When Bridgeport City Council meets Tuesday evening in a special session, the regular agenda will be a one-trick pony. And for the future of the city, it’s a pretty big pony.

 

Council will be tasked with choosing a new member to sit on its governing body. The opening came last week when Mario Blount resigned as mayor at the start of the first regularly scheduled September meeting of Council. Blount stepped down four days prior to pleading guilty to a trio of federal drug charges in U.S. District Court last Friday.

 

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. It is set to be held in the conference room at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex.

 

Now, depending upon the manner in which Council opts to go, several changes could be forthcoming. As of now, City Recorder Bob Greer is serving – as he said is called for by the City Charter – as the acting mayor. That, however, will change into either an official title or he’ll return to Recorder.

 

“I will step into the position of mayor for the city if my colleagues on Council agree that is what they believe is the correct thing to do,” said Greer. “I am willing to serve the remainder of the term.”

 

The remainder of the mayoral term is two years and nine months.

 

In the event he is appointed to fill out the term, it is likely that an existing member of Council will be appointed by Council to fill Greer’s Recorder seat. If that happens, it will create an opening on Council. And Council will be tasked to fill that seat with a qualified member of the community. As for appointing an outsider to the spot left open by Blount stepping down, according to the agenda a member of the “governing body” will be appointed to the mayor’s position.

 

“At some point, no matter how it ends up, we’ll have to add someone new to Council,” said Greer.

 

Greer said he’s been approached and he knows other Council members have been approached by community members that have expressed an interest and willingness to serve and be considered. Who that turns out to be is an unknown at this point. Greer said he knows what he’s looking for as a candidate.

 

“My personal opinion is that we need to find somebody that has prior experience serving on Council and make sure that person has impeccable credentials,” said Greer.

 

The reason Greer believes the experience is important is that he believes it’s going to be a short term appointment. Elections will be coming up again for City Recorder and two Council positions at next year’s municipal election.

 

“I think all of us have someone in mind for whatever position that is added to,” said Greer. “Most of the members have been contemplating this eventuality for some period of time.”

                                          

The agenda does allow for Council to go into executive session if necessary. Greer said to his knowledge the position of mayor and potential other changes on Council will not be done in executive session.

 

“It’s my understanding it will be discussed in open forum,” said Greer.

 

Editor's Note: Acting Mayor Bob Greer, talking, and fellow Council member Dustin Vincent behind him, will be making a big decision at Tuesday's special meeting of Bridgeport City Council.