Slated for Monday, Nov. 24, the final Bridgeport City Council meeting for November will feature a trio of awards and presentations.

 

First on the agenda is the swearing in of the newest member of the Bridgeport Police force. Just serving his second week with the department is Aaron Lantz.

 

“Aaron is originally from the West Milford area and is a graduate of South Harrison High School,” said Bridgeport Deputy Police Chief Randy Hartley. “He is a certified police officer and came to us by way of the Elkins Police Department, where he started his career.”

 

Lantz has been assigned to the department’s FTO – Field Training Officer – program under the direction of Lt. Doug Betler. Typically a 14-week program, Lantz’s participation has been decreased to seven weeks because he is a certified officer, Hartley said. After Lantz’s completion of the FTO program, he will be assigned to Betler’s shift.

 

Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker will do the swearing in honors Monday night. He will then address Council with regard to the 2014 Urban Deer Hunt.

 

The sixth annual hunt began Sept. 13 and runs through Dec. 31. This year, the city issued just over 115 permits, which is average, Hartley said. But the 2014 harvest has been significantly less than in recent years, he said.

 

“We have had about 45 harvested this year, which is a little disappointing,” Hartley said. “But we’re hoping that maybe a lot of hunters classify the week of Thanksgiving as the beginning of hunting season, so maybe from this point to the end of the year, we’ll have a drastic increase in deer harvested.”

 

In 2013, the number of deer harvested from the Urban Deer Hunt dropped to the mid-80s, Hartley said.

 

“So this year, we were hoping to exceed that and even get into the triple digits, but it’s been very slow,” he said.

 

The third and final line item is a report by Mayor Robert Greer and City Manager Kim Haws on the newly-formed Bridgeport Utility Board.

 

“The utility board is doing pretty well and has completed its transition, so to speak,” said Greer, about the board implemented in early summer, combining duties of the former sanitary board with storm water issues. “I think it’s serving its purpose – or it will be. We’ve passed on the sanitary board’s previous function with regard to sewer and water and added storm water – a new avenue – and (the board) has taken that on very smoothly.”

 

Greer said that doesn’t mean such issues will not ever come before Council, but now there’s a mechanism in place to deal with those utility issues.

 

During their report, Greer and Haws will also bring Council up to speed with regard to the board’s most recent hot topic – the water pressure issue on Ridgeway Drive, Greer said.

 

In addition to the above, there will be reports by Mayor Greer and City Manager Haws, as well as any public comment and/or budget revisions that arise. The meeting begins 7 p.m. at City Council Chambers at Bridgeport Municipal Building. As always, members of the public are permitted to attend. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from above are Councilors Hank Murray and Dustin Vincent; Police Chief John Walker and Mayor Robert Greer.