UNRESOLVED, yes – but don’t give up!
By now most of us have heard about the results from the second and final Berlin Maryland Town public presentation by Booth & Associates regarding our Electric Company held on Tuesday evening. Being present, I felt it was an informative and fair analysis although others showed their dissatisfaction by leaving during the presentation. I empathize. As Town ratepayers, we all are burdened with the same high electric rates and currently are left with conservation of use as a means by which we CAN currently reduce our monthly bills. This is obviously not where we want to be – we want an effective rate reduction NOW. Yet, as seen in the presentation we remain some months from that goal. However, since we are now in the “shoulder” season – using little or no energy for home cooling or heating, we have that time – albeit, a short time to examine the Booth analysis – time to allow our Berlin Utility Commission to work with the engineering analysts and other experts, to come up with recommendations to our Mayor and Council which point the way to seriously reducing or at least finding some stabilization of lower rates for all.
Continuing that “unresolved” thought…last evening a “public information debate”, sponsored by the Assateague Coastal Trust, was held at the Berlin Intermediate School. Our two candidates for Mayor and two of the three candidates for District II were posed questions authored by the Trust and later from the audience. Though relating to current, and widely known Town issues, the various questions also required answers of opinion and intent. Early on it became clear who had done their homework. As already 5-month interim Mayor, Gee Williams was head and shoulders above his opponent with both knowledge, thought and conviction in his responses. Though Gee sometimes suffers a little problem when presenting his thoughts orally – as do I, he cannot be faulted. He was “right there” with his responses and now I am with him. Go GEE! Two of the current three candidates for Council District II were presented with the same questions…and even agreed with one another on several points. However the winner in my mind was Lisa Hall. Lisa, despite being a newcomer to Berlin politics, is a 14-year long resident. She has raised her children here and has experienced first-hand the many changes and challenges in our town. Her message was clear – her concern apparent, for ALL Berlin citizens. Going forward I believe Ms. Hall will be a strong and effective Council representative.
Finally (and fortunately), one of these two unresolved questions shall be answered on Tuesday, October 14th at the polls. Please come out and vote.
New polling place for Districts I and II – Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Main.
Districts III and IV – Multi-purpose Building on Flower Street.
Poll Hours – 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.
