Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Four new houses will be built in Bradford’s Second Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Project area that could raise the tax base significantly. City council on Tuesday approved on first reading a $250,000 general obligation bond that will go toward building the homes on Elm and Congress streets. OEDC Executive Director Sara Andrews explained that loan will be repaid from the sale of the homes, the same way it was with the homes on Pearl and School streets. She says construction on the first home should start next month. Two others should start later in the summer. The fourth may not be built until next year. “It’s great to see some new construction going up in the city – that people can come in and buy a new home,” said Councilman Fred Proper. Andrews added that a study done concerning the homes on Pearl and School streets showed that the taxes collected from the new homes is 217 percent higher than the taxes collected from the old homes that were there. She added that the homes al...

Property taxes in the City of Bradford won’t be going up nearly as much as anticipated. The average property owner will see an increase of about $4.50 a month. They had been looking at an increase of around $10. Mayor Tom Riel says they were able to knock the millage down from 4.9 to 1.5 in the past month. “It was kind of scary when we did the first reading (of the millage ordinance),” Riel said. “I want to commend council for their efforts working with everybody to lower that down to 1.5 mils.” “I wish it was nothing,” he said, “but we can’t go without a tax increase every year.” He added that there has not been a tax increase for the past three years. Eliminating the purchase of new vehicles for the police, fire and property maintenance departments is one way they trimmed the budget. Health insurance, pension costs and contract obligations were among the increases expenses they had no control over. Councilman Fred Proper, who oversees accounts and finances, said although the for...

The City of Bradford has scheduled a second Spring cleanup for next week. Councilman Fred Proper explained that because of weather and other issues last month "we felt that there wasn't enough time for people to properly clean up." The extra items will be picked up on regular trash pickup days. "Basically, if it's under 40 pounds and not hazardous and neatly stacked at the curb, we can pick it up," Proper said. Electronics and tires are two exceptions. A tire cleanup will be held in August, according to DPW and Parks Director Chip Comilla. The third exception is lawn waste, which will be picked up on the day after regular trash pickup. Listen to the entire meeting here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Council on Tuesday approved resolutions dealing with some of the most talked-about problems in the city -- road conditions, dilapidated properties and bad behavior in the downtown area. Council ~~ also approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would allow shoppers to park longer at metered spots on Kennedy Street. Council has to approve the ordinance a second time, presumably on May 14, before it goes into effect. ~~ agreed to advertise for services to install a security and video surveillance system downtown. Private donations are paying for the system. ~~ approved the demolition of three blighted properties: 57 Amm Street, 179 High Street and 44 Willard Avenue. Mayor Tom Riel said, "It's about time," regarding the demolition on Willard. Councilman Fred Proper seconded the resolution "with pleasure." The money for the demolition comes from the CDBG fund. ~~ agreed to advertise for bidders to work on resurfacing eight city streets, inclu...

Candidates for McKean County Sheriff and Bradford City Council participated in a forum Thursday night at the Bradford Area Public Library, sponsored by the American Association of University Women. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Dr. Stephen Robar was the moderator. To give you an opportunity to form your own opinions on what they had to say, we are providing you with the audio of the event. Candidates for McKean County Sheriff : Steve Caskey, Brian Gustafson, Brad Mason (pictured) Candidates for Bradford City Council Brad Mangel, Tim Pecora, Fred Proper The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

There still time to submit questions for the Candidate Forum set for Thursday night at the Bradford Area Public Library. The forum, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and will include candidates for McKean County sheriff as well as Bradford City Council. Dr. Steve Robar, political science professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will be the moderator. Questions can be emailed to aauw_bradford@yahoo.com  The sheriff race is a contested race between Republicans Steve Caskey, Brian Gustafson and Brad Mason. Three candidates are running for three seats on Bradford City Council. They are Brad Mangel, Tim Pecora and Fred Proper, all Republicans. The forum is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The primary election is May 21. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The American Association of University Women - Bradford Branch is holding a Candidate Forum for the upcoming Primary Election. This Forum, featuring those running for McKean County sheriff and Bradford City Council, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the community room of the Bradford Area Public Library. Dr. Stephen Robar, associate professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will moderate the forum. There are three Republican candidates running for sheriff – Brad Mason, the current sheriff, Steve Caskey and Brian Gustafson. There are also three candidates running for three seats on city council. They are incumbent Fred Proper, Brad Mangel, who was appointed to fill the unexpired seat of Rick Benton and newcomer Tim Pecora, all Republicans. “Our group is excited to be able to bring this forum to the voters of McKean County,” said Sandy Rhodes, co-president of AAUW. “We are hopeful that this will give voters the information they...

