While handling the controlled chaos of Bradford’s water problem, Bradford City Council convened briefly Tuesday evening hear a request regarding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects and then handle regular business requiring their attention.
Mayor Tom Riel and his fellow councilmen first took a moment to express their gratitude to Bradford Water Authority crews who battled the water main leak for many hours in sub-zero temperatures Monday night.
Riel also noted the much-appreciated assistance of the city’s sanitary department during the crisis, as well as the job well done by Bradford City Fire Department in battling a house fire at 11 Pearl St. on Friday when temperatures dipped well below freezing.
Later on, council resolved to extend the Declaration of Disaster Emergency requiring all city residents to refrain from utilizing any public water that is not essential to survival.
The declaration will last until such time the city is notified by the Bradford Water Authority that the necessary repairs are made and the water supply is at full operational capacity.
In a special meeting just prior to the regular meeting, Sara Andrews, executive director of the Office of Economic and Community Development, proposed a modification to the city’s 2013 CDBG Program.
Andrews requested permission from council to transfer $100,000 from the Pine Street Revitalization Project to the Downtown Bradford Gateway Improvement Project.
She said since they’ve lost the citywide low-moderate income status, this is the only money left to transfer to the Gateway project. Andrews noted that she applied with McKean County for $80,000 in Act 13 funds, but was denied.
“We hope to be able to include Pine Street, we’re just changing how it will be funded,” she said. “We have the $900,000 in PennDOT money, but that needs to be matched locally.”
Andrews said she made this announcement Tuesday to give time for public comment until the deadline on March 6. The funding modification will be discussed and addressed again at the March 10 meeting of city council.
During the regular meeting, council approved several resolutions.
One measure appointed Lt. Mike Cleveland, code enforcement officer, as the residential and commercial building construction code official and the plumbing/building inspector for the City of Bradford.
City Council approved a certificate of appropriateness be granted to businessman Todd Hennard for an lighted programmable sign to be installed inside the entryway at Main Street Movie House at 123 Main St., so as not to detract from the historical architecture of the building. The sign will list the names and times of upcoming movies.
Council also approved the replacement of eight benches in Veterans Square with new powder-coated metal benches with backs that will be permanently attached.
