The former Foster Township Police officer fired from his duties
for allegedly taking money from the police station was appointed
Tuesday by Bradford City Council to the post of probationary
firefighter.

In a unanimous resolution passed at the council meeting, Todd
McClain was appointed as a probationary firefighter/EMT in the
city’s fire department retroactive to Monday.

The resolution states that McClain qualified for the position
through Civil Service testing and will be replacing
firefighter/paramedic Mike Valine, who terminated employment
effective Oct. 17.

McClain is currently facing charges including false reports to
law enforcement and theft by unlawful taking. The charges allege
that while working as a Foster Township police officer, he reported
guns stolen from his truck, but had sold the guns instead; and that
he had taken money from Police Chief Jeff Wolbert’s office and from
the McKean County Drug Task Force, according to court records.

The charges are awaiting trial in McKean County Court.

McClain has since filed suit against Wolbert and two others with
Foster Township – Lt. Tom Munn and officer Mike Ward – alleging he
was wrongfully terminated for exposing unlawful activities of the
other officers. That suit is pending in federal court.

Ward is a full-time police officer with Bradford City, a
position he has held for several years.

In other business, council approved construction costs relating
to the third phase of the Onofrio Street revitalization project.
Stateline Supply Co. was paid ,572.99 for steel beams for the
construction of a new house at 208 N. Onofrio St.; and Troutman
& Troutman Contractors was paid ,9,090 for a foundation for the
same new house.

Also, Earth-Works was paid ,1,600 for the relocation of the
earthen berm along West Washington Street in the Onofrio Street
subdivision.

Council also:

• approved payment of ,3,552 to Bressler Communications Inc.,
for the East Bradford Fire Station remote and base radios for the
city fire station. Ninety-five percent of the payment was made
through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

• approved payment of ,1,684.38 to Dell Inc., for a computer
workstation and paper shredder for the city police department;

• approved payment of ,1,917.10 to Sehman Tire Service for
winter tires for the city police vehicles; and

• agreed to sell a parcel of property behind 13 to 15 Barbour
St. to Don Britton for ,2,175 for access to the building he is
renovating.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13.