The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Volume 13, Number 16
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Public hearing on budget provides some answers By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor A public hearing on the town’s $66.5 million budget, at McGee Middle School April 7, gave residents a clearer picture of how the lean fiscal year of 2009-2010 will play out. One of the main topics of discussion was how the school district will proceed with its budget. The Town Council is recommending a zero increase in the mill rate when the budget goes to referendum April 28. Originally, when requests from department heads were first processed, the town budget was projected at $71 million. Over the past several months, that amount has been trimmed substantially. But the town still had about a $2 million shortfall if the mill rate was to stay the same.
In order to achieve no increase, the town will take $2 million from its fund balance, said Town Manager Denise McNair. She said similar amounts have been used in the past to balance the budget and then, subsequently, that money wasn’t used as there was a balance at the end of the year. McNair said town staff also is taking “a creative approach” to funding capital projects. Town Councilor and chairman of the finance committee Robert Dacey said the zero increase “Would not have been possible without the efforts of the town manager and staff who took a pay freeze and three unions who gave up pension contributions.” Dacey called these actions “an enormous sacrifice.” Of the total budget, 41 per-
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Spring is blooming
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
It’s a sure sign of spring when Nutmeg Farms on Mill Street opens for business. The greenhouses feature a wide array of plants, seedlings, herbs and shrubs as well as mulch and other garden needs.
See Budget, page 13
A unique perspective on Berlin’s history By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor (This two-part story explores the experiences of a brickmaker’s son growing up in Berlin in the early part of the last century. This week, reflections on the life and times of “Satchmo.” Next week: A soldier returns home to look for his name on the Veterans Memorial.) Robert Lewis Matthew Gardner, 87, has a perspective on Berlin history that is literally a minority view.
From his days shining shoes at the Berlin train station to becoming the first commander of the American Legion Post, Gardner’s early years in Berlin are an authentic slice of Americana. In a recent interview with The Citizen, he reminisced about life in a town he loves. In 1940, “I was the first colored boy to graduate from Berlin High School,” Gardner said, adding that in those days high school was Jean E.
See Gardner, page 12
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
Robert Gardner looks for his name on the war memorial monument on Worthington Ridge.