For the first time in more than a month, a Bridgeport City Council meeting did not include an executive session. And this one was quick.

 

On Monday, City Council met for roughly 20 minutes before adjourning. The agenda was light and, although the option existed, when the regular agenda was finished Council did not opt to meet behind closed doors.

 

During several recent regular sessions and work sessions, Council has met in executive session to discuss advance construction planning of the new indoor recreation complex. On Monday, there was one agenda item relating to that matter.

 

Council approved a reimbursement resolution allowing the city “to be reimbursed for capital expenditures in connection with the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of a new sports and recreation complex prior to the issuance of tax-exempt sales tax revenue bonds by the city of Bridgeport and taking other action in connection with said bonds.”

 

In layman’s terms, what that means is that expenditures up to 60 days before the issuance of the bond paying for the facility will allow for the city to be reimbursed for those expenses, City Attorney Dean Ramsey said. The reimbursement will come after the issuance of the bonds.

 

In other business, Council, re-appointed Meredith McCarthy and Sam Spatafore were both reappointed to the Bridgeport Zoning Appeals Board. McCarthy has been serving since 2000 on the board, while Spatafore has been in place since 2002. Richard Forren, a former member of the Planning Commission, was named a new appointee. All terms are for three years.

 

Mayor Andy Lang also presented a proclamation in support of West Virginia energy production, transmission and end use to encourage economic development and a healthier environment. Nathan Rakestraw, who serves as the coordinator of the Petroleum Technology program at Pierpont Community & Technical College, was presented the proclamation. He then addressed Council about the resource that is present in West Virginia and surrounding states in the form of natural gas.

 

The meeting began with an invocation by Reverend Jim Lang of the Bridgeport United Methodist Church. 

 

Editor's Note: Mayor Andy Lang, left, and City Record Dr. Harry M. "Hank" Murray bow their heads during the invocation from Rev. Jim Lang in the top photo, while Lang presents a proclamation to Nathan Rakestraw in the photo below.