Westport Officials Brainstorm with Leaders from Berdyansk, Ukraine

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Town officials Tuesday participated in an international Skype conference call with municipal officials from Berdyansk, Ukraine, to exchange ideas about municipal operations, commercial development, and tourism.

Local attorney Ken Bernhard, who was a recent guest professor at Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, initiated the arrangements for the discussion, and Dimitry Kamensky, Head of the Law Courses Department at the University, served as the official translator. Professor Kamensky is a two-time recipient of the United States Fulbright program.

Also in attendance were First Selectman Jim Marpe, Selectman Avi Kaner, Board of Education Director of Human Resources John Bayers, RTM Moderator Eileen Flug, and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matthew Mandell. Jamie Sachs of the Westport IT Department provided logistical and tech support.

The Berdyansk contingent included Mayor Vladimir Chepurnoy, Secretary of the City Council Aleksey Kholod, Head of the Tourism Management Department at Berdyansk Pedagogical University Galina Kazachkovskaya, and Head of “Prolisok” BGO Ivan Kharchenko.

First Selectman Marpe and Mayor Chepurnoy shared ideas on how each community could learn from the other and possibly set in motion an international agenda for their citizens, according to officials.

Further conversation focused on the achievements and issues surrounding Berdyansk’s tourism efforts and small businesses. Of interest to both sides was how local government has the capacity to support local business, as well as remaining attractive locations for families, visitors and commerce. While disparate in size, area and governance structures, it was agreed that the Town of Westport could potentially provide guidance to Berdyansk in those areas, particularly if the two communities maintain a connection into the future.

Photo credit: Town of Westport