Page 22 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch September 6, 2013 . . Mayor: ‘It’ll Be Less Than Full Funding’ FROM PAGE 7 and turn out in support, Williams guaranteed the council will not change their minds due to “public pressure.” “If people want to come to the meeting, they’re more than welcome, but this is not a matter of some sort of public pressure effort,” he said. “We’re doing this based on what we think is a responsible way to actually support the needs of the Berlin Fire Company and to serve the town of Berlin and based on the financial needs of the community … To think that a large crowd of people would somehow intimidate us into making a decision we did not feel was responsible and is not appropriate under the circumstances is just silly.” The town has reduced its own budget this year, Williams continued, so the expectation is that the BFC should be able to tighten its belt as well despite their protests. “We’ve had to cut back significantly and the indications we’ve had from the fire company is that they can’t cut back at all,” he said. Williams acknowledged that any restoration of funding less than the $600,000 that was originally withdrawn isn’t likely to go over well with the crowd at Monday night’s council meeting, but asserted that there are plenty of residents in Berlin that side with the council on the matter but are less inclined to make that opinion known publically. Williams’ opinion to the contrary, the BFC has made it clear that they feel a restoration of full-funding is crucial. “Just as you have in your home or business, our expenses must be met in order to have us continue providing the same level of fire and life safety to the town,” read the letter. “The funding we are requesting is to protect you by providing fire and rescue services and to provide you effective paramedic level emergency medical services.” The letter reiterated town funding would only be used on emergency services and not alternate BFC costs, such as the defense of an ongoing $8 million lawsuit filed by a former employee over harassment, the same employee whose initial allegations led to funding being severed by the town. “We can assure you that we are vigorously going to defend the suit, and we deny the allegations which will be fully resolved in the lawsuit. The company is fully insured and the lawyers are being provided by our insurer,” according to the letter. “Therefore, any money which we seek from the town of Berlin will not be used for legal expenses or any other costs relating to this suit. The funding we are requesting is solely for the continuing cost of operations. ...” OCResident Stops Burglar With Gun OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City resident turned the tables on a would-be burglar last week, holding an intruder who walked into his home with a shotgun until police arrived. Around 11:45 a.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police responded to a residence on Baltimore Avenue near 17th Street for a reported burglary in progress. Communications advised the responding officers the unidentified victim was holding the suspect down on the floor at gunpoint. JOSHUA DELP Ocean City Police entered the unit and quickly placed the suspect, later identified as Joshua Luke Delp, 31, of Sinking Springs, Pa., under arrest. The victim told police Delp entered through the unlocked front door of the unit, then walked into the victim’s bedroom and assaulted him. The victim then struck Delp back and grabbed a shotgun hidden nearby and asked a roommate to call police. The victim was able to hold Delp on the floor at gunpoint until police arrived. Ocean City Police charged Delp with third- and fourth-degree burglary and second-degree assault. He was later released on a $10,000 bond. Wicomico & Baltimore Ave. Downtown Ocean City 410-289-POUR(7687) Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3-7 p.m. Sunday 9 p.m.-Close w/ $4 Fireball Wednesday All Day & Night $2.50 Dom. Pints $2.75 Dom. Bottles $3.25 Rail Drinks $3.25 House Wine $5.00 Wings $6.95 1/2 # Steamed Shrimp WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT: Friday DJ Moonshine 9 p.m. Saturday The Runner Ups 9 p.m. Sunday DJ Styler 9 p.m. Wednesday Happy Hour All Day Thirsty Thursday DJ Skip Dixon 9 p.m. $2 OFF All Craft Beer $2 Dom. Pints • $4 Fireball All The Time! $2 NATTY BOH PINTS $5 CRAFT FLIGHTS $6 ORANGE CRUSHES Open Daily • Noon