Prior to what turned out to be a very busy session of Bridgeport City Council, some housecleaning items were in order. And it required the services of Harrison County Circuit Court Judge James A. Matish to complete.
Matish was on hand to officially administer the oath of office to newly appointed Bridgeport Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer and fellow appointee and new City Recorder Melissa Matheny. The pair both took the oath of office after officially resigning from their previous positions – Greer as City Recorder and Matheny as a member of City Council.
That domino effect created the need for Matish’s final appointment of the night, which was a new member of City Council. Dr. Harry M. “Hank” Murray, a former long-time member of the city’s governing body, will fill out a nine-month term on Council.
The appointments became necessary following the recent resignation of Mayor Mario Blount. Blount resigned at the last regularly scheduled Council meeting prior to pleading guilty on felony drug charges stemming from his June 3 arrest.
Although Blount is gone, the impact of his resignation continued during the public comments portion of the meeting this evening. Steve McElroy, who continually called for Blount’s resignation in the months following his arrest, chastised several members of Council for what he described as “poor judgment” in “encouraging him to remain as mayor.”
McElroy’s statement was followed by those of Lowell Maxey. Maxey, who came up just short for a Council seat during the last election and was seeking to be appointed this time, said he admired “anyone who supports their friends or family during a difficult time; and this is certainly a difficult time for Mr. Blount and his family.”
Maxey, however, was critical in what he said were comments of support from the platform of the seat of City Council. He singled out Greer and Council members Dustin Vincent and Diana Marra, quoting comments made at past meetings on Blount. Following his comments, Greer thanked him for his time and no rebuttals were offered.
Even prior to that, Council began formal business. Two new members of the Bridgeport Fire Department were sworn in. Ben Tacy and Matt Ogden were sworn in by Greer with family members and multiple members of the Bridgeport Fire Department present.
Ironically, the same meeting had a bone of contention regarding the city’s ordinance that would allow its Home Rule application to be amended. The bone of contention was brought up by Council member Darrell Bowen and Matheny. Both were concerned with a waiver that would eliminate the need for a two-year waiting period to go up a level in rank. Currently, it takes two years for that to happen before an individual can be promoted. That waiting period is now required under state law through Civil Service regulations, which if approved Home Rule would eliminate in Bridgeport.
“To drop this two-year requirement is the wrong thing to do,” said Bowen.
Matheny said she didn’t believe Civil Service rules was an area that the city “should try to change.” Both Bowen and Matheny said they could support the rest of the application without that included. However, Marra made a motion to approve it and it passed by a 4-2 vote with Marra, Vincent, Murray and Council member John Wilson in favor and Bowen and Matheny voting in the negative.
City Attorney Dean Ramsey explained that Council would have the option to revise that portion of the application if it desired as the matter still had several more steps to go through before becoming the final product to go before the Home Rule Board. Even if approved by Council as it and going to the Home Rule Board it could still not receive approval from the state-appointed board.
“I make the motion to proceed (with the application) with the option to amend if the majority of Council agrees,” Marra said prior to the 4-2 vote.
In other business, Council:
- Agreed to provide up to $5,000 – if needed – to support the financial needs of the West Virginia Police Chief’s Association Conference being held this weekend at the Bridgeport Conference Center. The conference, City Manager Kim Haws said, has a budget of roughly $42,000 and Chief John Walker said nearly $17,000 had been raised or pledged. The Association, Walker said, will cover roughly half of the costs and he’s hoping some donated guns that will be raffled at the event would bring the dollar amount available closer to the 50 percent total (or $21,000) that is needed.
Marra supported the move, but said Council was setting a precedent in providing the funds. She said Council would need to budget in the future to provide funds for other conferences that may be hosted by the city or an official city agency that would need it.
- Will be moving ahead with a “geese harassment” program to help eliminate a massive influx of Canadian Geese in Bridgeport’s parks, lakes and ponds. The cost to what was described as a non-threatening way to eliminate the geese was listed at $7,000.
- Approved $20,000 out of the “outside fire fees” line item to be used by the fire department for the purchase of tires needing to be replaced on various city emergency vehicles. The cost of the replacement of the tires, which Haws said includes many of the massive tires on the larger trucks, is $20,000.
- The city's new mobile command unit was also on display. The unit was set up in the Municipal Complex parking lot for anyone wishing to take a look inside and out prior to and after the meeting.
Check back to Connect-Bridgeport.com later this week for a photo gallery from this evening's Council meeting, which will include multiple photos of those sworn in and more.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Mayor Bob Greer, right, taking the oath of office from Judge James Matish, while resident Lowell Maxey addresses the city's governing body in the second photo. Council member Darrell Bowen voices his concern over a section of the city's Home Rule amendment application, while Council member Diana Marra talks about setting precedent in providing funds for various events hosted by the city at the Bridgeport Conference Center in the bottom picture.
The problem is the people who appoint these officials, and vote for these politicians have no more judgment or moral basis than the people they select. We need to start putting men and women of virtue not Law Degree to offices. An automatic disqualifier for my vote is the words "current or former attorney or judge". Someone like Lowell Maxey gets passed up? We just don't get it. Why do we not have more military combat officers in offices? These guys put their life on the line for the country certainly they have proven that they put the needs of others first. Anyone can run their mouth about how great they are and what their going to do. It is usually these same individuals who talk about forgiving their indiscretions etc... Honor and integrity is in the character not the reputation. It is either who you are or who you are not. If Bridgeport wants a good mayor and the country wants a good President then find the individual who isn't out talking about how great he or she is. Find the individual who just is.
