At last week’s meeting of the West Virginia Municipal League, Bridgeport was used as an example of out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to benefiting from home rule.  Various cities have implemented sales tax programs under the program to fund municipal debt, but Bridgeport has in some respects taken the lead to use it for a proactive purpose, said City Council Member Bob Greer who serves on the WVML board of directors.

 

“Bridgeport has been fiscally responsible for decades and didn’t have a lot of debt We did something as an economic engine driver for the entire city and region,” said Greer about the one percent sales tax that was implemented to help fund the city’s indoor sports complex.

Bridgeport was one of the cities chosen to be part of the pilot program which enables cities to have more decision-making power when it comes to matters directly affecting the city. An advocate of the program, Greer has been in favor of legislation making home rule a permanent program, but he said it remains a challenge.

 

At the request of Mayor Andy Lang, Greer provided a brief overview of the  49^th Annual WVML conference – held at the Water Front Hotel in Morgantown – during Monday night's work session of Bridgeport City Council.

 

Another issue he brought up was the utilization of purchasing cards. Also known as P-cards, the credit cards are given to city officials and require record keeping regarding purchases and how they are utilized under the official’s position.

 

“There’s been a lot of discussion about what’s going on in impeachment proceedings of the state court regarding the mishandling of funds,” he said.

 

Bridgeport does not utilize the P-card system and Greer said he believes whoever made that decision years ago was on the right track.

In his synopsis of Municipal League issues, Greer said an address was delivered by Little Rock, Ark. Mayor Mark Stodola, also president of the National League of Cities. Stodola discussed city infrastructure, including water, transportation, broadband internet and workforce development.

 

“Bridgeport is exceptional along those lines,” Greer said. “Our utility system is leaking less water than most and our streets are paved. We’re generally at the top of the list.”

Bridgeport also shines in another area that the league meeting cast some focus.

 

“The mayor of Lewisburg (John Manchester) is also head of the America in Bloom revitalization group which measures how well a community is doing in the beautification of cities, towns and villages,” Greer said. “We do an amazing job with that, I think.”

 

Greer also briefly touched on discussion held at the meeting about legal dispensing of cannabis and like plants for medicinal purposes and how it would make positive financial impact on West Virginia cities.

 

City Manager Kim Haws rounded out the Municipal League summary stating that there was also discussion about the homeless in West Virginia communities.

 

“There was a lot of discussion about homelessness in many of our communities around the state and what different areas are doing about it,” Haws said. “I bring this up because we need to be aware of what surrounding cities are experiencing, not just Clarksburg, but also Martinsburg and just a lot of cities are experiencing problems and creating a lot of problems from an economic development standpoint.”

 

Read coverage of Council's regular Monday night session which followed work session HERE.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Councilman Bob Greer, Mayor Andy Lang and City Manager Kim Haws, City Attorney Dean Ramsey, City Councilman Dustin Vincent, City Clerk Shelby Watkins and Mayor Lang.