Bradford City Council heard about a trash problem and a proposed Bradford Sanitary Authority change at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Jim Tingley was looking for more action on garbage and boxes that he said collect on Bedford Street, blown from Dumpsters of nearby businesses. He said he’s brought the issue to the attention of city officials before, but hasn’t seen any progress.

“With all due respect, it’s been lip service,” he said.

Mayor Tom Riel disagreed.

“I went out of my way to talk to business owners,” Riel noted.

Tingley asked the city to enforce an ordinance that required Dumpsters, but city officials were unsure if the ordinance was applicable to the businesses near Bedford Street. City officials agreed they would find out what they are allowed to do.

Rick Brocius, executive director of the Bradford Sanitary Authority, attended to state his case in favor of changing a staff position.

In light of an upcoming retirement, he wants to replace the billing clerk position with an assistant office manager — a role that would include additional duties from the current position.

Brocius is hopeful the staff change will facilitate improved customer service, improved delinquency tracking, public outreach and website updating, completing reports in-house instead of paying someone else to do it, improving the authority’s ranking compared to other Pennsylvania authorities and improving funding eligibility.

Later in the meeting, council passed on first reading an ordinance amendment reflecting wages for an office manager and assistant office manager in the sanitation department.

The ordinance included a wage of $58,768.71 for the office manager and $53,000 for the assistant office manager. Tuesday was the first of two readings before the amendment is passed.

Council also passed on second reading an amendment increasing the maximum fine a property owner might pay if they fail to provide a buyer with a copy of the certificate of compliance before a sale is finalized. The certificate must be certified by the code enforcement officer.

The maximum fine was raised from $600 to $1,000 plus the cost of the required inspection.

Also at the meeting, council passed a resolution regarding the city’s intention to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for $750,000 in funding through the Competitive Community Development Block Grant program.

The funding would be used for streetscape improvements in the Second Ward Neighborhood Revitalization area and the downtown historic district.

Council brought the Bradford American Legion one step closer to moving its location from Pine Street to West Washington Street.

They approved a subdivision of a 2.8-acre property owned by Stanley and Robert Pecora. The American Legion is purchasing 0.41 acres of that land; the rest will remain in the hands of the Pecoras.

Mike Maze was hired as a temporary firefighter, effective May 1, to fill in for a full-time officer who is out temporarily.