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...

In order to be 100 percent fair, I give you the complete, unedited audio of tonight's Bradford Mayoral and McKean County Sheriff debates: Go to WESB.com/listen , click on the "Local Programs" tab and then scroll to #56 for mayor and #214 for sheriff. (They are in alphabetical order.) The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Council has voted to raise the salaries of the mayor city council members and city controller for 2016. Mayor Tom Riel did not attend the special meeting and, obviously, did not vote on the measure. Councilman Rhett Kennedy was also absent from the meeting. The mayor’s salary would go from $5,000 to $10,000, while the council salaries would go from $3,500 to $5,000 a year. The mayor and council members are on call 24 hours a day. Final reading of the measure is set for the regular council meeting on Tuesday. Riel tells WESB he will not be attending that meeting either because of another engagement. The last time salaries were raised was in 1995. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford Water Authority’s system is continuing to recover from last Monday’s break and subsequent leakage which drained the entire system. At present, all storage tanks have been stabilized with no alarms. Storage levels are at about 75 to 80 percent of capacity and rising. The system has not yet fully recovered. BWA crew members worked throughout the weekend to continue to resolve problems related to the recent water crisis. Frozen main lines have been reported in the areas of Petrolia, Oxford and Lincolndale. Residents who are still without water due to frozen service lines or lines in their homes need to contact a local plumber. BWA customers are asked to continue to conserve water as much as possible. The “Boil Water Advisory” continues to be in effect. Testing on BWA samples will begin Monday with hopes of lifting the advisory later in the week. A press conference will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in City Council chambers, 3rd floor City Hall, followed by a noon special m...

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 is looking at a probable property tax increase for next year. Before the first reading of the budget ordinance during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Riel said 2014 was a rough year. “We’ve had no tax increase for three years and I wish that could go on for a fourth year in a row,” he said. “It’s not looking like that at this point. “ He said that last week they were looking at a 4.76 mil increase, but they’ve whittled that down to 3.71 mils. But, he added, “at some point you can’t shave any more meat off the bone.” “It’s not a pretty picture,” he said. Riel said among the major items impacting the budget are an increase in health insurance costs as well as pension and contract obligations. Also, once every 11 years there’s a 27th pay day. That comes next year. The final reading of the budget ordinance is at the end of next month. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The improvements to Downtown Bradford keep on coming, and plans are in the works to step up the fight against blight in residential areas as well. City Council on Tuesday authorized loans to Rookies to building a deck and pave two parking lots; Shelley Wright to fix the roof on 80-82 Main Street (Wright’s Music Shed); and The Aud to buy the Boylston Street building the restaurant currently occupies. Even City Hall is getting a face lift. Council approved a payment to Shembeda Floor Covering to install carpeting on the front steps of the building and Room 103. They also awarded a bid to Hennard Construction for renovations to the third floor, including city council chambers. While the focus in recent months has been the revitalization and restoration Fifth Ward resident Pat Girard told council she believes the city is ignoring neighborhoods. She said she thinks code enforcement should be working to make sure the outsides of properties are maintained better, and that landlords are li...

If you think Downtown Bradford looks good now, keep watching. It’ll be looking even nicer. Bradford City Council on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to more than a dozen improvement projects planned by private property owners. Mayor Tom Riel and OECD Director Sara Andrews said this shows that people do really care about the city’s revitalization efforts. Riel said in the nine years he’s been on council he has never seen anywhere near that many certificates of appropriateness approved in one meeting. “I think that speaks volumes to … the funds (OECD) has been able to secure for downtown, and just the overall sense of revitalization in the downtown.” “It’s been a fantastic summer,” Andrews said. She noted that this represents thousands of dollars’ worth of private investment in the historic district. St. Bernard’s Church, Man’s World, Whimsical Studios, Moments to Remember, Chosen Acres, Kabob’s, as well as buildings owned by Todd Hennard, John Kohler, James Colligan, Dwayne Zimmerman and...

