Bridgeport council updates borough holidays, approves riverfront license, carnival contract and station address changes

Bridgeport Borough Council on Feb. 11 approved multiple routine items, including a revision to the borough’s 2025 holiday calendar, a license for a seasonal river market on borough property, a contract to operate the annual Bridgeport Carnival and numeric address assignments for two SEPTA stations.

The council unanimously approved a resolution revising the borough holiday list to add Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct. 13). Councilmember Hiles made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Megan Nolan; the motion carried on a voice vote. Borough staff said the revision is to update the calendar for 2025.

The council also voted to execute the annual license agreement with Growing Bridgeport Together to permit use of borough riverfront property for a seasonal river market. Council records show a motion from Ms. Haug (second recorded as Mr. Haug) and a recusal before the vote by a council member who stepped aside for that item; the motion carried on a voice vote. Borough staff described the item as the annual agreement permitting use of the Burrow Riverfront property for the market.

Council authorized execution of a contract with Suica’s Amusements LLC to operate the 2024–2025 Bridgeport Carnival. Borough staff identified the event dates in the meeting as “June 17 to the 20 first,” and said the carnival will follow the same Tuesday-through-Saturday protocol used in recent years; the motion to authorize the contract was made by Mr. Shank and seconded by Ms. Nolan and carried on a voice vote. Staff noted the carnival will again include the fire department food stand and that several bands are already booked.

The council approved address corrections requested by SEPTA for two local train stations to comply with a Federal Transit Administration corrective action plan. Borough staff recommended assigning 514 Marion Street to the Bridgeport Train Station and 1151 DeKalb to the King Manor Train Station; Ms. Nolan moved the motion, Ms. Howe seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote.

Finally, the council authorized payment of unused personal-time payout to a former employee; the motion was made by Mr. Schenck and seconded by Ms. Houck and carried on a voice vote. The minutes and the meeting record did not specify an amount for the payout.

Votes at a glance - Resolution revising borough holidays for 2025 (add Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 13): mover Mr. Hiles; second Megan Nolan; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2025-03 executing a license agreement with Growing Bridgeport Together (seasonal river market at Burrow Riverfront): mover Ms. Haug; second Mr. Haug; recusal noted (council member); outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorization of contract with Suica’s Amusements LLC to operate Bridgeport Carnival (dates given in meeting as "June 17 to the 20 first" and described as Tuesday–Saturday): mover Mr. Shank; second Megan Nolan; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorization of numeric address assignments for SEPTA stations (Bridgeport Train Station → 514 Marion Street; King Manor Train Station → 1151 DeKalb) to comply with an FTA corrective action plan: mover Megan Nolan; second Ms. Howe; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorization to remit unused personal-time payout to a former employee (amount not specified in meeting): mover Mr. Schenck; second Ms. Houck; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Council members and staff did not record roll-call tallies in the public spoken record; each item passed following the council’s voice vote procedure. Where a council member recused from a vote, that recusal was noted on the record before the vote.

The meeting packet referenced a Feb. 6 memorandum from the borough building code official describing the SEPTA address recommendations as steps to comply with the Federal Transit Administration corrective action plan.

Future minutes and the formal meeting minutes should include the resolution numbers, the contract documents, and any payout amounts for official record-keeping.