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Page 34
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
December 20, 2013
. . AGH, BerlinDispute Headed To Court
FROM PAGE 20 with and obtained all of the required stormwater management permits and has constructed stormwater management facilities on site in accordance with all approved plans and specifications. According to the AGH letter, the most recent State of Maryland stormwater legislation encourages environmental site design to the maximum extent practicable, so that stormwater runoff is handled and treated closer to its source. According to best management practices, smaller plans are easier to maintain on site. However, the AGH letter suggests Berlin’s plan for a town-wide stormwater utility flies in the face of the state’s intent for smaller, inhouse runoff management plans. Berlin officials have said from the beginning that no properties will be exempt from the stormwater utility fee. Town officials have said if exemptions started to be made for non-profit organizations, government buildings or religious organizations, the cost of getting the utility up and running would fall on a smaller group of residential and commercial property owners. Town officials have also said from the beginning the plan in the future is to at least offer some kind of discount or incentive program for property owners who are proactive with their own systems. However, anything like that would be further
down the road and up until now, the town’s focus has been on getting the stormwater utility in place. Earlier this year, a church came before the council requesting an exemption and its spirited request was denied. AGH feels its own stormwater efforts make it different. “The ordinance does not provide any credits for environmental site design,” AGH’s letter reads. “We maintain that in-fill and redevelopment inside an existing developed area such as AGH should be promoted and incentivized to make these systems more attractive. The town’s statute seems to discourage these practices, which are the intent of the state legislation, in favor of larger scale, more costly initiatives.” Franklin’s letter suggests the money AGH will be required to spend would be better put to use on its healthcare mission for the community. “As a not-for-profit organization, we are obligated to invest all of our efforts and contributions into providing quality healthcare and expanding services for the citizens of the town of Berlin and other neighboring communities,” the letter reads. “To protect the interests of those we serve, we have discussed our concerns and opposition to this ordinance and formally requested an exemption from the town of Berlin on several occasions, which were denied.”
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