T-L Photos/KAILEY CARPINO Shaheen, right, swears in Mayor Norma Teasdale and Councilman Joseph Lyle during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Solicitor Michael Shaheen swears in Councilwoman Michelle Bennington-Lucarelli after she was appointed by council.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Village Council held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday and filled a vacant seat.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Norma Teasdale and Councilman Joseph Lyle were sworn in by Solicitor Michael Shaheen. Both Teasdale and Lyle ran unopposed during November’s election and were reelected.

Shaheen then discussed appointing a new council member to fill an open seat. Council advertised the open seat and accepted letters of interest from any resident after Michelle Bennington-Lucarelli ‘s term expired Dec. 31.

Stephany Crist, Jeffery Hayes and Bennington-Lucarelli submitted applications to fill the open seat.

All applicants said a few words Tuesday before council voted.

Crist said she has experience in public service and has always enjoyed it. She said she works for the Belmont County Engineer’s Office. Crist said she has experience writing grant applications as well. She added that she was glad to see others apply for the open seat.

“I know how much everyone struggles finding people to serve,” she said.

Crist said she would offer her support to the village regardless of whether she was appointed.

Hayes said he is committed to serving the people of Bridgeport and hoped to make some changes and improvements.

“I have a genuine interest in joining this team because I understand that the decisions that this council makes are not easy,” he said.

Hayes said he has supported his fellow Bridgeport residents throughout his life.

“Last year, you may remember there was a fire on Route 40 across from DaVita Kidney Care. That home was behind our home. At 6 in the morning, my wife and I are waking up and gathering every penny that we have in our house and gifts that we can give to that family before they get moved by the Red Cross,” he said.

Hayes said he also has gotten stray cats spayed and neutered to support the community.

Bennington-Lucarelli served on council previously and planned to serve again during this term but said that she made mistakes on her application for reelection. She said she had tried to serve Bridgeport as best as she could. She noted that she attended several meetings almost every day and spent a lot of time serving the public during her previous term.

“I would like to continue to serve, but if you choose not to reassign me, I’m still here for Bridgeport,” Bennington-Lucarelli said.

All members of council except for Robert Bennington voted to appoint Bennington-Lucarelli. Bennington abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest as he is Bennington-Lucarelli’s brother.

Shaheen then swore in Bennington-Lucarelli.

In other news, Tim Smith, a member of the park board, said that “great things” are happening in that department. He said that the village is already preparing for next Christmas.

“We’ve got some new bows, some big bows that are about 3-foot long to go on the light poles. There’s about 30 of them, and next week we’re having a meeting on getting some new garland for the poles for next year,” he said.

Smith also said the parks district recently launched a new Facebook group that can be found by searching “Bridgeport Ohio Park District.” The group is public, so anyone can join and see posts about upcoming events and projects.

Smith said one event coming up is the second annual craft and vendor show, which will take place on March 2. All proceeds go back to the park board. More information about the event can be found on the new Facebook group.

Jesse Kosegi, village administrator, said he is looking into getting a new website for the village. He said he contacted three companies for price estimates and heard back from one, McGinnis Made in Steubenville. Kosegi said he has been in contact with owner Ben McGinnis, who said that a new website would cost $4,000 to set up and $1,000 per year for maintenance.

“It’s a little expensive, but to put Bridgeport into the direction we need to go, this is something nice. It’s professional, very professional, and it’s all maintained by them,” he said.

Kosegi said McGinnis Made would even take photos for the website, and the company has drones to take aerial shots.

Kosegi said village officials can send emails to the company to add announcements and other information to the proposed site.

Council and village officials plan to look at the proposal before deciding whether to get a new website.

Councilman David Holmes was absent from the meeting.