There will be more than one new face on Bridgeport City Council when new members are sworn in after June 30. Long-time elected official Robert “Bob” Greer confirmed that he will not serve past the dozen years he has served on the board.

 

“I concluded that I will have served 12 years and it’s time to step aside,” said Greer. “It has been a great 12 years, but I think it is time that other good people should run and maybe some of those good people will consider running knowing an incumbent is not running.”

 

Greer becomes the second member of the existing Council to announce they will not be running for re-election. Two-term member Dustin Vincent announced earlier this week that he will not be seeking another four-year term.

 

As for not running, it had nothing to do with being burnt out or dissatisfaction with the direction of the city. Rather, the long-time attorney had a basic reason.

 

“I love this city, but it is time at the very least time to take a break and focus on my wife, family and my business and those things,” said Greer. “It is just time.”

 

Greer is unique among those on the city’s governing body. He has served as a Council member, the Bridgeport City Recorder, and the Bridgeport Mayor. It is unknown if he is the only individual to ever do that. What is known is that he distinctly recalls his first official Council session.

 

“At the very first meeting I walked into, they laid in front of us a contract that involved 30 acres of ground off Route 131 and said your predecessors have agreed you’ll spend $7 million over the next five years for this complex,” said Greer. “That was for the Bridgeport Recreation Complex with the horseshoe fields and the multipurpose field and the same areas is soon to be home to the indoor sports complex (The Bridge). That was certainly a good move by those before me and it was an indication there were a lot of big decisions that were going to be made.”

 

Greer said it is hard to overlook the importance of the indoor facility to the community, including the importance to his own family and children. He said the project is one of the jewels in the crown of Bridgeport.

 

“It is an amazing concept, and I am proud to have been part of the expansion and development of it because it is something good locally, regionally and beyond the state,” said Greer. “I’m proud of that type of project people might consider ‘spectacular,’ but I’m also proud of my time serving on BUB (Bridgeport Utility Board) as mayor and doing things to address water pressure and leaks. Trust me, those things are just as important to our residents, particularly if you live on a hill and there are plenty of hills in Bridgeport.”

 

While he is ready to call it a day, he also admits he is going to miss being part of the operations of city decision making.

 

“That’s the hardest part (of walking away) is having a part in every decision, and opportunity at least, to exercise good judgement on behalf of the community and debate with city leaders on the best way to get things done,” he said “I’m going to miss the day-to-day stuff and working with staff. It did not take long to recognize the city has a tremendous group of highly professional people that make the city run. The Council make decisions and get the press, but it is those fine people that make everything work on a daily basis.”

 

Greer added that when he decided to run for office, he sought counsel of several individuals sitting on the City Council at that time. He said Mayor Joe Timms, the late Walter Barth and, particularly, former Council member Mike Conley all freely gave their time and answered questions. He said he will do the same.

 

“I was fortunate to have their advice in advance of making a decision because they let me know what the position entails and the nitty gritty,” said Greer. “If anyone is interested, I would gladly return that favor and am available.”