Bids were opened during Tuesday’s Bradford City Council for the Callahan Park Ice Rink renovation project. They ranged from $1.8 million to $2.1 million. The project engineer is looking over the bids and council expects to award the contract during its next meeting. Council also authorized the advertisement of bids for the Pine Street Parking Lot Improvement Project, and approved the placement of additional temporary directional signs for the Holiday Inn Express. The signs must be approved by DPW Director Chip Comilla. Also, a Rockland Avenue couple who rent several properties in the city expressed their displeasure with the NewBury Commons housing project, saying “it’s a constant struggle” to find good tenants and there are “only so many decent people to rent to.” They feel that approving the project “literally takes food off our table.” Council observed a moment of silence for former councilman Frederick Proper, who died earlier this month. Mayor Tom Riel also read a certificate o...

Frederick E. Proper, 88, of 22 Brook St., Bradford, formerly of Constitution Ave. passed away, Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at The Pavilion at BRMC. Born on July 5, 1924, in Bradford, he was a son of the late Frederick S. and Florence (Stewart) Proper. On April 3, 1954 in the First Presbyterian Church he married Gloria J. (Poling) Proper, who died March 26, 1999. He was a 1942 graduate of Bradford High School, after high school he enlisted in the Navy, on May 24, 1943, he was honorably discharged April 8,1945. He went on to graduate from Kent State University. He worked as a Industrial Photographer at Kendall Refining Company for 49 years retiring from Witco Chemical. He was a member of Hill Memorial United Methodist Church, he was a 60 year member of Blue Lodge 749 F&AM and a former member of the Orak Gratto. He served on City Council for 14 years. He also served on the City Water Authority, Zoning Commission, Sanitary Authority, McKean County Planning Commission, McKean Count...

Bradford City Council approved its 2013 budget on final reading Tuesday. Councilman Jim Evans, who oversees accounts and finances, said efficiencies were realized in every department in 2012, budgets were watched carefully and revenue and expenses were kept in line with budget projections. “In addition, the mayor, city council, city clerk and others have continued to look for creative ways to raise city revenues outside of raising property tax assessments,” Evans read in the 2013 budget letter. “The result is the City of Bradford government continues to operate efficiently while the level of services to city residents continues to be maintained at appropriate levels.” Despite significant increases in workmen’s compensation insurance premiums, payments for the 2012 bond issue, and inflationary increases in a number of areas, this is the second year in a row council has not had to raise taxes. Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Curt Wallace of C.J. Wallace Engineering suggested that th...

Purchase of New Firetruck Approved By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Tempers flared during Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting. Foster Township supervisor chairman Jim Connelly Jr., who is also a landlord in the city, asked how the city plans on paying off its 2012 bond. Mayor Tom Riel said the city has set aside money for this year’s payment, and then started to explain why the city needed to borrow money, giving the “deplorable” condition of the streets as one reason. Connelly interrupted, saying he agrees the streets are in deplorable condition, but he didn’t need an explanation on why the city borrowed the money. He wanted to know if the city is going to have to raise taxes to pay it off. Riel asked if Connelly was finished; Connelly said he asked Riel a question; then they talked over each other for a few seconds. “Mr. Connelly,” Riel said, “here is how it works here: A citizen stands and addresses council and we respond. We don’t banter and go back and forth ...

UPDATE Bradford Sanitary Authority will receive a PENNVEST $15,598,357 loan and a $3,146,643 grant to upgrade and expand its sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate wet weather overloading of the plant and discharges of partially treated sewage into Tunungwant Creek. By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Sanitary Authority and Bradford City Council can agree on one thing: Whatever is going to be done about upgrading the wastewater treatment plant has to be done as soon as possible. The two groups held a work session Tuesday to discuss plans for the plant. Bradford Township supervisor Gayle Bauer and Foster Township supervisor John Sullivan also attended. At issue is the best way to upgrade the plant, at the lowest cost. Another issue is which engineering firm would be best for the job. Buchart Horn first brought up the new BioMag technology for the plant, which would save money. Gannett Fleming has been the Sanitary Authority’s engineer for years. Buchart Horn has ...

Bradford City Council on Tuesday renewed a lease with Allegany Concrete to rent a portion of land at the Holley Avenue Department of Public Works complex, but not without hearing objections from Mayor Tom Riel first. Riel said he meant no disrespect to Allegany Concrete or the rest of council but he was not in favor of renewing the lease. “I’m not against free enterprise or competition but” when the original lease was approved five years ago council was under the belief that they would go in to provide concrete only for the highway and they would not be competing against other companies in the area, “and that did not hold to be true,” he said. “There’s no place (else) they could set up that concrete place anyplace in this valley, especially that close to an interchange, for $1,000 a month and operate a concrete plant,” Riel said. “I do think that it makes it an unlevel playing field. Again, I’m not against competition but I think it’s unfair to Bisett (Building Center) – a business tha...