Posted by JOEL KIRK Sep. 23, 2014 at 6:43 AM EST
Following Lowell Maxey's statement, about half the people in attendance applauded. I was glad to have support as Maxey's statement paralleled mine, but was even more forceful.
Complete context of my statement:
We have witnessed illegal, immoral behavior by public figures.
The nation has been transfixed on the lack of out rage surrounding domestic abuse... and rightly so.
Youthful indiscretions can be forgiven. But what is difficult to forgive is extremely poor judgement and bad decision making from adults. Especially roll models for our children, whether athletes or government leaders.
The Commissioner of the NFL was taken to task by a cry of out rage from the people. The people displayed their sound judgement... demanding justice, not a slap on the wrist for the violent display of no respect for the rule of law.
The NFL Commissioner was very wise to man up and apologize for his poor judgement.
3 of the Bridgeport City Council members, like wise displayed poor judgement in supporting Mario Blount as he was arrested on drug charges, encouraging him to remain as mayor. Drug violations are no less heinous of a crime than domestic violence. All three of you need to man up and apologize for this poor judgement that contributed to the division of the community and harm to the City's reputation.
Additionally, ignoring the sound judgement of the people, by not appointing Lowell Maxey, the next highest vote getter from the last election, only losing by 34 votes, is another display of poor judgement.
I applaud Daryl and Melissa for their good judgement from the beginning in wanting Mario to step down and Daryl's support for appointing Lowell Maxey.
This is an extremely poor showing by some of our elected officials. At least man up like the NFL Commissioner who apologized for his actions that called into question his ability to govern effectively.
Lets hope this is just a case of poor judgement. Recently we have seen way too many arrests and convictions of people in the Harrison County bureaucracy. Some are elected, some are appointed by elected officials, others are hired by members of the bureaucracy, and most recently, chosen as a contractor to supply an appraisal under strange and questionable circumstances.
All of this is giving the appearance of a bureaucratic culture of special interests and corruption in Harrison County.
Lets hope it is just poor decision making and poor judgement.
I hope the Council will replace Blount as their representative on the CENTRA Board of directors.
Posted by Stephen McElroy Sep. 22, 2014 at 11:53 PM EST
The problem is the people who appoint these officials, and vote for these politicians have no more judgment or moral basis than the people they select. We need to start putting men and women of virtue not Law Degree to offices. An automatic disqualifier for my vote is the words "current or former attorney or judge". Someone like Lowell Maxey gets passed up? We just don't get it. Why do we not have more military combat officers in offices? These guys put their life on the line for the country certainly they have proven that they put the needs of others first. Anyone can run their mouth about how great they are and what their going to do. It is usually these same individuals who talk about forgiving their indiscretions etc... Honor and integrity is in the character not the reputation. It is either who you are or who you are not. If Bridgeport wants a good mayor and the country wants a good President then find the individual who isn't out talking about how great he or she is. Find the individual who just is.
Posted by JOEL KIRK
Sep. 23, 2014 at 6:43 AM EST
Following Lowell Maxey's statement, about half the people in attendance applauded. I was glad to have support as Maxey's statement paralleled mine, but was even more forceful. Complete context of my statement:
We have witnessed illegal, immoral behavior by public figures. The nation has been transfixed on the lack of out rage surrounding domestic abuse... and rightly so. Youthful indiscretions can be forgiven. But what is difficult to forgive is extremely poor judgement and bad decision making from adults. Especially roll models for our children, whether athletes or government leaders. The Commissioner of the NFL was taken to task by a cry of out rage from the people. The people displayed their sound judgement... demanding justice, not a slap on the wrist for the violent display of no respect for the rule of law. The NFL Commissioner was very wise to man up and apologize for his poor judgement. 3 of the Bridgeport City Council members, like wise displayed poor judgement in supporting Mario Blount as he was arrested on drug charges, encouraging him to remain as mayor. Drug violations are no less heinous of a crime than domestic violence. All three of you need to man up and apologize for this poor judgement that contributed to the division of the community and harm to the City's reputation. Additionally, ignoring the sound judgement of the people, by not appointing Lowell Maxey, the next highest vote getter from the last election, only losing by 34 votes, is another display of poor judgement. I applaud Daryl and Melissa for their good judgement from the beginning in wanting Mario to step down and Daryl's support for appointing Lowell Maxey. This is an extremely poor showing by some of our elected officials. At least man up like the NFL Commissioner who apologized for his actions that called into question his ability to govern effectively. Lets hope this is just a case of poor judgement. Recently we have seen way too many arrests and convictions of people in the Harrison County bureaucracy. Some are elected, some are appointed by elected officials, others are hired by members of the bureaucracy, and most recently, chosen as a contractor to supply an appraisal under strange and questionable circumstances. All of this is giving the appearance of a bureaucratic culture of special interests and corruption in Harrison County. Lets hope it is just poor decision making and poor judgement. I hope the Council will replace Blount as their representative on the CENTRA Board of directors.
Posted by Stephen McElroy
Sep. 22, 2014 at 11:53 PM EST
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