Bridgeport Councilman Joe Lyle stands next to a newly installed bench and trash can on the corner of Howard and Marion streets. The benches and trash cans are stationed throughout the village around school bus stops. T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM

BRIDGEPORT — New benches and garbage cans can now be seen throughout the village, aiding in convenience and beautification.

Bridgeport Mayor Norma Teasdale expressed her thanks to the Bridgeport Park Board during Tuesday’s council meeting for securing grant funds to purchase a number of benches and garbage cans that were installed Monday.

“It was due to their efforts that we were able to get the benches and trash cans,” she said.

The park board, Habitat for Humanity, the Thin Blue LIne Fraternal Order of Police Association, Bridgeport Fraternal Order of Police, the Bridgeport Masonic Lodge and Bridgeport Rotary Club secured a total of $27,000 in grants through JB Green Team to purchase 30 park benches, six picnic tables, seven garbage cans and a new memo board.

Teasdale said the benches and trash cans can be found at school bus stops throughout the community. She said the memo board should arrive soon, along with an event advertising board that will be stationed on Marion Street.

Council approved holding trick or treat from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 31. A parade will be held beforehand at 5 p.m. Teasdale said the parade will start at the old school building on Bennett Street and travel around to Council Street, where a costume contest will be held and treat bags distributed.

The parade is sponsored by the park board.

In other matters, Marvin Husarik, the village’s representative on the East Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority board, gave council an update from the board’s most recent meeting on Sept. 14. He said there are no “bumps in the road” for the village. The village is the only municipality to be in the black this month for collections, he said, adding that the remaining areas are in the red for collections. The EORWA consists of four municipalities including Bellaire, Bridgeport, Brookside and Martins Ferry.

Solicitor Michael Shaheen inquired about the $5 fee residents in the village of Bellaire have been charged on their bills due to the village not having a water meter reader. He asked if Bridgeport is experiencing the same issue, to which Husarik said it is not. Husarik said Bridgeport has meter readers, allowing residents to avoid the charge which can be mitigated by residents calling in their meter amounts each month.

Husarik said it does not appear that rates will increase next year.

Council also unanimously passed a resolution accepting the annual rates from the village’s levies. Shaheen said the document is needed for Belmont County auditors to factor the amounts into the budget.

An executive session was called to discuss potential litigation. No action was taken following a 20-minute, closed-door session.

Council next meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at the village municipal building.