Although a couple members of the Board of Health would prefer that the city health license of Marsh’s Bar be suspended immediately, the board voted to give the owner 14 days to remedy the 32 violations found in inspections done last week. “This property is a disgrace,” said board member Jim Evans. “It’s one of Bradford’s worst.” Referring to pictures that were taken by inspectors Mike Cleveland and Mark Grassi, Evans said, “What’s going on inside mirrors what’s on the outside.” He asked why the license couldn’t be revoked immediately because the owner has had every opportunity to bring it up to code in the past. Letters were sent to Ken Marsh in April and also in August of last year in reference to code violations. The city’s special counsel Greg Henry said he “would much rather take action immediately than have any sort of delay. There’s no question about that. On the other hand we need to do this in a way that will survive any legal attack upon us.” “This deals with this individual’s...

Chip Comilla is now head of city parks as well as public works. Bradford City Council approved the appointment during its meeting Tuesday night. Comilla replaces Gary Alcock, who retired at the end of last year. Councilman Fred Proper, who oversees the Department of Public Works, praised Jim Copeland and Greg Taylor who ran the department for the last few months. "They're both to be commended for that," Proper said. "Going through what, I think what everyone would agree, was one of the worst winters we've had in years, Jim's been faced with some pretty heavy snowplowing issues -- at least trying to keep the streets drivable over the last few months. A big thank you out to both of those people." "They did a tremendous job," added Mayor Tom Riel. You can listen to last night's meeting here .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Snow plowing, snow shoveling, potholes and the cost of salt were addressed during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting. "There are many sidewalks in the city which have not been passable since the first snowfall in December," said councilman Fred Proper, who oversees the public works department. He noted that the city does have an ordinance regarding snow shoveling that says anytime there's a snowfall of 2 or more inches, sidewalks need to be cleaned within 24 hours. Proper said if someone has packed snow and ice on his property, but has attempted to clean it, he doesn't have a problem with that. "The problem is the sidewalks that truly have had no care. There are many properties in the city that no one has taken responsibility for. That's a major problem,” he said. “Those sidewalks are probably not going to get shoveled or cleaned up unless the neighbors choose to do it.” Proper stressed that cleaning the sidew...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Last month Bradford City Council was looking at 4.5 millage rate and a hefty tax increase. Tuesday, they learned the rate has been cut by more than half and they’re not finished cutting yet. Earlier in the afternoon it had been cut to 2.58 but City Clerk John Peterson said that thanks to a diligent insurance agent and the efforts of the city’s employee safety committees, another $60,000 was cut out of the budget, bringing the millage rate to 2.21. Peterson commended Sundahl Insurance and Fred Hilzinger for finding a better rate than the city had been getting for their workman’s compensation insurance. It been $213,959 and is now $151,911 for a rate reduction of 29 percent. He thanked Hilzinger for “going the extra mile for the City of Bradford.” Peterson added that city employees deserve a round of applause because the reduction can be directly attributed to the safety committee, headed by former Councilman Bob Onuffer, who brought safety issues...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford City Council passed on first reading a budget that, as is, would mean a tax increase of about 4 mils. But Mayor Tom Riel and all four councilmen said they would not pass it on final reading next month unless significant changes are made. “I’ll never vote for this sort of tax increase,” said Councilman Jim Evans during Tuesday's council meeting. “The tax increase that’s proposed by this (budget) is way out of line with what our citizens can afford,” said Councilman Fred Proper. Proper also noted that the last page of the ordinance says it “shall be effective upon final passage,” which would be December 28. Riel reminded everyone that, just like last year, the first reading of the budget doesn’t look good and, last year, it looked as if a huge millage increase would be necessary, “but we shaved that down to almost nothing.” The anticipated total general fund expenditures for this year are $8,219,233. The submitted expenditures for 201...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Frustration has been growing among Atlantic Broadband customers about television reception, and one person took his concerns to Bradford City Council Tuesday. Bradford resident Brad Mangel said, with the franchise contract coming up for renewal in a couple of years, maybe the city could do something. “The lower channels are terrible and they’re not doing anything about it,” Mangel said. "This new digital TV …was supposed to be a Godsend. Well, to me, it’s made my television reception worse,” he added. Police Chief Chris Lucco asked if Mangel had tried contacting the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Mangel said cable companies are not governed by the PUC. “I wish I could go to the PUC,” he said, “but it wouldn’t do any good.” "I’ll keep complaining to Atlantic Broadband and they’ll keep telling me it’s a satellite signal and clouds get in front of them, and I know better. I think they have some issues with their lines,” Mangel sa...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford’s newest councilmen agree that code enforcement is the number one priority of city residents. Almost all public comment council has received in the last six months has been about code enforcement, blighted properties and the historic district, said Councilman Fred Proper during Tuesday's council meeting. “The quality of life in our community is being affected by the property in the community – deteriorating property,” he said. As a council, “You got it across to us that it’s probably the number one priority in this community right now. We need to work together to handle that.” “I’ve got the message that it is the number one priority, aside from maybe some financial problems that we’re going to have to face,” he said. “This is the number one issue – blighted properties, code enforcement,” Councilman Jim Evans said. “The only reason it surpasses financial is we’re not building a budget right now.” “That message has come through loud a...