Firefighters Hoping for New Station
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
It's only "a wish and a prayer" right now, but Bradford City firefighters are hoping federal stimulus dollars will help them build a new fire station.
Fire Chief Boo Coder explained during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting that the Department of Agriculture has grants available for new fire stations and, because of the stimulus package, there is more money in the mix this year.
"We're not licking our chops," Coder said. "We haven't even put pen to paper yet."
Councilman Ross Neidich added that if the city does get the money for the new fire station, they would make it "totally green," which would save money in the long run.
The alternative fuels they would use include solar, geo-thermal and hydroelectric.
"That's the future," Coder said. "That's where everyone's going."
Coder said a green building would pay for itself in 20 years. He also said, if the grant is approved, it would be the first totally green fire station in the state.
"It would be a heck of a testament to everybody … the first oil (refinery), the first green building … the first in a lot of things," he said. "This is something we could really be proud of."
They don't know where the new station would be yet, other than it would be "centralized and downtown."
The current downtown fire station is 106 years old.
Council did authorize the department to file the grant application.
Council also authorized the filing of a grant applications with FEMA for the fire department to get new cots, staircharis and miscellaneous medical equipment and with the state DCNR for the purchase of a new pickup truck and skid mounted fire suppression equipment.
The police department isn't being left out of the economic stimulus pot of money.
Council authorized a grant application to the US Department of Justice that would allow them to hire up to three more police officers.
Mayor Tom Riel said this would allow them to bring back Officer Mark DeLuca, who was laid off because of budget shortfalls.
In other matters, council enthusiastically authorized the OECD to advertise for bids to tear down the former Bradco building on State Street.
Council also granted the building inspector permission to issue a demolition permit to Riel and Dianne Thompson, and Peter Dzirkalis, to tear down the building at 52 Mechanic Street.
Code Enforcement Officer George Corignani says the building is beyond rehabilitation and could pose a danger to public safety and a hazard to surrounding properties.
During a public hearing prior to the meeting concerning projects using CDBG money, council and OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews discussed moving some of the money around to do some paving projects in the city.
Among the streets discussed were Kennedy, Forman and Boylston. East Main Street was also mentioned. Riel said the road from Main and High streets to East Avenue will be done this season.
Also during the hearing, Jeff Andrews of the OECD said the traffic lights at Kennedy and Boylston streets will be installed in May and should be operational by June.
Council also observed a moment of silence prior to the meeting in honor of Lloyd Huntoon, who died March 15 at the age of 63.
"(He) was a 28-year member of the (Bradford) Special Police who was chief of the special police at the time of his death," Riel said. "He gave thousands of hours with no reimbursement. He volunteered his time to the City of Bradford to help make it a better place."
WESB/WBRR News Director
It's only "a wish and a prayer" right now, but Bradford City firefighters are hoping federal stimulus dollars will help them build a new fire station.
Fire Chief Boo Coder explained during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting that the Department of Agriculture has grants available for new fire stations and, because of the stimulus package, there is more money in the mix this year.
"We're not licking our chops," Coder said. "We haven't even put pen to paper yet."
Councilman Ross Neidich added that if the city does get the money for the new fire station, they would make it "totally green," which would save money in the long run.
The alternative fuels they would use include solar, geo-thermal and hydroelectric.
"That's the future," Coder said. "That's where everyone's going."
Coder said a green building would pay for itself in 20 years. He also said, if the grant is approved, it would be the first totally green fire station in the state.
"It would be a heck of a testament to everybody … the first oil (refinery), the first green building … the first in a lot of things," he said. "This is something we could really be proud of."
They don't know where the new station would be yet, other than it would be "centralized and downtown."
The current downtown fire station is 106 years old.
Council did authorize the department to file the grant application.
Council also authorized the filing of a grant applications with FEMA for the fire department to get new cots, staircharis and miscellaneous medical equipment and with the state DCNR for the purchase of a new pickup truck and skid mounted fire suppression equipment.
The police department isn't being left out of the economic stimulus pot of money.
Council authorized a grant application to the US Department of Justice that would allow them to hire up to three more police officers.
Mayor Tom Riel said this would allow them to bring back Officer Mark DeLuca, who was laid off because of budget shortfalls.
In other matters, council enthusiastically authorized the OECD to advertise for bids to tear down the former Bradco building on State Street.
Council also granted the building inspector permission to issue a demolition permit to Riel and Dianne Thompson, and Peter Dzirkalis, to tear down the building at 52 Mechanic Street.
Code Enforcement Officer George Corignani says the building is beyond rehabilitation and could pose a danger to public safety and a hazard to surrounding properties.
During a public hearing prior to the meeting concerning projects using CDBG money, council and OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews discussed moving some of the money around to do some paving projects in the city.
Among the streets discussed were Kennedy, Forman and Boylston. East Main Street was also mentioned. Riel said the road from Main and High streets to East Avenue will be done this season.
Also during the hearing, Jeff Andrews of the OECD said the traffic lights at Kennedy and Boylston streets will be installed in May and should be operational by June.
Council also observed a moment of silence prior to the meeting in honor of Lloyd Huntoon, who died March 15 at the age of 63.
"(He) was a 28-year member of the (Bradford) Special Police who was chief of the special police at the time of his death," Riel said. "He gave thousands of hours with no reimbursement. He volunteered his time to the City of Bradford to help make it a better place."
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