Council Discusses Bear Problem
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
A problem that's getting to be unbearable was discussed during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting.
Vista Circle resident Brad Mangel told council a bear cub was in his neighborhood at 1:30 in the afternoon.
He said he knows other parts of the city are having problems, too, but his main concern is children in the neighborhood, and its proximity to Bradford Area High School.
"School's going to start," he said. "You don't want bears in the neighborhood at that time."
He added that he doesn't normally "like to pick on government agencies, but I don't depend too much on the game commission."
Mayor Tom Riel mentioned the hoops people often have to go through to contact the game commission.
"They make it a cumbersome task to get a hold of them," he said.
And even the mayor isn't immune to the bear problem. He said that recently he was working on his computer at his house and turned around to see a bear looking through the window screen at him.
"The bear population has greatly increased and they're being more brave and they're being seen in neighborhoods in broad daylight," Riel said. "In the middle of the day they're in downtown Bradford – Congress Street and South Avenue."
He said he's asked the game commission to make a concerted effort to bring numerous traps to Bradford. The police department will determine the worst neighborhoods for bear sightings.
"Trap them and get them out of here," Riel said. "Take them preferably more than five or 10 miles so they don't show up in two or three days."
He added that, "It's getting to the point where something's got to be done. It's not the police department's responsibility at all to interact with the bears and try to shoo them away. We'll see if we hear back from the game commission"
In other matters, council authorized the OECD to apply for $71,000 from the PA Conservation Works! Recovery Grant program that will be go toward improvements at the public works building at 112 Holley Avenue.
The improvements will reduce energy consumption that will result in lower utility bills.
The money comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.
Council also entered into Intermediary Relending Program loan agreements with the Sportsmen's Outlet and McCourt Label Cabinet Company.
McCourt's $34,000 loan will go toward parking lot improvements. The Sportsmen's Outlet's $25,000 loan will go toward buying inventory
The loans are through the USDA.
Council also authorized free parking in the business district for Festa Italiana. Free parking will be in effect from noon Thursday through Friday.
Also Tuesday, Main Street resident Dave Newman commented on the success of National Night Out/Taste of Bradford, and wanted to thank everyone who came out for the event.
OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews thanked Elm Street Manager Lisa Campogiani and Main Street Manager Anita Dolan for putting the events together and for the hard work they did.
Riel noted that he liked the idea of spreading the events throughout several areas of the city.
He also mentioned that a videographer doing a promotional video captured most of the events. The video will eventually be linked to the city's Web site, and won't cost the city anything.
And, Helen Burfield pointed out to council that cars are still speeding and bicyclists are "almost running over people." She also said dogs are still "poo-pooing" on the street.
Burfield also noted that she is going to Las Vegas but the police department has advised her to not say when she's going because houses get broken into when people know the occupants aren't there.
Listen to the entire council meeting by clicking HERE
WESB/WBRR News Director
A problem that's getting to be unbearable was discussed during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting.
Vista Circle resident Brad Mangel told council a bear cub was in his neighborhood at 1:30 in the afternoon.
He said he knows other parts of the city are having problems, too, but his main concern is children in the neighborhood, and its proximity to Bradford Area High School.
"School's going to start," he said. "You don't want bears in the neighborhood at that time."
He added that he doesn't normally "like to pick on government agencies, but I don't depend too much on the game commission."
Mayor Tom Riel mentioned the hoops people often have to go through to contact the game commission.
"They make it a cumbersome task to get a hold of them," he said.
And even the mayor isn't immune to the bear problem. He said that recently he was working on his computer at his house and turned around to see a bear looking through the window screen at him.
"The bear population has greatly increased and they're being more brave and they're being seen in neighborhoods in broad daylight," Riel said. "In the middle of the day they're in downtown Bradford – Congress Street and South Avenue."
He said he's asked the game commission to make a concerted effort to bring numerous traps to Bradford. The police department will determine the worst neighborhoods for bear sightings.
"Trap them and get them out of here," Riel said. "Take them preferably more than five or 10 miles so they don't show up in two or three days."
He added that, "It's getting to the point where something's got to be done. It's not the police department's responsibility at all to interact with the bears and try to shoo them away. We'll see if we hear back from the game commission"
In other matters, council authorized the OECD to apply for $71,000 from the PA Conservation Works! Recovery Grant program that will be go toward improvements at the public works building at 112 Holley Avenue.
The improvements will reduce energy consumption that will result in lower utility bills.
The money comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.
Council also entered into Intermediary Relending Program loan agreements with the Sportsmen's Outlet and McCourt Label Cabinet Company.
McCourt's $34,000 loan will go toward parking lot improvements. The Sportsmen's Outlet's $25,000 loan will go toward buying inventory
The loans are through the USDA.
Council also authorized free parking in the business district for Festa Italiana. Free parking will be in effect from noon Thursday through Friday.
Also Tuesday, Main Street resident Dave Newman commented on the success of National Night Out/Taste of Bradford, and wanted to thank everyone who came out for the event.
OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews thanked Elm Street Manager Lisa Campogiani and Main Street Manager Anita Dolan for putting the events together and for the hard work they did.
Riel noted that he liked the idea of spreading the events throughout several areas of the city.
He also mentioned that a videographer doing a promotional video captured most of the events. The video will eventually be linked to the city's Web site, and won't cost the city anything.
And, Helen Burfield pointed out to council that cars are still speeding and bicyclists are "almost running over people." She also said dogs are still "poo-pooing" on the street.
Burfield also noted that she is going to Las Vegas but the police department has advised her to not say when she's going because houses get broken into when people know the occupants aren't there.
Listen to the entire council meeting by clicking HERE
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