Long before Bridgeport Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer was addressed as the city’s top elected official, he was a small business owner. Today, you can see his business – Greer Law Office – situated on Philadelphia Avenue.

 

While Greer knows location and service are key to success, he said other intangible also play a role in that as well. And one of those roles is parking.

 

“I’m lucky in some respects in that the office we acquired had parking that went with it. Without that parking, my ability to conveniently serve my clients would be a problem,” said Greer recently on the project. “You not only have to have parking, but you have to have convenient parking because people, particularly our elderly population, may not want to park and walk 50 yards to get where they need to go.”

 

Because of that, Greer and the rest of the members of Bridgeport City Council unanimously voted Monday night to approve on second and final reading the purchase of two tracts of land to help the city create a new parking lot just behind Main Street and just off Center Street. The vote was more a formality as work has been going on at the site for some time now.

 

“We’ve got grading complete and milling was laid (yesterday) and the contractor will be doing that again (today). We’re prepping for final paving,” said City Manager Kim Haws when Greer asked Haws to provide an update. “We’re also beginning the design of the pedestrian bridge.”

 

Work has been ongoing for a few weeks on the $91,000 project that was awarded to Wolfe's Excavating, LLC. When finished, more than 20 parking spaces are expected to be completed.

 

“We’ve talked about it an awful long time before we pulled the trigger on it,” said Greer. “ … I think it’s a very important piece for the continued vitality of our historic Main Street corridor.”

 

The two pieces of property was .19 cares and right of way from the Bridgeport Church of Christ and .175 acres from Mark and Judy Bonamico. Haws said the total cost of the acreage and the right of way was in the $50,000 range and came out of general fund dollars.

 

Also this evening, the City of Bridgeport got a boost when Jeffrey Bartlett was sworn in as the city’s newest police officer. Bartlett, who will have to undergo several weeks of in-house training, has previously worked as a municipal police officer and already has completed training at the State Police Academy.

 

Bartlett was sworn in by Greer. Several members of his family were on hand for the ceremony.

 

Council also approved to continue a project with the United States Department of Agriculture to continue the program that has helped reduce the number of geese at city-owned waterways from more than 1,300 to roughly 30. The program will cost roughly $7,000 annually, said Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith.

 

Haws assured the public that the geese being removed from the city weren’t being harmed. He said, that they were simply “being harassed to the point where they don’t want to live in Bridgeport.”

 

Greer also called forward the Bridgeport Middle School boys cross country team and cheerleading squad. Both units were recognized for recent Harrison County championships as well as presented keys to the city. Photos of those presentations later this week on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

While Monday was the final meeting of November, Council opted to combine their meetings in December to one session Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. In the event a pressing matter arose, a combined session would be held.  

 

At the Dec. 19 meeting, Council will be presented with options on how to fund a request for manpower for the new DEA Tactical Diversion Squad that has been assigned to the northern district of West Virginia. Bridgeport is located in that district.

 

The DEA has requested two positions to be funded for the squad, which city officials have said could be in the $150,000 range. Haws said he’s working on various scenarios and to look at ways to creatively find a way to fund at least one position. He did not divulge details on how that could happen or who he was partnering with to come up with the financial resources required.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Mayor Robert "Bob" Greer presenting one of two proclamations at Monday's meeting, while contractors are shown prepping the new Center Street parking lot in the second photo. Bottom photo shows Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker singing paperwork for his newest officer, Jeffrey Bartlett, who is shown in the background.