You can take the "acting" off Teri Cannon's title as Bradford City Council voted to make her city administrator during a special meeting late this afternoon. Cannon was named acting city administrator earlier this month. After council voted Cannon into the position Mayor Tom Riel noted that she is a fourth generation city employee, with her family having served Bradford for more than 80 years. She has been employed by the city for 23 years. Her father, Ed Sutherland, worked for the city for 31 years, most recently as director of the public works department until his retirement. Riel also read a letter from John Peterson, who retired as city clerk after 14 years in that position, and 28 with the city fire department. (The city no longer has a clerk position, as it has been replaced with the administrator.) Peterson wished the city’s first administrator the best and says he’s confident she will be able to lead the city for many years to come. Peterson also took the opp...

The gazebo in Veterans Square was re-dedicated this afternoon after being repainted and refurbished to look more like the original gazebo that was in the town square more than 135 years ago. Chamber of Commerce Director Ron Orris spearheaded the project, and Mayor Tom Riel congratulated Orris on yet another job well done. He added that a lot of people could learn from Orris, a shining example of someone who is dedicated to Bradford. In his remarks, Orris said he wanted to make sure the gazebo was finished for the upcoming Kinzua Walleye Weekend. Later, he decided the days prior to the Fourth of July would be fitting to re-dedicate a structure in a park dedicated to veterans. After the brief ceremony Orris told WESB that the red-white-and-blue bunting on the gazebo was hand-stitched by workers at Quinn Flags in Hanover, Pa. Pictured, Main Street Manager Anita Dolan, Ron Orris, Tom Riel WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City Parks Director Chip Comilla (center) cuts the ribbon on the Born Learning Trail, installed by volunteers for the United Way of the Bradford Area. The signs along the trail at Callahan Park direct young children and their parents through a variety of activities, including hopscotch, making up songs & stories and looking for wildlife. Comilla says the trail is a great addition to the park. Also pictured are, board members Debbie Curtin and Steve Williams and UWBA Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. The project was funded by American Refining Group, the Blaisdell Foundation and the United Way, with several businesses providing in-kind contributions. About two dozen volunteers helped install the trail on Saturday. Davis said Comilla, Mayor Tom Riel and Bradford City Council members have been supporting the project since she first approached them with it. The trail starts at the Bradford High-area entrance to the park, loops around the splash pad, goes past the basketball co...

The end is near for a Downtown Bradford building, it seems. The Terminal Building at the corner of South Avenue and Chautauqua Place is beyond repair and will probably be demolished, according to city officials. During a work session prior to Tuesday’s City Council meeting Erin Hammerstedt of Preservation Pennsylvania talked about the update of the inventory she’s doing of the Downtown Historic District to get it recertified. This work includes deciding what should be kept in and out of the district. The discussion led to the Terminal Building, and Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews agreed with Hammerstedt that it should be kept out of the district. “It’s probably likely to be demolished at some point in time, the condition is so poor,” Andrews said. “It’s terminal,” quipped Mayor Tom Riel. “Water ran through it all winter.” There are no plans yet to tear down the building, which is still privately owned. Discussion later turned to the o...

The longest day of the year will be an impactful one as well, with the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 4th Annual Live United Day of Action scheduled for Saturday, June 21st. The event, sponsored by American Refining Group and the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, will focus on providing an interactive learning experience for young children by installing a Born Learning trail at Callahan Park. The trail will consist of 10 (12” by 24”) aluminum signs, placed throughout the park, and printed with engaging, early learning activities. Shapes, letters, and a 12’ hopscotch court will adorn the park’s sidewalks, which correspond with the signs’ activities. Although geared toward children up to age five, the trail also serves as a tool to help parents and caregivers find simple, yet clever ways, to incorporate education into a child’s daily life, beginning at the earliest possible stages. “I am excited for our organization to be able to offer this to our local community,” said Execut...

