Whether Bridgeport contributes manpower to the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS) is unknown at this point. On Monday, that very well could change.

 

During a work session prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the city’s governing body will have to decide if it wants to fully fund two positions requested by the DEA for the squad or go with one position – or the option of not contributing any type of manpower.

 

The work session Monday begins at 6:15 p.m. The regular Council meeting starts at 7 p.m.

 

Recently, the Northern District of West Virginia was granted the squad through the DEA. The squads, according to Council member and former state DEA head Lowell Maxey, are tough to get and sought by many areas facing drug problems.

 

The primary goal of the group is to target rogue doctors, distributors and pharmacists involved in peddling prescription narcotics. They also target “run-of-the-mill” drug trafficking organizations and assist, as needed, with other agencies working other drug cases and situations.

 

DEA Group Supervisor Daniel A. Mavromatis, who formally requested the manpower, said during Council’s final meeting in August that the TDS should preferably consist of 13 individuals. The group,  if done as Mavromatis and the DEA envisions, will include two DEA agents, two investigators, a group supervisor (which is Mavromatis) and eight task force agents. The task force agents will be provided for by cities in the Northern District of West Virginia stretching from Clarksburg and Bridgeport to Wheeling.

 

The issue at hand is that the 13-person task force only reaches that number if cities agree to contribute to the force. Bridgeport was asked to contribute two officers, specifically those existing on the force, and fill them with two more officers.

 

“Council seemed generally supportive of the proposal, but it will come done to a financial decision,” said City Clerk Andrea Kerr.

 

At that meeting, Council addressed staff to do a pro-forma to determine actual costs to assign to existing officers to the TDS and hire two additional officers to replace them.  Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith said at the meeting the total cost to do this could be around $150,000.

 

“I believe the numbers through the pro-forma are in that range,” said Kerr.

 

Mavromatis said the DEA will cover overtime costs and pay for all equipment, including a vehicle. However, as city employees the city would be responsible for regular salary and benefits.

 

Also in the work session, the city will hear from representatives of the Clarksburg Mission. Kerr said they will make a presentation and likely see some type of assistance for their sober living facilities.

 

During the regular session, Council will also have a second and final reading of an ordinance allowing the city to submit an application for the “brunch bill.” Basically, the modification to the Bridgeport Home Rule plan would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays at 10 a.m., primarily in dining establishments. It can still not be purchased in stores at that time. The Home Rule Board has approved this already for other municipalities.

 

However, approval doesn’t mean a Sunday morning Bloody Mary can be ordered early next month. Instead, if given the okay by Council – and it’s been given the thumbs up with the exception of a vote to the negative by Maxey – City Manager Kim Haws, Smith and City Attorney Dean Ramsey will meet with the Home Rule Board on Oct. 3 to see amending their application to allow for the sale of the alcohol on Sunday.

 

If the Home Rule board gives approval, it still isn’t final. Council would then have to have two readings of the actual brunch bill ordinance. The current ordinance, as mentioned, is to allow for modification of the application to the Home Rule Board.

 

The meeting will also include a pair of proclamations and recognition of a city resident. The proclamations that will be presented by Bridgeport Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer include declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and also declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 

Council will also recognize resident Mike Cook. Cook is a long-time youth league umpire who is considered among the best in the nation.  Proof of that is that the 1979 Bridgeport High School graduate could be seen on national television this year umpiring the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Va.

 

While there are no presentations to Council at this meeting from any department head, there will be a presentation. NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock will brief Council on the latest involving airline carriers and service at the facility in Bridgeport. Recently, it was learned the airport will begin offering daily flights by way of Via Air to Baltimore and four flights weekly to Charlotte.

 

In other business, Council will:

The meeting is open to the public. There is a forum near the start of the session for anyone wishing to address City Council.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Daniel A. Mavromatis, right, and City Council member John Wilson in August when Mavromatis asked for Bridgeport to staff the new TDS. Middle photo is a DEA representative that attended Bridgeport's "Cover the Badge" Prayer Vigil on 9/11. Bottom photo shows City Attorney Dean Ramsey, who will help make the city's presentation on the "Brunch Bill" if Council gives its okay Monday.