“The end might be in sight for reopening part of the Kennedy
Street bridge,” City Clerk John Peterson told Bradford City Council
at Tuesday’s meeting.
He said engineers have been working on a plan that would allow
traffic on the eastern lane of the bridge, which would make it,
“one way, out of the city.”
“We’re looking at it very closely within the next couple of
weeks,” Peterson said. He added the final decision is up to the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. “We anticipate having
one lane of the bridge back open within the next week or two.”
The bridge has been closed since last year when the western beam
under the bridge was found to be in poor condition. The bridge had
been posted at five tons since 2004 because of its condition was
deteriorating.
In other business, council approved on second reading an
ordinance that makes the stop signs at the intersection of Jackson
Avenue and Davis Street permanent. Councilman Bob Onuffer was the
only one to vote no.
Council also approved a contract with MacLachlan, Cornelius
& Filoni Inc. for the preparation of a Master Plan for the
city, Bradford Township and Foster Township. The consulting firm
submitted a proposal in the amount of $243,000 to prepare a “custom
economic development strategy for all three communities, a downtown
study including an analysis of pedestrian and traffic movement;
identification of strengths and amenities of the three communities
and the preparation of a new zoning ordinance for the City of
Bradford,” the resolution reads.
The city received a $122,500 grant from the Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic Development for a Land Use
Planning and Technical Assistance Program grant. That will be
combined with matching funds from the city, both townships and the
Bradford Area Alliance to cover the cost of preparing the Master
Plan.
Council also awarded a contract to Smethport-based Duffy Inc.
for the Onofrio Street Revitalization Phase III Improvement
Project. Mayor Michele Corignani explained that the lowest bidder
for the project was disqualified.
“The bond requirements were not met,” she said. The company, New
Frontier Excavating and Paving, submitted only a 5 percent bond,
when the project requires a 10 percent bond. Duffy’s was the lowest
acceptable bid at $282,630.95.
Now that the infrastructure bid has been awarded, work to
prepare the site for the addition of 13 new homes will begin in the
near future.
“We’re starting soon, very soon,” said Sara Andrews, executive
director of the Office of Economic and Community Development. “I’m
expecting the middle of April.”
The work will be paid for with a grant from the DCED.
In other matters, council also approved an addendum to the
current contract between the city and the International Association
of Firefighters, Local 655. Councilman Ross Neidich, who oversees
the department, explained the firefighters made a concession to
allow for the hiring of temporary fire helpers at a lower cost to
the city – as it results in a savings in wages and overtime.
“I want to thank the fire department for making this
concession,” Neidich said. “This is going to save us a goodly
amount of money over the years. It’s not going to cut services down
in any way.”
He explained it will allow the current level of services to
continue at a lesser cost to the city.
“They should be applauded for that,” Neidich said.
Also at the meeting, council
* approved purchasing a new four-wheel drive Dodge Durango for
the police department for $31,432 through a state contract;
* approved leasing a new four-wheel drive Dodge Durango for the
police department for a three-year lease of $31,432;
* approved advertising for the purchase of two new garbage
packers with a trade-in of two used packers owned by the city;
and
* heard from Bradford resident Rob Luke, who said he wants to
put on a fireworks display on July 4 at the Oak Hill Cemetery. He
said is not licensed, but plans to use Class C fireworks instead.
City solicitor Mark Hollenbeck said he would speak to him regarding
the requirements.
After the meeting, Onuffer said the City Recycling Center is now
open on Saturdays.
