Monday night’s Bridgeport City Council meeting took care of a number of issues pertaining to the city and its residents. The meeting – which had quite a few in attendance, most to support Bridgeport Fire Lt. Keith Linger as he was sworn into his rank, as well as Bridgeport Fire Chief Bob Seccuro’s presentation for a new training facility – started off with reports from city officials. Both Mayor Mario Blount and City Manager Kim Haws had plenty to share.

 

Blount started his report by advising the public of a July 24 service held at Hinkle Lake to pay tribute to Leonard Oscar Jeffers and a memorial which was unveiled at that time.

 

“Oscar Leonard Jeffers gave his life trying to save three boys who fell in Hinkle Lake over 61 years ago,” he said. “When City Council found out about this, it was long overdue. His sacrifice deserved to be recognized and we were honored to have his three children there, along with their children and grandchildren. It was a beautiful night and we’d like to thank Mr. Jeffers’ family, Bridgeport Parks and Recreation and everyone involved with getting everything ready for that event.”

 

Blount also offered congratulations to this season’s Bridgeport Little League All-Star teams – the 9-10s, the 10-11s and the 11-12s.

 

“For the first time in the history of West Virginia, one city captured all three division state titles,” he said. (Read about that HERE.)

 

Next on Blount’s report was an announcement about Bridgeport Police Department’s National Night Out, to be held Tues., Aug. 5 on the grounds of Bridgeport Pool and Benedum Civic Center.

 

“It’s a good time for children in the city of Bridgeport to learn about our police and EMS departments – to find out what they do and come meet members of the departments,” said Blount about the annual event, which includes free swimming, food and prizes to attendees. “It’s a good night for the city and for all who attend.”

 

Haws launched his report by advising those in attendance that the process of a city comprehensive plan is under way.

 

“We’re meeting with an individual who is very much involved with parks and recreation and except a proposal from him soon,” he said.

 

Haws also shared that a deed has been recorded for the establishment of a pocket park at the White Oaks development.

 

“That park is adjacent to the Holiday Inn and should service that entire area in terms of hotel guests,”  he said. “The project should be started soon.”

 

Haws also made mention of the new Dominion Resources headquarters, as well as a new hotel – Homewood Suites - both to be established in the area in the near future.

 

Following those reports, Bridgeport resident Steve McElroy addressed members of Council and those in attendance. He first brought up the issue of the city’s gun range training facility, located off Lodgeville Road. McElroy said he is aware that the city has received noise complaints relating to the facility. He also said he believes that a training facility which is funded by taxpayers should provide use for those citizens. (Look for more to be reported on this subject this weekend on Connect-Bridgeport.)

But McElroy’s primary initiative was to again ask Mayor Blount – who faces federal drug charges - to step down from his office.  In part, McElroy said:

 

“…His resignation would allow the community he loves to put this controversy behind us and move forward. The people of Bridgeport know what’s right for our community and will remove the mayor with a recall election if we are forced to do so.”

 

McElroy made no mention of how many signatures had been collected on petitions which he previously reported were being circulated among city residents.

 

Bridgeport resident Vernon Underwood, who has also made repeated appearances at Bridgeport City Council, raised concern about Phase II of the city’s storm water study. He said Sunday night’s rainstorm came close to once again producing damage to his Worthington Drive home.

 

“I don’t see why we can’t get moving on this,” Underwood said. “I understand the study is 90 percent complete, but it’s been 90 percent complete for how long now?”

 

After some discussion among Council members, Haws said he would ask City Engineer Tom Brown to communicate progress and make it clear whether or not Phase II work would begin before Phase I was completed.

 

Community Development Director Randy Spellman took the floor next, setting up the first reading of an ordinance amending, enacting and reenacting section 737 of the Bridgeport City Code.

 

For some time, there has been a policy in place, providing incentives to newly established businesses, he said. Those original incentives included an economic development grant, B&O tax abatement and property/façade incentive packages. More recently, a loan program has been added to that list of incentives, Spellman said.

 

“Over the years, we had certain corridors we tried to target for some of those types of incentives, now our wish is to open it citywide,” he said. “These changes do a few things: They bring us up to date with standard business practices and how they are handled and further they define how the economic development grant is a back-end award and how the B&O tax abatement is a three-year award. It also deals with how the incentives can be differentiated so there is no double dipping.”  

 

With that in mind, Spellman said the Bridgeport Development Authority has held discussion and arrived at a final resolution and shared with members of Council. By unanimous vote, the first reading passed.

 

The next unanimous vote concerned the appointment of City Engineer Tom Brown as a voting delegate at the 29^th Annual Business Meeting of the West Virginia Rural Water Association to be held Sept. 6-10 at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, with Superintendent of Utilities Jared Cummons as the alternate delegate.

 

“This is a requirement in order for any business to be conducted at the annual meeting,” Haws said. “There has to be a formal representative from each municipality and it’s my recommendation that since Mr. Brown is going to be there anyway, that we approve him as a delegate and Mr. Cummons as an alternate.”

 

Finance Director Monica Musgrave brought before Council budget revisions – the first of the 2014-2015 fiscal year.  Included was General Fund Budget Revision No. 1, appropriating the 2013-2014 fiscal year fund balance, and Capital Reserve Fund Budget Revision No. 1, appropriating the balance of hotel/motel tax from the previous fiscal year. Look for a separate report on those budget discussions and how Council voted to appropriate those dollars. 

 

Other July 28 Bridgeport City Council news:

 

Indoor Health, Wellness, Rec Complex, Conference Center One Step Closer to Fruition

 

Council Votes to Construct New Fire/Police/EMS Training Center