Twenty-five delinquent garbage accounts are responsible for 34 percent of the total arrears for the City of Bradford, according to records received through a Right To Know request filed by The Era.
The total debt for garbage in the city, as of The Era’s inquiry April 10, was $139,723.25. As of April 13, the 25 most delinquent accounts — owing more than $400 and more than 90 days behind — total $47,424.99.
City administrator Teri Cannon compiled the list at The Era’s request.
Residential garbage customers pay $20 per month, while the amount for commercial accounts varies based on the number of pickups a business has.
Asked about the delinquent accounts, Mayor Tom Riel exclaimed, “You wonder why the city’s hurting for money.”
While Riel had not seen the list, he mentioned that delinquent refuse bills have been a problem in the city for years.
“I wish that we could just cut off service to these people but, unfortunately, it becomes a public safety hazard with garbage lying around,” he said.
Riel said some of the accounts may be in collection, but the customers still owe the money.
“It’s a shame that some people continue to operate and not pay their garbage bills,” he said. “City council has been discussing enacting late fees like we impose on water and sewage to further curtail this.”
The Era made a similar Right To Know request in 2016, when the garbage arrears were at $176,000. Riel said he’s glad there’s been an improvement in the past two years, but added it’s not enough.
“It’s gotten better,” he acknowledged, “and the city has been more aggressive about turning some of these accounts over to collection. I think if the city utilized the law to its fullest extent some of these businesses could be shut down for failing to pay their garbage fees.”
According to the list from the City of Bradford’s records, the single highest bill is for Allegany Valley Management at 200 Main St., for $9,206. That address is the former location of Lucky Cats Rescue Unit.
The second highest bill is for Joseph W. Troutman at 153 Main St., which is the address of the Hotel Holley. One bill for that property is listed at $8,277, while a second bill for the same address is listed as $3,015.
The Bradford Dairy Queen is next on the list, with unpaid bills totaling $5,897, according to the city’s records.
Next is Bradford Regional Medical Center at 116 Interstate Parkway, with a bill of $4,562.
Monago’s Floor and Wall at 70 Mechanic St. owes $2,691.50, the city’s records stated.
Joseph Frombach Jr. is listed as owing $1,903 for the bakery at 20-22 Mechanic St., while Precision Fabrication at 245 Chestnut St. owes $1,174.50.
Other commercial accounts include Sears at 560 Chestnut St. Extension with $858; McDonald’s with $756; Finish Line Auto at 940 Chestnut St. Extension with $738.50; and Brandon Whittemore (On the Side Books) at 10-16 Kennedy St. with $726.59.
The city’s records list the following other delinquent accounts: Kevin Bishop, 28 Howard St., $617.84; John Coldren, $600, 52 Bedford St.; Kelly Helton, 17 Onofrio St., $553.40; Kevin McMurtrie, $1,041.50, 20 Thompson Ave.; and Richard Middaugh, $830.50, 24 North St.
Riel acknowledged that it can be tough to bring accounts back in good standing after falling behind.
“Some of these people have taken years to get that far behind and it’s going to take them years to get caught up,” the mayor said. He said some have been making an effort to get caught up, and encouraged those in arrears to contact the city to see what can be done.
“I would ask them to try to get with the city to make a payment plan to try to get caught up,” he said. “We don’t want to see anybody go out of business, but we also don’t want to see people get further and further behind with their refuse bills.”
Overall, though, he said it is a detriment to taxpayers when some let bills pile up.
“The bottom line is, if we had the majority of that money we could pave a few more streets or use it to pay our other bills,” Riel said. “That’s more than two-thirds of a mill that’s owed in back garbage bills.
“The city needs to be more aggressive and not let them get this far behind,” he said.
