At Monday night’s Bridgeport City Council meeting, there was no public opposition expressed against a proposed amendment to the city’s Home Rule Plan allowing hotels, restaurants and certain other establishments to serve alcohol as early as 10 a.m. on Sundays.

 

Thereafter, Council voted on the first reading of an ordinance authorizing submission of an application to the West Virginia Home Rule Board making amendment to plan. By a five to one vote, Council passed the first reading. The only vote against the amendment came from Councilman Lowell J. Maxey, who made it clear at a late-August Council meeting that he was not in favor of the legislation which has become known as the “Brunch Bill.”

Mayor Bob Greer called attention to the fact that the legislation made the front page of Monday’s edition of the West Virginia State Journal.

 

“Those communities out ahead of us seem to be enjoying nothing but positive feedback,” said Greer about Martinsburg, Shepherdstown and Clarksburg; municipalities which previously adopted the “Brunch Bill.”

 

An application reflecting the amendment will be submitted to the West Virginia Home Rule Board, Greer said.

 

Council thereafter delved into the awards and presentations portion of the meeting during which time the city's governing body paid tribute to Bridgeport Little League 11- and 12-year-old state championship team which went on to place third at the southeastern regional tournament in Warren Robbins, Ga., playing the semifinal game live on ESPN. After Mayor Bob Greer read and presented the proclamation and presented each player and coach with a proverbial key to the city, Team Manager Terry Cole shared a few words with those who gathered.

 

“We tried to represent the city and the state well,” he said. “What you didn’t see on camera was how well behaved the boys were in the hotels and restaurants. Both on and off the field, we were very proud of these young men.”

 

Even when some calls “didn’t go their way,” Cole said his team handled the situation with class. Everything about the tournament experience - the players and their families – was all first class, he said.

 

Council thereafter passed the second and final reading of an ordinance to update the State Building Code, reflecting the 2015 Edition of the International Code. Community Development Director Randy Spellman said the update puts Bridgeport in line with the state.

 

Spellman went on to outline three separate requests under the city’s recently-revamped business incentive program.

 

The first request was made on behalf of Carder Motors on West Main Street.

 

The proposed project includes a building which sets in the rear of the property owned by Mark Carder, Spellman said.

 

“It’s been dilapidated for years and in the next phase of his total revamping of that plaza includes a new façade – a new exterior, new roof and a lot of interior work as well,” he said.

 

Carder’s request for a façade improvement grant has been reviewed by city staff and recommended by the Bridgeport Development Authority. Spellman said the project includes new signage, windows, siding and paving, among other improvements, and that the proposed total cost of the improvements is in the neighborhood of $150,000. He also said that the manner in which the façade improvement grant is defined, it caps at $100,000 and covers only improvements made to structures visible from public right of way.

 

The percentage covered by the city is determined by Council on a case-by-case basis.

 

“It’s nice to see businesses taking advantage of the reworked business incentive programs,” said Councilman Jeff Smell. “I’m happy to see that coming across the desk and I make a motion to approve 50 percent of the exterior façade improvement based upon only the two sides visible by public right of way, 100 percent of the signage and zero percent of the paving, pending eligibility of receipts when they are turned in.”

 

Upon completion of the project, detailed receipts will be submitted to the city and thereafter it will be determined exactly what is eligible under the program.

 

The second business incentive request was for an economic development grant made by Mountain State Brewing Company which is coming to Bridgeport’s Charles Pointe area.

 

“It will be located around Fairmont Federal Credit Union by House of Fashions on that lot which is still on the main boulevard, giving us a restaurant with a little bit of evening presence on that end of Charles Pointe,” Spellman said.

 

The total construction cost is between $1.4 and $1.5 million. Under the economic development grant, a maximum of $50,000 can be awarded.

 

The final business incentive consideration is for an economic sustainability incentive for proposed business, Linea Esthetics. Being promoted as a Brazilian spa, the business is to be located in the former Bridgeport Express Care building on Chenoweth Drive.

“The first floor of the building is where the Brazilian spa will be located,” Spellman said.

 

Bridgeport’s economic sustainability deals with business and occupation tax credit equal to 90 percent of the taxes due in year one and 40 percent of taxes due in the second and third years. The initial investment must be at least $100,000 and the business must employ three individuals full time.

 

“Under the incentive, if at any time the requirements are not met, the grant is suspended until the requirements are again met,” Spellman said.

 

Also Monday night:

See Mayor Greer's proclamation presentation to the Bridgeport Little League 11- and 12-year-old state championship team below.