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Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang, left, opens a special meeting of Bridgeport City Council in February within Council Chambers. Council shortly after voted to enter into executive session to meet virtually with city manager applicants.
The Bridgeport City Council met for several hours for the city manager search and to go over budget matters.
The Bridgeport City Council met for several hours for the city manager search and to go over budget matters.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — Bridgeport’s next city manager may be announced Monday during City Council’s regular meeting.
Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang, left, opens a special meeting of Bridgeport City Council in February within Council Chambers. Council shortly after voted to enter into executive session to meet virtually with city manager applicants.
The new city manager’s contract is among a dozen items that are on the meeting agenda.
The meeting is to begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 515 W. Main St., Bridgeport.
A pair of city manager finalists were interviewed Monday during a special session at the Benedum Civic Center, and at the time, Mayor Andy Lang said city officials were looking to extend a job offer in the next couple days.
Council executive sessions were held regarding the open city manager slot on Feb. 15 and 22. Lang indicated Feb. 22’s executive session was to interview four candidates via Zoom.
Current City Manager Randy Wetmore didn’t foresee that the candidates would attend Monday’s meeting and he didn’t know when the new city manager would begin serving.
Wetmore said council members are also considering a resolution that would authorize the new city manager to ratify and approve contracts in excess of $5,000, if authorized in the budget.
Council members are also set to approve the fiscal year general fund and cemetery budgets.
The $19.285 million fiscal year budget also was discussed earlier this week with City Finance Director Monica Musgrave. Wetmore indicated the budget included funding for around-the-clock police coverage at United Hospital Center.
“(The Bridgeport Police Department) does consume 25.9% of the total budget based on a $19.285 million budget. ... (The Bridgeport Fire Department) is 17.4% of our total budget,” Lang said Monday.
“Both of them, if you add them up, to protect our citizens with police and fire takes up 43.3% of our budget, just those two items,” Lang said. “Plus $174,000 for emergency services, all being to prepare for emergencies and to take care of them when they do happen.”
Musgrave also noted an increase in the hotel/motel tax, which returns it to pre-pandemic levels. The city aims to send more funds to the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and City Parks and Recreation.
Budgets need to be adopted and sent to the Secretary of State’s Office by March 28, Wetmore said. City Council’s next regular meeting falls on March 28.
In other agenda items, City Council members will consider resolutions:
— Authorizing acceptance of the Fair Housing Plan of April 2022.
— Approving a $39,730 contract with Desmone Architects from Morgantown to conduct a space needs analysis study for City Hall/Police Department.
— Approving a $186,655 contract with CXT Precast Concrete of Spokane Valley, Washington, for a precast concrete restroom/storage building behind Citynet Center at The Bridge Sports Complex.
— Approving a $11,919.60 contract with Bonamico Construction LLC of Bridgeport for the replacement of the restroom roof at Compton Park and the maintenance building roof at the Recreation Complex adjacent to the soccer field.
— Reappointing Jim Christie to the Bridgeport Development Authority for a term of three years beginning April 1 and lasting through March 31, 2025.
Annual reports also will be given by representatives of the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as the Bridgeport Public Library. The Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau report will be given during a work session at 6:30 p.m.
Lang also will recognize March as American Red Cross Month.
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