by Paul Darst
STAFF WRITER
BRIDGEPORT -- City council members Monday learned that Bridgeport's revenues are about $63,000 more than projected so far this fiscal year.
City Manager Kim Haws reported that building permit fees and ambulance service fees are each about $30,000 more than projections.
"If you've seen any of the numbers for building in Bridgeport, they are way up," Haws said, explaining the larger-than-expected number of permit fees.
Meanwhile, council unanimously voted in favor of several mid-fiscal year budget adjustments. Such moves are common at this point in the year, Haws said.
One line item of the budget that received more money, for example, was the road salt fund, Haws said. Members moved $15,000 more into that account, he said.
Haws also reported to council that the city's contingency fund for the 2000-2001 fiscal year has not yet been used.
In other action, council made three appointments to the board of directors of the newly-formed Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The action comes after the incorporating members of the bureau adopted by-laws recently. Under those by-laws, the board will have nine members. The mayor and city manager are automatically members, Mayor Joe Timms said. Two other positions are reserved for council members. Council appoints a resident to one of the remaining seats.
During the meeting, council appointed recorder Mike Conley, council member Hank Murray and resident Don Burton to the board.
The final four seats will be appointed by the board, Timms said. Two of them are to be representatives of the hotel/motel industry, one must be from the food industry and the final one from the general business community.
Council members also voted to award a contract for a wireless computer communication system to Eagle Technologies for $39,556. The system will link computers located at different locations around the city, Haws said.
When complete, the city will own the system, which will utilize a satellite dish located on a tower overlooking the city, Haws said.
Staff writer Paul Darst can be reached at 626-1404 or by e-mail at pdarst@exponent-telegram.com.