Monday’s Bridgeport City Council meeting will begin with the swearing in of newly appointed Mayor Robert L. Greer, Recorder Melissa S. Matheny and Councilman Harry M. Murray III.

 

All three individuals were appointed Tuesday during a special City Council meeting, scheduled just for that purpose. The mayor’s seat was left vacant when Mario Blount resigned from the position at the Sept. 8 meeting. Council unanimously elected Greer to the position and Councilor Matheny to the recorder’s position left vacant by Greer. To replace Matheny, Council voted in Murray, who served City Council in the past.

 

Performing the swearing in honors will be Harrison County Circuit Judge James A. Matish.

 

Following reports by Mayor Greer and City Manager Kim Haws, as well as any public comment, Council will move into the business session, starting with one item of unfinished business. That is the second and final reading of an ordinance authorizing submission of an application to the West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board for amendment to the City’s Home Rule plan.

 

Those amendments are (1) Modification to the process for securing professional services; (2) Modification of the process for hiring an assistant fire chief and promotion within the fire and police departments and (3) Authorization of intergovernmental agreements by resolution – eliminating approval by the attorney general and requirement that each public agency have authority to complete and operate a joint and cooperative undertaking.

 

The changes were first proposed June 23. As is protocol, a public hearing was scheduled on the matter and held after a 30-day notification period. The ordinance to propose the amendments can be adopted after two readings. The first was at the Sept. 8 meeting.

 

Proceeding into new business, Council will swear in two new members of Bridgeport Fire Department: Ben Tacy and Matt Ogden. Tacy comes to Bridgeport from Fairmont Fire Department. Ogden is a former EMT with Upshur and Randolph County EMS departments. Both men are originally from Elkins and knew each other prior to their employment with Bridgeport Fire and EMS.

 

Bridgeport’s governing body will also consider support of the upcoming West Virginia Police Chiefs Association Conference, to be held Sept. 26-28 at Bridgeport Conference Center. At a previous City Council meeting, funding of the conference was briefly discussed and it was decided to formally bring the matter to Monday’s Council meeting.

 

The next item on the agenda is the consideration of integrating a wildlife damage management program in an effort to reduce damage, as well as human health and safety threats within the city. The wildlife in question is Canada geese. The matter came up during a Sept. 8 work session during which city staff and Council members shared they had received complaints about the geese, some going so far as to say they cannot enjoy Deegan Lake picnic and playground facilities or walking trails. City Clerk Andrea Kerr said she has also received complaints to that regard with relation to Maplewood on Route 50.

 

At the Sept. 8 meeting, information was shared about a potential environmental approach to ridding the city of geese. That approach involves harassment – so to speak – of the geese, resulting in migration to other areas. At that Sept. 8 meeting, Haws posed the question as to whether the issue was problematic enough to address in such a manner – the ceiling price which would be about $7,000. Monday night, that consideration will be brought before Council with a potential study to be implemented in order to make the determination.

 

With the exception of possible budget revisions and/or authorizations that may arise, the final item of business will be consideration of the proposal received for comprehensive study of current parks and recreation programs and facilities. That study encompasses a plan to address sports facility usage, maximizing future recreational needs with regard to soccer, baseball and football, Kerr said.

 

Council reserves the option to enter into executive session to discuss matters involving the sale or lease of property, personnel matters and advance construction planning which - if made public - might adversely affect the interests of the City.