Bridgeport City Council meets Monday with a number of business items to address. Perhaps the most pressing is the discussion and report on the new city manager candidate, with possible action to take place during Monday’s meeting.

 

Friday, four candidates were interviewed for the position; two from within West Virginia and two from out of state. Mayor Andy Lang and members of Council were joined by various city department heads and a representative of GovHR USA, the consulting company that helped conduct the national search. Lang said earlier that he hopes the new city manager – who will replace longtime City Manager Kim Haws – will be on board by July 1. Council voted earlier this year not to renew Haws’ contract, which is up June 30.

 

Discussion pertaining to the hire will more than likely take place in executive session following the regular meeting, Lang said.

 

“We have sent information out to (the four candidates) and they have sent us information. We’ll discuss Monday night and hopefully make a decision,” he said. “I’m not sure we will get that far.”

 

Another hot button item on the agenda is the construction, financing and management of the Bridgeport Indoor Sports and Recreation Complex. At the May 28 work session which preceded the regular Council meeting, Haws said that RFPs had gone out for construction of the complex.

 

Four bids were received, Lang said.

 

“We were very pleased. The bids fell right in line with what the architect said they would be. They were very competitive and we appreciate these four quality companies taking the time to submit these bids,” Lang said. “We have some paperwork to go over and a few other minor details relating to the bids and if everything goes the way we want, we may be in a position to award that contract Monday evening.”

 

Council will also consider and possibly act upon awarding a contract for the site development (earthwork) of property recently purchased by the city and located on Route 131, just across from Forrester Boulevard, the entrance to Bridgeport Recreation Complex. At the last Council meeting, held May 28 Haws said a rebidding process was under way because bids had come in way over budget.

 

Besides reappointment of Ken Curry to the Bridgeport Utility Board, the remainder of new business items deal with financial issues.  

 

Council will consider and approve the fiscal year cemetery fund budget, as well as a general fund budget revision and a coal severance tax fund budget revision.

 

The general fund budget revision, said Finance Director Monica Musgrave, is in the amount of $2,506,098 and is to appropriate one-time business and occupation tax and some additional excess revenues.  Funds are being allocated to various ongoing projects within the city, she said.

 

The coal severance tax fund budget revision is in the amount of $1,733 and is simply to appropriate additional revenues received, Musgrave said.

 

Prior to the business portion of the meeting, Council will present a proclamation recognizing the Bridgeport High School Baseball Team – which on June 1 captured its sixth straight Class AA title by defeating Frankfort 5-2 at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston. Another proclamation will be presented recognizing the achievements of the Bridgeport Middle School Boys Track and Field Team, which won its second consecutive county championship in May.

 

Council will once again meet in work session a half hour prior to Monday's 7 p.m. meeting. Both meetings will take place at Bridgeport Municipal Complex. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are members of Council Lowell Maxey, Dustin Vincent, Jeff Smell, Bob Greer and Mayor Andy Lang; City Manager Kim Haws, Lang and Finance Director Monica Musgrave.