That's a wrap! Last Council meeting of 2025
And December 16 proclaimed Berea Food Bank Day
Council briefs
Proclamation
At the last regularly scheduled Council meeting for the year, Mayor Bruce Fraley declared December 16 Berea Food Bank Day and delivered the official document to the Food Bank's director, Tony Crachiolo, who was flanked by the organization's board members and volunteers.
After accepting the proclamation, Crachiolo took to the podium to thank the Mayor and Councilmembers for annually covering 20% of the Food Bank's budget. It does so by donating the space where the Food Bank operates, and by paying the utilities.
The City's largesse also helps the Food Bank run two other programs from its premises. Namely, the Frank Gailey fund which is used to support any stranded traveler. This could mean a woman fleeing domestic violence or a person on the highway who pulls off with car trouble. There is also BUURR, Bereans United for Utility and Rent Relief, a program that assists those who need help meeting their housing and utility bills.
Crachiolo also said that to his knowledge, his is the only food bank in the Commonwealth that has evening hours to help meet the needs of working families. It is staffed with students from Berea College's Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service (CELTS).
Resolutions and ordinances
Resolution 21-2025 received its first reading, having been discussed in a work session prior to the Council meeting. It authorizes Fraley to act on behalf of the City to donate $5,000 of Berea's share of the Opioid Settlement, to the Bluegrass Recovery Initiative administrated by the Bluegrass Area Development District for the purpose of developing a collaborative effort to help those impacted by the opioid epidemic. Councilmember Steve Caudill said during the work session that by the end of 2026, he expects there will be just under $200,000 in the fund.
Ordinance 16-2025 , which changes how water meters are read for Berea Municipal Utilities. Remote meters will be used for every BMU water customer, instead of analog ones. Similarly, Ordinance 17-2025, which also was given its second reading, states that now water customers will be billed in gallons and not cubic feet. Both ordinances passed unanimously in voice votes. Cora Jane Wilson was absent.
City administrator report
Shawn Sandler, the city administrator, said the first draft of the City's audit for 2025 was done, and that he was grateful for the opportunity he's had since he stepped into his position about a year ago. Also, he thanked everyone in the City government that he works with, and wished everyone a merry Christmas.
Department head reports
Codes and Planning Administrator Amanda Haney told Council that the City's contractor for managing the Comprehensive Planning process has set the next public meeting date for Thursday, February 19, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. The meeting will be at the Berea Gallery and Event Space. Haney also said that so far, about 800 Bereans have taken the City's land use survey, but encouraged more to take it by visiting Berea2025.org.
Mayor's comments
In fact, earlier in the meeting, where public comment would have been, had there been any public to comment, Fraley claimed "executive privilege" and awarded his life-long friend, Lesha Hays, her 30 year pin as a realtor in the state of Kentucky. Fraley said Hays was truly of Berea, because she requested to come to City Hall to celebrate her achievement than go where there was formal attire in a ballroom.
During his actual comment section, Fraley marveled at this year's Christmas party as the largest he'd ever seen in town, which pleased him. He credited the Berea Chamber of Commerce for putting on the parade, and noted that it was a time of togetherness at the Christmas tree lighting in the square this year, with multiple local leaders in attendance, and the student council president from Berea College. Fraley also mentioned the helping forum held last Monday, and commented on how well-received it was. In an interview with The Edge, following the meeting, Fraley said he plans on having these forums quarterly.
Council comments
Jerry Little: Praise for Sandlin, Haney, and her second-in-command, Brian Reed, for their hard work and excellent project management.
Caudill: The holiday decorations in town this year are the best ever. Christmas is wonderful, but not always for everyone, so check on your neighbors.
Ronnie Terrill: What is the status of the extension of the bypass across Hwy 21, where Silver Creek Baptist Church is at the Southwest corner. Fraley explained that there is no set plan yet, but that he had managed to get a traffic study sponsored by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet included in the six-year transportation plan.
Teresa Scenters: Thanked the Berea Food Bank, and also the Berea Baptist one, God's Provision, for their work, and merry Christmas everyone.
Katie Startzman: Zinnia Hensley should be recognized for her hard work, and Fraley for his leadership, on the helping forum last week.
John Payne: Grateful for the community coming together, and don't forget to help people who need it over the holiday
The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:30pm in the City Annex, 304 Chestnut Street. You can watch a video of this Council meeting here.
This story has been updated atop add comments form the mayor in an interview following the meeting. The link has also been corrected for the meeting video replay.