Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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 ...

Marsh’s Bar is back in business after the owner and the city came to an agreement about what repairs should be done to his building and when. The Board of Health met this afternoon, initially to hear Marsh’s appeal of the suspension of his license due to health code violations. But the city’s special counsel Greg Henry told the board he and Marsh’s lawyer Joe Marasco worked out an agreement that suits both sides. Henry says this is a good deal. “I think it protects the city and, certainly, requires a great deal of Marsh,” Henry said. “It gets rid of all sorts of issues about whether he has time to comply and, if an appeal is taken, on what grounds it can be taken, and so forth.” “It has deadlines in there for all the known things for which he has been cited,” Henry added. Marsh has until July 8 to comply, but will get his license back immediately because he complied with the items needed for that to happen.

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...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Code enforcement has a new plan. During Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting, code enforcement officer George Corignani said he and Merle Silvis want to use the two firemen who are in training at the code enforcement office to find problem properties throughout the city. The plan is to have them go ward to ward throughout the city, take pictures and notes, and report back to Corginani and Silvis, who would act on the problems. Once the First Ward is done, they’ll move to the Second Ward, and so on. Corginani and Silvis would continue to do inspections and answer health-related complaints. “We’ve been jumping around from ward to ward … trying to answer this and answer that. … If we started at one ward and did that ward with the two extra guys, that would give us some relief for us to do the stuff we have to do,” Corignani said. The plan is to pay them with money code enforcement collects from fines and fees. Mayor Tom Riel and Councilman Rick ...

In round thirteen of the chess league at School Street Elementary, the chessboard battles continued with more upsets. Dr. Laroche annihilated Dexter’s Service Center to share fist. The Pharmacy at Union Square shutout Wal-Mart, the league leader for 9 rounds in the varsity division. With the competition heating up towards the end of the season, there is now a three-way tie for first: the Pharmacy at Union Square, Dr. Laroche, and Dexter’s Service Center. Greg Henry (captain of the Pharmacy) and Mike Jones, captain for Dr. Gonzalez, are tied for top individual. Tamara Ferguson (captain for Smith’s) is a half point behind in second. In the JV section, Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair took over first place when Tasta Pizza lost their match. Drs. Rhinehart Team is in second, and Tasta Pizza is one point behind in third. Brent Kennedy (captain for Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair) leads the pack for top individual followed by Mitchell Forbes, captain for Hamlin Bank, in second. Jessica Y...

A hearing on the proposed Holiday Inn Express on Forman Street is scheduled for next Friday in McKean County Court. In the hearing, attorney Greg Henry is expected to argue that the Bradford Zoning Hearing Board should not have granted variances to Tarport Properties for the proposed development. Henry represents Bradford Motel Associates, which objected to the Comfort Inn moving to the site where it's been for nearly 10 years. The variances the board granted in September included allowing the hotel to be four stories and 54 feet tall, when code allows for three stories and a maximum height of 50 feet; and allowing some of the parking spaces and landscaping to not follow code requirements. Developer John Stranburg said he isn't deterred by court action and plans to go ahead with the development.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Get ready to feel a sense of déjà vu. The Bradford Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday granted a variance to Tarport Properties LLC for the proposed Holiday Inn Express at the former Micale Construction site, but not before attorney Greg Henry brought up several objections. Henry represents Bradford Motel Associates (Best Western), which, more than a decade ago, objected to the Comfort Inn moving to the site where it's been for nearly 10 years. Comfort Inn opened across the street from Best Western in late 1999 after a court battle that lasted about four years and went all the way to the state Supreme Court. Many of Henry's objections Tuesday night dealt with procedural issues concerning the hearing itself. He pointed out the criteria for the awarding of variances are set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. He said the variant applicant must present evidence to satisfy the board, and the board must make findings with resp...