9/13/2006

Berlin residents to vote on sale of utility
By Dolores E. Pike

The Town of Berlin, in an effort to reach as many of its voters as possible, held two informational meetings about the proposed sale of the town's electric utility.  Recognizing that one date would not meet everyone's schedule, both meetings included identical information.  The first meeting was on Tuesday, August 29 at Stephen Decatur High School and the second was on Wednesday September 6 at Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin.  Approximately 200 people attended the first meeting and 50 were at the second meeting.

Those representatives presenting information relative to the sale at the September 6 meeting were: Don Fletcher, Berlin finance director; Mike Kleger and Boyd Bounds of PKS & Co., certified public accountants; independent public utilities appraiser, Robert Pender; Choptank Manager of Finance and Regulatory Affairs, Lisa Wothers and Vice President of Consumer Affairs Robert Behlke; and Gary Newell, Esq. from Thompson Coburn in Washington, D.C.

When reached following the second meeting, Town Council Vice President Gee Williams said he was pleased with the number of people who turned out for both meetings.  He believes the overwhelming majority came with an open mind to gather the information needed to make an informed decision.  He stressed, as did Berlin Mayor Tom Cardinale at each meeting, that they want the people to draw their own conclusions.

When asked what he felt was the concern expressed by most of the residents as to the sale of the electric utility, Mr. Williams replied that the two questions most posed were: what are the benefits to the town; and what are the benefits to the individual; how will it affect service and rates.

As to the latter question, it was answered succinctly during the meeting by Mr. Behlke when he informed the audience that they now pay $159 a month for every 1,000 KW hrs where under the proposed Choptank billing it would be $134.

Ultimately it is up to the voters of Berlin to decide whether they want to remain in the electric utility business or not.

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