June 14, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 31 Planners Nix West OCSidewalk Waiver Request By TRAVIS BROWN STAFF WRITER Regional Digest FROM PAGE 30 tigation and prosecution of cases involving neglect, physical and sexual abuse. The groundbreaking is set for Tuesday, June 18, at 4 p.m. SNOW HILL – In an unusual stalemate when two motions were made but neither was seconded, the Worcester County Planning Commission denied a waiver request for a sidewalk in West Ocean City by default. While such waivers have been somewhat common in the past, there was a belief amongst some on the commission that West Ocean City is overdue for sidewalks and that a precedent should be set where businesses that are supposed to construct sidewalks under the county design guidelines be required to do so. The request to waive the sidewalk, which would extend down part of Keyser Point Road from its intersection with Route 50, was made by attorney Hugh Cropper on behalf of Comdent, Inc. Cropper argued that waiving the need for a sidewalk was common sense as it would not be connected to anything else and would represent a burden for his client. “It’s just not fair and he can’t afford it,” said Cropper. Commissioner Wayne Hartman reminded Cropper that “financial hardship” was not justification for failing to meet the county’s design guidelines. That was true, admitted Cropper, but he stood by his point that it wasn’t a fair requirement. “If I built this thing new from scratch, I wouldn’t have to do the design guidelines,” he said. Cropper pointed to the county’s new flagship liquor store, which was constructed this spring and was not held to the guidelines. Because his client is making a significant addition to an existing structure, the property will be held to those guidelines. Besides not being fair, Cropper argued that requiring a sidewalk at the location was pointless. “It connects to nowhere. I also suggest to you, if you’ve been down Keyser Point Road recently, I don’t think that I’m going to live long enough to see a sidewalk down Keyser Point Road on that side of the road,” he said. That prediction could be hasty, according to County Development Review and Permitting Director Ed Tudor. “I’ve had some meetings with State Highway about it and State Highway views that there is a definitive need for sidewalks in West Ocean City in general,” he said. “And we’ve had this conversation with State Highway for a long time.” Tudor added that State Highway representatives will be meeting with the County Commissioners next week to discuss sidewalks in Worcester. That doesn’t mean that they will be popping up all over Keyser Point Road, clarified Tudor, but that West Ocean City could see some additions in the near future. “They’re realizing that you’ve got to start somewhere, too,” he said. “You’ve got to connect up the pieces where you can.” That was why the Planning Commission should stick to the design guidelines, asserted Hartman. “I just feel that if we waive it now then we’re going to be waiving it again later and I think we need to start being consistent with the requirement,” he said. The rest of the planning commission remained divided. Hartman made a motion to deny the waiver, which did not receive a second and thus did not go to vote. Commissioner Brooks Clayville made a counter-motion to approve the waiver, saying that in a “perfect world” all businesses that fall under the design guidelines should have to build sidewalks when required. However, with so many sidewalks waived in the past and with the current requested sidewalk not connecting to anything, Clayville motioned the waiver be granted. The motion failed to draw a second and also died before the commission could vote. With the members in a standoff, the waiver request automatically failed and the sidewalk will have to be constructed. Farm Bill Approved BERLIN – U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) this week announced the Senate passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, legislation that includes provisions that benefit Maryland agriculture including greenhouse and nursery products, wineries, watermelons, apples, dairy and poultry. Agriculture is the state’s largest commercial industry and employs approximately 350,000 people. In 2010, Maryland’s 12,800 farms contributed $2 billion to the state’s economy. “Maryland’s number one industry is agriculture,” said Mikulski. “Together with our farmers and small businesses, those who work on Maryland’s farms and in our federal labs, universities and other research facilities are supporting our economic future and keeping our nation healthy. I am so proud these federal dollars will help support Maryland’s farmers and a safe, reliable food supply.” The bill increases specialty crop block grants from $55 million to $70 million per year. Maryland has received more than $2.6 million dollars from the program. These funds allow the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to increase support to producers of crops. Berlin Council News In Brief BY TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer BERLIN -- The Berlin Mayor and Council unanimously approved a contract with Goody Hill Construction this week to build sidewalks from Esham Avenue to Ann Drive. “This is basically the continuation of the sidewalk that we put in last summer,” said Mayor Gee Williams. The cost for the project will be $82,220. Costs were kept down because Berlin offered to handle all of the flagging duty associated with the project, explained Town Administrator Tony Carson. Furthermore, the State Highway Administration will be reimbursing Berlin for 50 percent of the project. Construction is expected to begin next week and take about three weeks. admitted Darl, though the grant process has left him confident it will be secured in time. “The way I read it is ‘yes.’ And this whole process what they’ve indicated is that we are getting one. But I don’t have a letter that says yes,” he told the council. Property Tax Stays Steady Berlin officially set the property tax rate for fiscal year 2014 Monday, locking in the same rate as last year. Williams noted that the budget has already passed with the expectation that the rate would not change this year. “We are keeping the tax rate exactly where it was last year which is $.68 for $100 of assessed value. That was a reduction from $.73 from several years prior and the new budget is based on retaining that same tax rate,” he said. This year’s operating budget called for total spending of $13,514,462, a 2-percent decrease from the prior year’s budget. State Stormwater Grant Likely Town Stormwater Engineer Darl Kolar updated the council on a state grant that has been applied for that could be put toward Berlin’s ongoing stormwater flooding reduction projects. The grant would be a 75/25 percent match with the state handling the lion’s share of the costs. The grant would offer $135,843 and would require a match from the town of $45,281 for a total of $181,124. The money is not in pocket yet, courts at Stephen Decatur Park off Tripoli Street. “I play tennis a lot and I realized that far tennis court has a really nasty crack. Is there any way we can prevent it from getting any worse so that we don’t have to recover it?” she asked. Public Works Director Mike Gibbons confirmed that he has already spoken to Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen about the possibility of replacing the entire court with the help of grant funding. It would be a similar process to what happened last year when the town reconstructed the basketball courts at Henry Park. “What we’re going to look to be doing is essentially the same thing we did with the basketball courts, to remove and replace them,” Bohlen said. “Mike’s crews have done a great job over the years repaving and replacing, but that can only take you so far.” Those grants will be looked at for the next fiscal year. Williams noted that the town will be replacing the large mural behind the courts next spring and that it would really transform the location if those events happened around the same time. Until then, Gibbons promised Hall that his crews would look to do more patchwork on the courts. Women’s Comm. Formed SALISBURY – Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt this week announced the reestablishment of the Wicomico County Commission on Women. As part of his “Building Bridges, Building Community” concept, Pollitt views the Commission on Women as a vital resource and advocacy group in the community. The Commission on Women is a non-partisan organization dedicated to enriching the lives of women and families by focusing on issues of importance and concern to them including education, economic opportunities, healthcare, social issues and legislation. “I believe I speak for all of us when I say there was a real excitement during our first meeting about the role the commission can play in the community,” said newly elected chair Pyda Sterling. “It is a dynamic, talented and diverse group of women who can bring a wealth of resources to address the challenges all women in Wicomico County face as well as fostering opportunities for them in our community.” Tennis Court Project Eyed Councilwoman Lisa Hall mentioned during her comments some worries over one section of tennis