The Bishop Street intersection with Boylston Street will soon be
nothing but a memory – and a parking lot.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford City Council, council members
approved on first reading an ordinance to vacant and discontinue
use of the end portion of the street closest to Boylston
Street.
Forman resident Charles Glover was at the meeting to voice his
concerns over the project, saying Boylston Street traffic is slow
moving at the end of a work day without taking away an additional
through-street.
“On Boylston Street, you’ll have traffic backed up to Mechanic
Street,” Glover said. “Why do you want to cut that off?” he asked,
referring to Bishop Street.
Councilman Dan Costello, filling in for Mayor Michele Corignani
who was absent from the meeting due to a death in her family,
explained, “To increase our parking for the Y(MCA) and Boylston
Street improvements.”
Councilman Bob Onuffer said he had surveyed the families who
live on Bishop Street to ask their opinions about the closing. The
residents were in favor of it, citing a decrease in the flow of
traffic through their neighborhood.
Glover pointed out that getting to his residence will require
driving several blocks out of his way because of one-way streets in
that neighborhood.
“Are you going to make Forman Street two ways?” Glover asked.
One block of Forman Street from Kennedy to Bishop streets is one
way in a westerly direction.
“We haven’t looked at it,” Costello said, but added that might
be something to consider.
Referring to the people who live on Bishop Street, Glover said,
“When they sit in (traffic) for 20 or 25 minutes, they’re going to
be bothered. Other neighborhood residents don’t like it. You’re
going to have a big mess.”
Councilman Tom Riel asked Sara Andrews, executive director of
the Office of Community and Economic Development, how many parking
spaces would be added by the closure of the street.
“Thirty-two spaces, I believe,” she replied.
Glover asked them to consider blocking off Bishop Street for a
trial run before making the final decision to close the street, and
to look at what sort of issues might arise from the traffic.
The councilmen agreed that might be possible.
Costello then referred to traffic problems feared with the
upcoming renovation of U.S. Route 219, saying “everyone is going to
have to have patience for the next couple of years.”
Also at the meeting, council fielded questions again from Bob
Cummins of Cummins Construction regarding prevailing wages. At a
previous meeting, council awarded a scattered site demolition
project without the use of prevailing wages.
Cummins believes the city awarded the project in error, as
prevailing wages should have applied. He repeatedly questioned
Andrews and city solicitor Mark Hollenbeck about whether it should
have applied and how they made the determination that it did
not.
“It’s federally funded and it’s demolition. Therefore it doesn’t
go under prevailing wages,” Costello said, explaining his
understanding. “We are still waiting for our solicitor’s
opinion.”
Hollenbeck told Cummins he should have an answer by the next
council meeting on whether prevailing wages should have applied for
the project.
Council members also heard from Lee Jerman, who has recently
purchased two buildings in downtown Bradford – the former law
office of Jay Paul Kahle on Chautauqua Place and the former City
Creamery on Mechanic Street.
He explained he wants to make renovations to the buildings, but
needs to know how to proceed within the city’s ordinances.
“I’m getting concerned about (the Historic Architectural Review
Board),” he said. “I need to know what I can and can’t do.”
City Clerk John Peterson interrupted him, saying, “Let me stop
you right there. Both of those properties are outside the historic
district.”
“Great!” Jerman exclaimed, with a big smile on his face.
Peterson told him he still needed to get building permits, but
the historic district guidelines would not apply to either
property.
Jerman then asked council to consider taking the parking meters
off Chautauqua Place.
“We’re looking into it,” Costello said.
Jerman thanked them and left the meeting smiling. Costello
remarked it was good to see a citizen that pleased with council’s
assistance.
In other business, council also:
* appointed Samila Sosic to HARB to fill the unexpired term of
Ed Smith;
* accepted the offer to sell city property at 27 E. Main St. to
James and Rita Timblin for $2,000;
* and opened a bid for $27,489 to purchase a 2006 police
interceptor car from Fairway Ford-Lincoln Mercury. Action is
expected to be taken at the next meeting, which will be held April
11.