City of Bradford Police Chief Chris Lucco, along with Frank Williams and Stoney Greenburg, participated in the Bradford YWCA's inaugural Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to raise awareness about sexual assault. More than 100 walkers made their way down Main Street to Veterans Square for a recognition ceremony, a proclamation from Mayor Tom Riel and other festivities, includiing a band. You can see more pictures on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/1490wesb

It's official: The owner of Kabob Kafe in Ellicottville is buying The Option House. Bradford City Council approved a $50,000 loan on Tuesday that completes the funding package he needed to buy the Main Street building from Sam Sylvester. Other money is coming from the McKean County Redevelopment Office and The North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission. Owner Sheikh Iqbal is also investing $40,000 of his own money. Debbie Huston of the Office of Economic and Community Development says the outstanding job Sylvester did in renovating the building is what attracted him to The Option House. In a news release, Huston added that Sylvester is pleased that Iqbal has decided to bring his highly popular restaurant to Bradford's Main Street as "he is a widely experienced restaurateur and caterer." She adds that over the past few months Sylvester and "Icky" -- as Iqbal likes to be called -- have developed a close personal and business relationship. Sh...

Bradford City Council last night approved on first reading the millage ordinance, which keeps the millage rate at 16 and means no tax increase. Mayor Tom Riel says although he had hoped to be able to lower taxes, keeping the rate steady is quite an accomplishment. City Clerk John Peterson gives much of the credit for the no-tax-increase budget to the department heads being realistic in their requests and keeping a close watch on their budgets during the year. You can listen to the entire meeting here . Among the other topics covered are the demolition of more plighted properties, bid openings for fire station renovations and the 2014 wage ordinance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In an effort to make it easier for the city’s new financial officer to do his job properly, Bradford City Council has approved on first reading changes to several tax ordinances. During its meeting Tuesday night council OK’d changes to the Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Mercantile License Tax, Business Privilege Tax, Local Services Tax and Public Utility Tax Ordinance. City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck explained the changes give Michael Shanks “the ability to monitor the ordinances, enforce them as part of his duties with the city.” Mayor Tom Riel stressed that council is not raising taxes or creating new taxes. In other matters, council authorized the filing of a Keystone Communities Façade and Public Improvement Grant for the Second Ward Neighborhood Partnership Program. The $400,000 grant would go toward the NPP façade program, streetscape improvements and new construction. The city is also seeking a Home Program grant from the state’s Department of Community and Economic Develo...

Bradford City Council on Tuesday recognized National Teen Driver Safety Week. Mayor Tom Riel read a proclamation asking everyone in the community to participate in http://celebratemydrive.com/ , a contest that could earn Bradford Area High School grant money for teen driver safety programs. Also Tuesday, council OK'd renovations to the Chestnut Street fire station that will include replacement and painting of two garage doors, one of which will be widened to house the city's new fire engine; replacement of the stairs on the north side of the building while preserving the ornamental steel brackets; and replacement of two rear windows with the possibility of replacing any and all that are in need of replacement, providing the windows remain the same size. The Historical Architectural Review Board recommended the certificate of appropriateness. Council also gave permission to advertise the sale of one surplus/obsolete 1976 Ward La France fire truck that has been removed from s...

National Teen Driver Safety Week is underway and Governor Tom Corbet at the Pennsylvania State Mayors’ Association are also behind the initiative. Bradford Mayor Tom Riel is the spokesman for the Northwest Region and says, "One may wonder why a mayor might care about this issue. The answer is really simple. Over one third of deaths among teenagers are caused by motor vehicle accidents." He also pointed out some figures released by the Centers for Disease Control including that per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. He also noted that people ages 15 to 24 represent only 14 percent of the US population, but they account for 30 percent of the total cost of motor vehicle injuries among males, and 28 percent of the total cost among females. You can find more information at http://pamayors.org In conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week, Bradford Area High School has entered a contest a...