Bridgeport City Council will meet Monday, first in a 6:30 p.m. work session and thereafter in regular session at City Hall’s Council Chambers.

The city’s governing body will consider and act upon a trio of agenda items; the first regarding a contract with Lobec, Inc. to extend the Center Street parking lot. Lobec presented a bid for $28,280 plus a 10 percent contingency ($2,828) to cover any unforeseen issues.  

 

The extension project will provide additional spaces adjoining the lot which was built in 2016, parallel to Main Street and accessible to motorists from Center Street and to foot traffic via a pedestrian bridge between Murray, Queen and Company and Nationwide Insurance: Doug Marquette Agency. The original project provided parking for 20 vehicles, but more spaces are needed as patrons visit downtown businesses. Mayor Andy Lang said that is a good problem to have. It is not known at this time when the project will be completed.

 

The second line item is for consideration and action upon the hiring of a firm to perform an energy audit for six city-owned buildings. Tower Engineering out of Pittsburgh is being considered for the service at a cost of $19,900.

 

Council will finally consider and act upon appointing Bill Hostutler to the Bridgeport Development Authority for a term of three years.

 

The only other item on Monday’s agenda is to discuss and act upon bids for supplying services to acquire applicants for the new city manager position. It was at the Jan. 14 Council meeting that the governing body voted not to negotiate a new contract with longtime City Manager Kim Haws. At that meeting, Mayor Andy Lang made this statement:

 

“I’d like to say the current contract is set to expire June 30, 2019, and as per the city charter, the city manager was recently evaluated by Council and so documented. This item was first placed on our agenda Oct. 8, 2018, and as noted in the minutes of that meeting, we went into executive session to discuss personnel matters and no action was taken after that executive session. I want to be clear that there has been ample time to ask questions and think about what is best for the City of Bridgeport.”

 

 At Jan. 29 meeting, member Bob Greer – who was excused for absence from the Jan. 14 meeting - petitioned Council to reconsider and revisit that decision. Lang said Greer’s request was duly noted, but at this time, Council will move forward with the search for a new city manager and getting a process in place.

 

At Monday’s work session, Council will likely hear recommendations for recruiting firms; one which ultimately will be hired to locate candidates for the position, narrowing down the search, Lang said.  

 

“We’ll discuss it in work session and have a little more discussion during the regular session and hopefully vote to choose one,” he said.

 

Father Benny Kapa of All Saints Catholic Church will provide the invocation for Monday’s meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. Work session is at 6:30 p.m.

 

On Tues., Feb. 12, a special Council meeting will take place to discuss further development of the forthcoming indoor sports and recreation complex. That meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall.  Richard Forren of Omni Associates will discuss development of the complex which is slated for a spring construction launch and a late-2020 opening.