John Westfall served on Bridgeport City Council eight years under Mayor Carl Furbee and eight years under Mayor Joe Timms.

 

“Hiring Kim Haws in 1999 was one of my most proud accomplishments as a Council member,” said Westfall, as he addressed City Council during the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting.

 

Westfall was one of four individuals attending the meeting to speak on behalf of Haws, whose contract with the city ends June 30 and according to recent vote by Council, will not be extended.

 

Over the past two decades, Westfall said, Haws has overseen many development projects.

 

“He is a trained and dedicated employee and is highly respected,” Westfall said. “Bridgeport has experienced amazing growth, beginning with a new City Hall, fire, police and public works departments, White Oaks, Charles Pointe, the airport, hospital and new athletic complex. He works with the departments of the city and makes things happen.”

 

Haws’ experience and leadership have been an integral component in making Bridgeport a “super city” and wonderful place to live, Westfall said.

 

“We need to take advantage of this and give him another contract. He raised his family here and Bridgeport is his home. Another four-year contract would allow him to retire and stay home,” he said.

 

Westfall was not only speaking on his own behalf, but also on behalf of former Bridgeport Finance Director Keith Boggs, with whom he talked on the phone earlier this week, he said.

 

Another former Council member, Ruth Allen, spoke on Haws’ behalf. Her stint on the city’s governing body began shortly after the citizens adopted the city charter, spelling out how they wished the city government to operate, she said.

 

“The city attorney explained what we, the Council, were responsible for and could do and what the city manager would be responsible for,” said Allen, who continued to review sections of the charter.

 

“I’ve touched on a few areas of the charter at this time. They are the ones that appear to be troubling our citizens,” she said.

 

Allen encouraged all residents to be familiar with the charter and to reach out to City Clerk Donna Krivosky to obtain a copy if needed. She also urged Council members to do the job each was elected to do.

 

Aaron Jones and his wife Amy addressed Council as citizens concerned about the future of Bridgeport.

 

“I am a small business owner and it’s important that we live in a really unique little town,” Aaron Jones said. “And I’d like to focus on the word community – something really important to a family like us.”

 

It’s important to feel part of something, said Jones, sharing a portion of the charter’s preamble.

 

“The community of Bridgeport was carved out of the wilderness by our pioneer ancestors,” he said. “I love that and why I love that is that I think about our pioneers and where we come from and where we are going.”

 

Haws, Jones, said has been one of the city’s trailblazers.

 

“Council members come and go, but for the past two decades, what has been consistent in this city as far as growth goes, has been Kim Haws,” he said.

 

Haws, Jones said, has earned the respect of the community, and whether the decision not to renegotiate his contract is political or for personal reasons, what truly matters is results and Haws has delivered those results for nearly 20 years.

 

Upon Jones’ request, Haws said he does, in fact, wish to finish his professional career with the City of Bridgeport. Jones told Council that that is owed to Haws and is the right thing to do.

 

Amy Jones followed up, saying she moved from Fairmont to Bridgeport, where for the past 14 years she and her husband have raised their two children.

 

“It’s a nice, small community that appeared to be safe and had good schools, low crime rate and I felt that our kids could grow up here, participate in athletics,” she said. “There is a church on every corner and about everything you need is right here - and I feel like I can attribute all of that to Kim Haws.”

Jones urged Council not to fix what isn’t broken.

 

“Why fix what is getting better and better and continuing to grow,” she said. “I see a sports complex. I see so much growth and potential in this town and I don’t know why there is a desire to change that or put someone else in charge of that.”

 

Jones said she is concerned about the community and what it stands for.

 

“I use the term ‘loyalty,’” she said. “Mr. Haws is owed that loyalty and respect. I’m proud of where I live and where my kids are growing up and I want to continue to be proud of that. I just hope you will consider the choices you are making and continue to do what is in everyone’s best interest.”

 

Read more coverage of Monday’s Bridgeport City Council meeting HERE and HERE.