Berlin Mayor, Fire Co. Dispute Alleged Election Conspiracy - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

BERLIN, Md. - The mayoral election in Berlin, Maryland may be over.  But it appears a new dispute between the mayor and the fire department is just heating up.    

This, on the heels of a recent funding feud.

"They have gone from denial to defiance," said Mayor Gee Williams.

"The mayor's accusations, no matter what he thinks, are false," said David Fitzgerald, president of the Berlin Fire Co.    

The Berlin fire department drama rekindles, with Mayor Gee Williams accusing the volunteer company of an election conspiracy.     

"Fireman went around town, identifying themselves as firemen, going door to door and phoning people asking them to write in another candidate," said Williams.    

The mayor and fire department agree on this, at least: there is a long-standing town policy which prohibits the fire company from getting involved in politics.   The department denies the allegations.

"The fire company as an organization did not engage in political arena," said Fitzgerald.    

But the dispute doesn't end there.    

Because of funding cuts and the cost of diesel fuel, the fire department says they will not be participating in any "non-emergency functions," which includes the annual Christmas parade.

"We have reached out to the Mayor and council for mediation and they have refused," said Fitzgerald.