Page 32 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch November 29, 2013 United Way Presents Diakonia Berlin Council News In Brief With $54K In New Funding BY TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer BERLIN – At this week’s Berlin Mayor and Council meeting, a returning service member was honored, a rules and regulations ordinance for town parks was passed, voter redistricting was discussed and an update on the Berlin wind turbine project was given. Parks Ordinance Passes Returning Police Officer, Solider Recognized The council began the meeting with a proclamation for Berlin Police Officer Merle Bragg Jr., who has been with the town since 1996. But Bragg also holds the rank of sergeant major in the United States Army and has seen multiple deployments overseas, including from September 2001 to July 2002, February 2003 to January 2004 and finally from July 2004 until November 2013. Bragg has been part of Operation “Iraqi Freedom” in Iraq and Operation “Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan. He was also sent to the Pentagon in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Bragg has returned to serving with the Berlin Police Department as of this month. “We’re all very, very happy and very proud,” said Mayor Gee Williams. “There’s just no way to express our appreciation, but thank goodness the Good Lord saw fit to bring you back home.” Diakonia recently received a $54,733 check from United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore in support of its local outreach programs. The funding will provide assistance in 2014 for the Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Program. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore has supported Diakonia since 1985 with $842,731 in funding. “We are very happy to have such a longstanding partnership and we certainly wouldn’t be able to fulfill our mission without the essential funding that we receive from United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore,” said Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle. Nagle is pictured above accepting the funding donation from United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore Donor Relations Coordinator Natalie Costello. Submitted Photo An ordinance governing the rules and regulations of town parks was unanimously passed this week despite some snags in the past. The ordinance, which defines the use of parks for everything from dog walking to vehicle repair, has seen a number of revisions since first being introduced in September. These alterations mainly revolved around whether or not town parks can be used to conduct private business and, if so, what rules should govern that. Councilman Dean Burrell was adamantly opposed to allowing any private business in public parks when the ordinance was first discussed, saying, “I’m on record as being opposed to for-profit making individuals utilizing public facilities for their personal gain.” However, the ordinance passed this week unanimously with a section allowing the use of the parks for “activity in which money is exchanged for goods or services” if the individual has written permission from the council to do so. There were no comments during the public hearing prior to the ordinance being passed. The only remarks made were by Williams, who felt that, while it took more time and effort than initially expected to SEE NEXT PAGE THE CHATEAU #101-C 714 Mooring Road Immaculate 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo. Walk to Beach - 6 Steps to Boat Dock Fully Furnished. New Kitchen. $189,000 Directions: Coastal Highway to 94th Street towards the bay. Left on Rusty Anchor. Right on Mooring to The Chateau on right. 714 Mooring #101-C. Joyce Melbourne, Realtor, GRI Beach Real Estate 306 North Main Street • Berlin, MD Cell: 410-490-0948 Office: 410-629-0224