While some members of city government disagree with what
information was divulged when Wayne Concrete was planning on
opening a plant in Bradford, they concur the company is not at
fault.

At Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting, Councilman Tom Riel
brought to light the issue of Wayne Concrete renting property from
the city. He said he thought the company was only going to be in
Bradford to do contract work on the U.S. Route 219 project, not
compete with Bisett’s Building Center and Concrete.

Riel contended he was not given the accurate information prior
to voting for the lease.

City Clerk John Peterson took issue with the inference that he
misrepresented something to council.

“The memo to council, the letter from Wayne Concrete state all
the information I had at that time,” Peterson said Wednesday. “The
lease agreement speaks for itself.”

“I have never misrepresented facts to city council.”

Peterson also said that if anyone had any questions, there were
people to ask, including city solicitor Mark Hollenbeck and Wayne
Stephen of Wayne Concrete. No questions were asked, Peterson
said.

“I’ve been involved as a public official and worked for the City
of Bradford for 34 years. I’ve never lied to anyone in my life or
misrepresented any facts given to me,” Peterson said. “My job as
city clerk is to provide city council with information … for them
to make intelligent decisions and I feel I performed that duty in
this matter.”

Stephen said he’s been trying to get his business established in
Bradford.

“I can’t think of anything worse than the headline,” he said,
which implicated the company did something wrong.

Stephen confirmed that the company pays $1,000 a month in rent,
but denies taking advantage of any tax breaks or discounts.

“We never asked for anything.”

He also said the city set the price for the rent. The company
does not pay taxes because they rent the property, not own it.

The company is looking to put down roots in Bradford, he said.
The company also has plants in Coudersport, Ceres Township and
Springville, N.Y.

The lease states the terms of the agreement, but not the reason
for the company coming to Bradford.

Stephen said the asking price for the rent is similar to other
places the company looked at. He added that in five years, the
company hopes to buy property in Bradford.

After looking at six properties, they decided on the Holley
Avenue site because “geographically, it was the best fit for us …
the best available site.”

“It was a win-win for the city,” he said. “Now they could get
rent on what was just vacant land.”

He added he could not ask for a better relationship with the
city.

He noted the catalyst to move to Bradford was the contract, but
they would have come anyway.

“It was just a good fit for us.”

Riel and fellow council members Dan Costello and Bob Onuffer
contend they did not know the company was moving to town for more
than the Route 219 project. None of them remember seeing the letter
from Stephen to Peterson, but add that was several months ago.

“I didn’t read the lease,” Riel said. “Shame on me.”

Riel said he questioned Peterson because George Gigliotti, the
owner of Bisett’s, asked him.

“It was just the understanding,” Onuffer said. “I thought like
everybody else that they were bringing the plant in because they
were awarded the bid to do the bridges.”

Onuffer said it was his understanding – he didn’t hear one way
or the other why the company was coming to Bradford.

According to a letter Stephen sent Peterson in February, Stephen
said the company was interested in renting property from the city
because the company had a “contract to supply concrete for the
Route 219 project and various other contracts.”

Wayne Concrete, in addition to paying its own utilities, said it
would make several improvements to the property, including
electric, water, gas and grading.

“Obviously the city clerk wanted to protect the city’s best
interest, but at what cost,” Riel said. “Is $1,000 to city coffers
worth hurting a local business.”

Riel also said that when he spoke up at the council meeting, no
one countered what he said.

“I didn’t say Wayne did anything wrong,” Riel said. “Shame on me
for not reading the lease before voting on it.”

“I never accused anybody from Wayne Paving of any wrongdoing,”
he said. “What I did say that as a councilman, I was given
inaccurate information from city officials.”

He said had he known Wayne Paving would set up a full-fledged
concrete plant, he would have voted differently.

Costello said that while he, too, thought the company was only
locating in Bradford because of the 219 project, he would not have
voted differently.

“I would not vote against a business coming to Bradford,”
Costello said.