Bridgeport mayor issues statement on city manager's possible removal
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang has issued a statement on Thursday's special council meeting to discuss the potential removal of City Manager Patrick Ford.
In a statement emailed to 12 News on Wednesday morning, Lang wrote 'Thursday's Special Meeting was called by me in accordance with the City's procedural requirements.'
City officials have not commented publicly on the reason they're considering Ford's removal.
'The City Council and I are elected to serve the residents of the City of Bridgeport, and we took an oath to serve and always work in the best interests of the City,' Lang wrote. 'Many times, we must discuss and act on tough issues and make decisions to keep the City moving forward.'
Bridgeport city manager intends to fight for his job
Ford, who was hired in October of 2024, has claimed his possible termination is an effort by city leaders to hide the results of an internal investigation initiated in February of 2025.
In a letter to City Council obtained by 12 News, Ford wrote 'on February 10th, 2025, you (city council) unanimously voted to initiate an internal investigation — the initial results of which you are collectively now attempting to hide through my termination.'
In that same letter, Ford invoked West Virginia State Code, which he said gives him the statutory right to have an open meeting concerning his employment status.
In an email sent to local media outlets Tuesday, Ford said there was a 'wealth of misinformation' circulating about his reputation and character and that he intends to 'fight for what is right — and my job.'
The Thursday special meeting has one item on the agenda: discussion and possible action on Ford's removal from office.
'Thursday's Special Meeting was called by me in accordance with the City's procedural requirements,' wrote Lang in his Wednesday statement. 'As an elected official who takes my responsibilities seriously, I will not deviate from the processes that we are obligated to follow. Rest assured, regardless of any information posted on social media or elsewhere, accurate information will be provided when appropriate. We must follow State Law and the Charter of the City of Bridgeport.'
The special meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. 12 News will be at the meeting and will bring you the latest.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Harvey, Illinois Ald. Colby Chapman to appear in court on charges from city council incident
A Harvey alderperson will appear in court on Monday, accused of hitting a police officer while being removed from a council meeting back in April. Ald. Colby Chapman (2nd) was arrested earlier this month on felony charges of aggravated battery to a police officer. A preliminary hearing will take place at a court in Markham. At a city council meeting in April, Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark accused Chapman of being disruptive and ordered her to leave. Clark said she was disruptive at least three times and asked the Harvey City Council to censure and remove her. Officers led her out as she tried to hold onto the door. Mayor Clark said the video of the incident spoke for itself and shows Chapman striking a police officer. He added that the charges should send a clear message that no one is above the law. Ald. Chapman chalked the charges up to political retaliation by the mayor, who said no such thing is happening. Chapman was charged with misdemeanors for the encounter with officers. The charges were dropped by the Cook County State's Attorney's office. However, the State's Attorney's office approved a new felony charge against Chapman of aggravated battery to a police officer for the same incident. The day Ald. Chapman turned herself in, she announced her candidacy for mayor, and filed a civil lawsuit against the mayor.
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Housing plan could "redline" Des Moines, former Sen. Jack Hatch says
Des Moines' proposed citywide housing strategy faces criticism from several influential affordable-housing advocates. Why it matters: Housing affordability is an increasing concern throughout Iowa. Des Moines' strategy could influence regional development and decide whether low-income families can find homes in the state's largest city or will be pushed out. Catch up quick: Last year, the City Council hired the Maine-based urban planning firm CZB to develop DSM's first citywide housing strategy. The study addresses long-term goals of enhancing neighborhoods and maximizing the millions of dollars the city allocates annually for revitalization. Driving the news: Housing developer Jack Hatch, a former state senator, criticized the plan in a June 2 letter to the council, saying it misrepresents how affordable housing works and could "redline" the city by halting low-income housing projects. He warns that the report misrepresents the city as being overwhelmed with low-income housing and ignores the economic advantages that such projects provide. Zoom in: The recommendations involve redeveloping about 300 blocks of the city through a combination of voluntary acquisitions and demolitions, reducing the areas from being 100% low- and very-low-income to roughly 30-35%. A pause on most low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) projects — one of the country's most common tools for creating affordable housing — could also lead to a more even distribution of housing options across the metro by shifting more low-income projects to suburbs, according to a CZB presentation last month. The intrigue: City Councilperson Josh Mandelbaum also expressed concern in a June 4 op-ed published by Bleeding Heartland, a community blog, saying affordable-housing options would worsen if the report were fully adopted. Councilperson and real estate agent Linda Westergaard accused the report of using "scare tactics" during a February meeting when she questioned the proposal to level a wide swath of the city's older housing. What's next: Public feedback about the proposal is being reviewed, and council members are expected to discuss it during a July 14 work session.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fourth-generation Puebloan announces run for Pueblo City Council District 3
Joseph Perko seeks to welcome progress while also preserving Pueblo's legacy if elected to Pueblo City Council's District 3 seat. The fourth-generation Pueblo resident and union member is running for council in 2025 with goals to clean up the city and champion labor, public outreach and urban improvement. As a candidate for District 3, Perko's bid for a council seat will be determined by residents of Aberdeen, the Mesa Junction, Regency, Sunset Park and other communities in the southwest quadrant of the city. Perko has a business degree and is an electrician by trade with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 12. "As a blue-collar union member, I am all too aware of the challenges our workers and unions face as well as the benefits they stand to gain if empowered," Perko said in a written campaign announcement. "There is growth, development and industry all over Pueblo and yet our workers continue to see wages be outpaced by the cost of living, watching laborers in our sister cities around Colorado enjoy far greater gains." Often an attendee of Pueblo City Council meetings, Perko told the Chieftain he's considered running for office for about six years. While he said he respects the current council's thoroughness in addressing and debating issues, he feels council members can be "needlessly contentious with one another." Perko said he does not fully understand why some current council members have disregarded community-led efforts to preserve the City Park Bathhouse and that there is no need to tear it down. He also opposed city government's funding cuts to nonprofits like the Mariposa Center for Safety, Pueblo Zoo and Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, which the city made before passing its 2025 city. "I strongly disagree with a lot of the ways that they are trying to get this new budget... just trying to cut everything that we view as essential," Perko said. "I think it takes away from a lot of the things that give people opportunities, which just furthers economic decline, reduces our tax base and makes it harder for people to want to stay here." In his campaign announcement, Perko advocated for training programs to grow the local labor pool, tidying up the city's most distressed areas to make Pueblo more welcoming, and work programs to employ unhoused and probationary individuals. "Give them a chance to work cutting overgrowth, picking up litter, simple things like that. In time, they could work their way up to full-time employment and obtain housing," Perko said in the announcement. "Investment could be made in networks of medical and mental health treatment so they can have the abilities to elevate themselves out of their situation with confidence, independence and compassion. Perko will host a mixer and formal campaign launch event at his brother Anthony Perko's law office, Perko Law, LLC, at 113 Broadway Ave., from 4 to 6 p.m. on June 28. Half-cent sales tax: Mayor proposes change to half-cent sales tax criteria. Could it bring a Costco to Pueblo? Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Fourth-generation Puebloan announces 2025 bid for city council
