State Budget Crisis Could Impact Main Street, Elm Street Programs
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
The state budget crisis could have a major impact on the City of Bradford.
During Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting, City Clerk John Peterson talked about the city's recycling program, which currently receives some state grant money.
"Does it cost the City of Bradford money to recycle?" Peterson asked rhetorically. "You betcha."
The Department of Environmental Protection awards performance grants that go toward paying for part of the cost of the program. The city also receives grants for equipment, trucks, maintenance costs and more. He said the grants help defer the cost of the program and, without those, there would be an additional burden on the city.
If that grant program is eliminated, Peterson said, it would be an unfunded mandate because, under the Third Class City Code, Bradford is required to recycle.
"It's absolutely essential that the recycling grant program continue," Peterson said.
The Main Street and Elm Street programs could be on the chopping block as well.
Mayor Tom Riel said there's "been some rumbling out of Harrisburg" about stopping monetary support for these programs.
"Those programs have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into Bradford and there's a threat that we may not receive any more funds," Riel said.
When approving payment for a project on Cole Avenue (part of the Elm Street Program), Riel said, "That's what Harrisburg is trying to take away from us."
He encouraged residents to contact State Senator Joe Scarnati and State Representative Marty Causer to tell them how important the programs are to the city.
In other matters, council gave the OK to the Bradford City Police Department to use tasers on a temporary and experimental basis.
Councilman Bob Tingley said he did have reservations about the tasers, but Officer Greg Boser, who is the training officer, put his mind at ease.
Tingley said he was concerned about "overzealous" officers and liability issues. But he said when he learned that the tasers come with cameras he was "very satisfied" with Boser's answers about his concerns.
Riel noted that the tasers were donated to the police department so there's no cost to taxpayers. He said several years ago an officer was injured and the cost to the city was about $30,000. If that officer had a taser, Riel said, the injuries probably wouldn't have happened.
In other matters, Councilman Ross Neidich talked about the stepped up efforts of the city's code enforcement officers.
He said this year they did 288 rental inspections as compared to 96 last year. This year, they sent out 118 letters concerning violations. Last year they sent out 46. They've also only had to issue 35 citations this year as compared to 102 last year.
"I think we're whole-heartedly attempting to attack this issue," Neidich said. "I think we're going to see some improvements."
Neidich also said before people talked about something going against the code, they should see if that's really the case.
It's "amazing" what currently meets code, he said.
"There are some places out there that I would probably not put my pet dog in, but they meet code," he said.
Neidich did say when one family was recently evicted from their house, they asked if they could live in a trailer on the street. They were told camping is not allowed on city streets.
Fire Chief Boo Coder informed council that it's his understanding the people plan to attend a future council meeting to ask why camping isn't allowed on city streets.
"They just didn't think it was right and they're going to get a petition together and come to council," Coder said.
"Maybe we can get some funding through K-O-A," Riel said.
Also Tuesday, Riel talked about the "tremendous" efforts made during neighborhood clean-ups over the past few weeks. Another clean-up is scheduled for the Second Ward area on Saturday. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Baptist Church on Congress Street at 9:30 a.m.
Also Tuesday, Stinkfest organizer Kim Glenn wanted to thank council for its support said the event was "one of the smoothest" and there were no negative incidents.
"The fire department never gave out so much as a Band-Aid this year," she said.
In case you didn't recognize it, that's a picture of Cole Avenue.
WESB/WBRR News Director
The state budget crisis could have a major impact on the City of Bradford.
During Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting, City Clerk John Peterson talked about the city's recycling program, which currently receives some state grant money.
"Does it cost the City of Bradford money to recycle?" Peterson asked rhetorically. "You betcha."
The Department of Environmental Protection awards performance grants that go toward paying for part of the cost of the program. The city also receives grants for equipment, trucks, maintenance costs and more. He said the grants help defer the cost of the program and, without those, there would be an additional burden on the city.
If that grant program is eliminated, Peterson said, it would be an unfunded mandate because, under the Third Class City Code, Bradford is required to recycle.
"It's absolutely essential that the recycling grant program continue," Peterson said.
The Main Street and Elm Street programs could be on the chopping block as well.Mayor Tom Riel said there's "been some rumbling out of Harrisburg" about stopping monetary support for these programs.
"Those programs have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into Bradford and there's a threat that we may not receive any more funds," Riel said.
When approving payment for a project on Cole Avenue (part of the Elm Street Program), Riel said, "That's what Harrisburg is trying to take away from us."
He encouraged residents to contact State Senator Joe Scarnati and State Representative Marty Causer to tell them how important the programs are to the city.
In other matters, council gave the OK to the Bradford City Police Department to use tasers on a temporary and experimental basis.
Councilman Bob Tingley said he did have reservations about the tasers, but Officer Greg Boser, who is the training officer, put his mind at ease.
Tingley said he was concerned about "overzealous" officers and liability issues. But he said when he learned that the tasers come with cameras he was "very satisfied" with Boser's answers about his concerns.
Riel noted that the tasers were donated to the police department so there's no cost to taxpayers. He said several years ago an officer was injured and the cost to the city was about $30,000. If that officer had a taser, Riel said, the injuries probably wouldn't have happened.
In other matters, Councilman Ross Neidich talked about the stepped up efforts of the city's code enforcement officers.
He said this year they did 288 rental inspections as compared to 96 last year. This year, they sent out 118 letters concerning violations. Last year they sent out 46. They've also only had to issue 35 citations this year as compared to 102 last year.
"I think we're whole-heartedly attempting to attack this issue," Neidich said. "I think we're going to see some improvements."
Neidich also said before people talked about something going against the code, they should see if that's really the case.
It's "amazing" what currently meets code, he said.
"There are some places out there that I would probably not put my pet dog in, but they meet code," he said.
Neidich did say when one family was recently evicted from their house, they asked if they could live in a trailer on the street. They were told camping is not allowed on city streets.
Fire Chief Boo Coder informed council that it's his understanding the people plan to attend a future council meeting to ask why camping isn't allowed on city streets.
"They just didn't think it was right and they're going to get a petition together and come to council," Coder said.
"Maybe we can get some funding through K-O-A," Riel said.
Also Tuesday, Riel talked about the "tremendous" efforts made during neighborhood clean-ups over the past few weeks. Another clean-up is scheduled for the Second Ward area on Saturday. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Baptist Church on Congress Street at 9:30 a.m.
Also Tuesday, Stinkfest organizer Kim Glenn wanted to thank council for its support said the event was "one of the smoothest" and there were no negative incidents.
"The fire department never gave out so much as a Band-Aid this year," she said.
In case you didn't recognize it, that's a picture of Cole Avenue.
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