Bud Reed is sworn in to the Berlin Town Council, Place 5 by Notary Jane Bates during the Berlin Town Council's August meeting Monday evening. Also shown, left to right: Mayor Patrick Bates and Councilmen Donald Gunter, Jimmy Quick, Matthew Blair and (behind Reed) Don Bates.
BERLIN – The newly-established Berlin Town Council on Monday night added its fifth and final member at its third meeting since incorporation. Bud Reed was sworn into Place 5 on the council by Notary Jane Bates at the start of the meeting to complete the town’s roster of council members after Connie Duke was appointed as the town clerk last month.
The council authorized up to $1,000 to be used for the purchase of a laptop and $500 was authorized for the purchase of a phone for the town clerk at last month’s meeting. Mayor Patrick Bates was pleased to report the Town was able to get both items under budget. Also authorized was $200 for the purchase of a printer that Bates was able to find at a lower cost as well.
The Town is having internet service installed at the Berlin Community Center next week and Bates discussed one of the options for electrical work with the council.
“This coming Monday, Charter is going to be here to install internet service for Town use. I discussed some options with the community center regarding where we would position the equipment and everything,” Bates said. “After looking over two options and having time to think about it, we’re going to need to have an electrical outlet installed for the equipment to be connected to. I spoke with Chris Price, he’s actually one of the trustees of the community center, he does electrical work and has done some here before for them. He says he can install the outlet with labor and materials costing a little over $100.”
The council authorized $150 to contract with Price for the electrical work in the community center.
Moving into new business items, the council approved the purchase and placement of an outdoor message board to be placed out in front of the Berlin Community Center to make town information more publicly accessible and keep it separate from the community center. The council approved the purchase at the cost of no more than $400.
The council then authorized the purchase of networking equipment and cabling. It approved $300 for the purchase of a router and access point to make the Town’s internet accessible after it is installed next week.
Lastly, the council authorized Bates and the Town to enter into a contract with public accountant Larry G. Cooke for payroll services and quarterly filings at the cost of $50 per quarter.
The Berlin Town Council meets at the Berlin Community Center on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The council’s next meeting will be Sept. 17.
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