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Worcester County approves $24,000 allocation to help Berlin secure $463,000 MDOT earmark for bike-ped project
Summary
After heated debate over a rushed deadline and incomplete documentation, commissioners voted 6-1 to allocate $24,000 from previously committed rails-to-trails funds so the town of Berlin can meet a state match and accept $463,000 in MDOT funding for bike and pedestrian safety work.
The Worcester County Commissioners voted 6-1 on Sept. 2 to reallocate $24,000 of previously committed rails-to-trails funding to help the Town of Berlin provide a 20% match for a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) earmark of $463,000.
Sarah Gorfinkel, executive assistant to Berlin Mayor Zach Tindall, told commissioners MDOT had offered $463,000 of previously unused earmark funding and that the town would be responsible for a 20% match — roughly $128,000. Gorfinkel said the town has $104,000 in its budget and asked the county to reallocate county rails-to-trails funding to make the match whole.
"MDOT asked us to respond within 48 hours," Gorfinkel said, describing the short timeline.
Commissioners pushed back on the deadline and the lack of documentation in the materials provided that morning. Commissioner Fiore said he felt the request was rushed and moved to table the item to the next meeting; Commissioner Metresick seconded the motion to table. Several commissioners said they wanted clearer documentation of the town council's position and how the county funds would be used.
Commissioner Bunting and others raised a narrower proposal: allow the town to use up to the county's full $113,000 allocation toward the project but, for the immediate response to MDOT, only allocate the specific amount needed for the match. Commissioner Fiore amended his motion to allocate $24,000 for the match and Metresick amended the second. The amended motion passed 6-1.
Commissioners noted the grant is intended to support bike and pedestrian safety work tied to Berlin's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods planning, including feasibility work and potential bridge crossing options over Route 113. Gorfinkel said the original $1.2 million reconnecting grant supported study work; the MDOT earmark would advance the town's feasibility and design steps, with consultants evaluating crossings and recommending safer connections to the town's bikeway and community center.
The record shows concern from multiple commissioners about the rushed request, the absence of detailed estimated construction costs and the need for clearer documentation of the town council's vote. Commissioners and Berlin representatives said consultants would identify recommended crossings and that MDOT, as owner of Route 113, would play a major role in final decisions about crossings.
