “red light” and an emergency response training session was announced.Departments RestructuredSeveral town departments are about to get a little more crowded as City Hall announced this week that a… Read more »

BERLIN – Berlin’s energy efficiency improvement help program needs more time before the Berlin Mayor and Council is comfortable adding the replacement of old appliances and systems with more energy efficient models to the list of items eligible for reimbursement.The energy audit credit program offers money to homeowners who make repairs or improvements based on… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — Despite unemployment numbers and economic conditions as tumultuous as most can remember, the turnout for two annual events was something organizers will not soon forget.The Roland E. Powell Convention Center was packed with thousands of people last weekend as the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association’s (OCHRMA) Annual Trade Show and the Ocean City… Read more »