State audit puts bite on Bridgeport finances
By LINDA L. HULL, Times Leader Staff WriterBRIDGEPORT MAYOR John Callarik is worried that as tight as the village's budget is, the state is on its way to bankrupting it.
The state mandates that the village have the audit, which is fine with Callarik and village council, but what didn't sit well with them was the fact that they are charged $40 an hour to do it and it took their auditors several weeks to complete.
Fiscal Officer Jack Morgan told council at its meeting on Tuesday evening that they need to talk to the auditors and tell them directly that the village can't afford the money they are charging for an audit which is $22,000.
The mayor told council, "The auditors gave us a bill that we don't see how we can pay."
Shirleann Murad, village administrator, told council that the auditors would be in Bridgeport for a meeting but the meeting had to be over by 5 p.m. or it would cost Bridgeport time and a half or $60 an hour.
Callarik said, "The state will break the village. We can't pay that kind of money - $22,000 - so maybe we should give the village to them and let them run it."
In other business, Callarik told council that the sewer project on Kirkwood Heights is going extremely well. He said, "Everybody has to have the taps in soon because we are facing a deadline and bad weather."
The deadline for the taps will be Jan. 1, 2009.
Norma Teasdale, councilwoman and a member of the Park Board, reported the park on Kirkwood Heights now has a bike rack so children can safely park their bicycles.
She also told council that several children were seen riding 4-wheelers in the park and were "chased" out by residents.
Callarik told her that she was to report the sightings to the police chief, Chad Dojack, and he would take care of the problem.
The mayor announced that Dojack had successfully collected hundreds of dollars in old meter and parking tickets.
Dojack told council that the law now is that if the person doesn't pay his parking tickets in one month the vehicle will be impounded, with a possible license suspension.
He said, "In order for them to get the vehicle back they would have to pay the cost of impoundment plus the ticket with the possibility of the police taking possession of the vehicle if the payments aren't made in a timely manner."
Dojack added, "Any other city the people have to pay their tickets except Bridgeport. Well, no more."
Grave costs in Weeks Cemetery have gone up to cover the costs associated with the burials.
As of Jan. 1, 2009 it will cost $250 for each grave, $650 for opening and closing on week days and $750 for weekends.
It will cost $250 to open and close for cremation on a week day and $350 on the weekend. The fee will be $250 for an infant and for the weekend it will cost $350. For a disinterment, the cost will be $1,400 and a V.A. marker will be $75.
The Bridgeport Volunteer Fire and Emergency Fire and Emergency Department's Christmas Parade will be held on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.
Line up for the parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. on South Lincoln Avenue.
The next meeting of the Bridgeport Village Council will be on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.
Hull can be reached at lhull@timesleaderonline.com.
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John316
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11-30-08 2:27 PM
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gee, maybe we can over charge the county for providing a service, or turn it into FEMA as flood damage-(even though it didn't happen during the flood) aka Whitely street storm sewer. -and then use the money to pay for this audit.
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bptb4u
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11-28-08 12:53 PM
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Say I dont pay my parking tickets,will I have to go to Martins Ferry to pay my fees? Probably,since Bridgeport doesnt support their hometown business!You deserve all the financial problems you have!
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SphinxRising58
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11-20-08 7:44 AM
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Hey! Maybe they can borrow the money off of former Mayor Furbeee, as it just happens that about $ 22,000 came up missing on his watch for which he could not account for.
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Bossman011
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11-19-08 5:44 PM
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Wah wah, Mayor. Just shows poor planning and lack of knowledge. But everything is fine in Kirkwood Hts. Oh, that's where the Mayor lives. I can't even get my hill salted when it snows. But I bet Kirkwood is clear on the first snowflakes. Hey Mayor, there are other people in this Village.
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ConcernedResident
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11-19-08 1:02 PM
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If the state mandates it, then why not budget for it? You know it's coming, cut back all year long to pay for it. I pay property taxes twice a year and guess what...I budget for it in my yearly expenses. Apparently the Mayor wants us to feel sorry for his lack of preparation.
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