Mayor Patrick Bates (left), speaks to Berlin town council members during their second meeting since incorporation. (Hayden Hyatt for The Tribune)
BERLIN – Monday night, the Berlin Town Council met for the second time since the Town's incorporation. The council's agenda included the passing of the Town's first and second resolutions, consideration of the applicant for the position of town clerk and other important steps for the developing municipality
Connie Duke, the sole applicant for the town clerk position, was appointed secretary for the meeting.
The council reviewed tax revenues for the town.
Council members made no decision on the applicants for place five on the council at the town attorney’s advisement.
The council took time to consider the applicant for the position of town clerk during the meeting. Duke, who formerly worked with Cullman Jefferson Gas as an operations assistant, is retired now. The council decided not to take any action on selecting Duke for the position at the meeting until she gets more information on a retirement issue that may prevent her from taking the job.
The council approved a measure, proposed by Mayor Patrick Bates, to have a special meeting on Monday, 30 July a 7 p.m.
“It's going to be five weeks until our next meeting and I'm sure we're going to have a lot more that we need to decide sooner rather than later, especially after five weeks,” said Bates.
The council passed a motion to adopt the Town's first resolution, Resolution 2018-001. The resolution effectively allows the mayor and or town clerk to move and store the Town's funds in a bank of the council's choosing in Cullman County that is recognized by the State of Alabama as a qualified public depository. It also allows the mayor and or town clerk to take any further actions needed to protect the funds of the Town.
The second official resolution (Resolution 2018-002), which the council also passed, allows the Town to reimburse the employees and officials of Berlin for mileage from use of their personal vehicles. The amount reimbursed will be equal to the optional standard mileage rate issued by the Internal Revenue Service each year. Bates stated that this is intended for officials or employees when they have to leave the county for their duties.
“I'm envisioning this right now for anyone who has to travel outside of the county on Town business,” explained Bates.
Bates discussed the intent to enter into a contract with Verizon for a cell phone for Town business, although the council took no action because town clerk has not been appointed yet.
The council discussed the website domain name for the Town but took no action. Bates, having a background in information technology, has the domain name “berlinAL.org” and discussed his willingness to transfer the ownership of the domain to the Town. Council members also discussed the possibility of getting a “.gov” address.
The council decided to table a few agenda items that regarded payment until the filling of the town clerk position.
In other business, the council passed a motion to enter into a rental agreement with the Berlin Community Center to rent the facility every Monday, (excluding holidays), for Town business. The agreement allows the placement of a temporary sign on the road announcing the location of the temporary Berlin Town Hall and its hours of operation and establishment of internet service for the facility for Town business. The council also passed a motion to accept an offer for internet service at the community center from Charter Spectrum.
The Berlin Town Council will have a special meeting on Monday, 30 July a 7 p.m. at the Berlin Community Center. The public is invited to attend.
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