The sole item of business on Monday’s Bridgeport City Council agenda is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad.

 

A report will be presented by Mayor Bob Greer concerning the status of the project - which has been under Council’s consideration for several months.

 

“I will report the status and depending on what that report is, one of several things could happen or might need to happen as part of the business side of that, which is some action or no need for action by the Council, but we will discuss that as well,” Greer said. “So in my mind, it’s a two-step process. I’ll bring everyone up to speed, then we’ll take action as appropriate and necessary.”

 

For the last several Bridgeport City Council meetings, Council has discussed DEA’s request to supply as many as two officers to the new Clarksburg-based Tactical Diversion Squad which serves the Northern District of West Virginia, heavily targeting prescription drug abuse. Some Council members have been hesitant about the financial burden and motion was subsequently made and supported to not take action until area municipalities were asked to help contribute to the proposed positions. Since then, an inter-governmental agreement was reached among Bridgeport, Clarksburg, Harrison County Commission and Harrison County Sheriff’s Department officials and Clarksburg City Council subsequently committed to provide up to $40,000.

 

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Bridgeport Municipal Building. Members of the public are invited to attend. the meeting which will open with prayer by Pastor Robin Ray of Bridgeport Presbyterian Church. Before delving into business, a proclamation will be presented to Bridgeport PeeWee Red Football Team, which captured the Mountain Youth Football PeeWee Division Championship in November. Coaching the 8- through 10-year-old players are Chad Reppert (head coach), Chris Culicerto, Jim Evans, Danny Biafore, Bob West, Roy Hall, David Robinson, Corey Yates and Jon Stumpf. Team members are James Jones, Dylan Duvall, Blake Robison, Aidan Baun, Isaac Wetzel, J.D. Ritchie, Mark Biafore, Cale Culicerto, Anthony Hall, Vaughan Evans, Bo’Kyte Ford, Kambryn Reppert, Noah Stumpf, Jax McDougal, Ben Lamp, Cullen Webster, Justin Duvall, Donovan Williams, Bryson Lowther, Rodney Riffle, Jackson Stark, James Hadjis, Mason Lewis, Gaige Lynch, Phoenix Sickles, Kasen Baun, Noah West, Brayden Yates, Anderson McDougal and Harrison Hall.

 

The meeting will be preceded by a 6:15 p.m. work session – during which Council will discuss funding of the Tactical Diversion Squad position and other matters.

 

“We about some things as they relate to CENTRA last fall and no action has been taken on that, so we’ll have further discussion on how to proceed from that standpoint,” Greer said.