M2022-05
May 16, 2022
Regular Meeting
- Meeting called to order by Mayor Patrick Bates on Monday, May 16, 2022, at 7:02 P.M. at the Berlin Community Center.
- Invocation – Councilman Donald Gunter.
- Pledge of Allegiance – Mayor Patrick Bates.
- Roll call by Town Clerk Keirstyn Montgomery. All members present.
PUBLIC HEARING: 772 PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE DONE AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 278 AND COUNTY ROAD 747 AT BERLIN HARDWARE & FARM SUPPLY.
- Motion to enter into Public Hearing made by Councilman James Sanford, second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Approved 6-0.
- Public Comments: There were none.
- Motion to close Public Hearing made by Councilman Tony Duke, second made by Councilman James Sanford. Approved 6-0.
- Motion to suspend the rules and approve made by Councilman James Sanford, second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Abstain. Approved 5-0.
- Motion to adopt Resolution # 2022-004 in support of the Economic Development Project made by Councilman Tony Duke, second made by Councilman James Sanford. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Abstain. Approved 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARING: BERLIN ACRES SUBDIVISION
- Motion to enter into Public Hearing made by Councilman James Sanford, second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Approved 6-0.
- Public Comments: Resident Nancy Dell address the Council about concerns of damage to newly paved roads.
- Motion to close Public Hearing made by Councilman James Sanford, second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Approved 6-0.
- Motion to approve Berlin Acres Subdivision made by Councilman Donald Gunter second made by Councilman Tony Duke. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Abstain, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 5-0.
- Mayor Patrick Bates asked for public comments. There were none.
- Approval of minutes from April 18, 2022, Regular Meeting. Motion to approve made by Councilman Donald Gunter, second made by Councilman James Sanford. Approved 6-0.
- Mayor Patrick Bates presented annexation request from Jeremy Houston.
- Councilman Tony Duke made motion to suspend the rules and accept the Annexation Petition of Jeremy Houston. Second made by James Sanford. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 6-0.
- Councilman James Sanford made motion to accept the Annexation Petition of Jeremy Houston. Second made by Councilman Tony Duke. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 6-0.
- Mayor Patrick Bates presented annexation request from Harry and Mary Walker.
- Councilman James Sanford made motion to suspend the rules and accept the Annexation Petition of Harry and Mary Walker. Second made by Donald Gunter Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 6-0.
- Councilman James Sanford made motion to accept the Annexation Petition of Harry and Mary Walker. Second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Don Bates– Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 6-0.
- Councilman James Sanford made motion to adopt Public Records Request Policy. Second made by Councilman Tony Duke. Approved 6-0.
- Council discussed park and recreation. Mayor Patrick Bates informed Council that the town has submitted for FY2023 Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers, and Valley’s RC&D Council grant for playground equipment in the amount of $8,000.
- Council to hold Public Hearing at next regular meeting to discuss park and recreation.
- Council discussed ORDINANCE NO. 2022-005 – TO PRESCRIBE AND ESTABLISH LICENSES FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF ENGAGING IN OR CARRYING ON BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, VOCATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE TOWN OF BERLIN, ALABAMA FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR THEREAFTER.
- Mayor Patrick Bates asked for unanimous consent to waive the full reading of the ordinance. Approved 6-0.
- Councilman James Sanford made motion to approve 1st reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2022-005 – TO PRESCRIBE AND ESTABLISH LICENSES FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF ENGAGING IN OR CARRYING ON BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, VOCATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE TOWN OF BERLIN, ALABAMA FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR THEREAFTER. Second made by Councilman Tony Duke. Approved 6-0. Roll-Call Vote: Mayor Patrick Bates- Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman James Sanford – Yes, Councilman Tony Duke – Yes, Councilman Donald Gunter – Yes, Councilman Keith Hardman – Yes. Approved 6-0.
- Council discussed surplus topsoil & waste dirt located on the Berlin Farmers Market property.
- Mayor Patrick Bates presented proposed change to the Annual Leave Policy. Amendment to Leave Policy,
REMOVE: Full-time employees must be normally scheduled to work the day a holiday is observed to be eligible to be paid.
REPLACE WITH: Full-time employees who are not scheduled to work the day of a holiday, but are otherwise scheduled to work full-time that week, shall be provided a day of vacation accrual instead. Motion to approve made by Councilman James Sanford, second made by Councilman Donald Gunter. Approved 6-0.
- Mayor Patrick Bates informed Council that business hours for Town Hall change this week due to the Farmers Market opening. Town of Berlin business hours will be Tuesday-Friday, 8AM-4PM.
- Adjourned at 7:37 PM.
- The next meeting of the Berlin Town Council will be June 20, 2022, at the Berlin Community Center at 7:00 PM.