A resolution to a complaint against two Bradford City police officers may be coming soon, said Mayor James McDonald at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Also, council approved use of a new stop sign at the intersection of Marilyn Horne Way and Main Street that has been covered up since its installation.

The discussion was steered to the police complaint during the portion of the meeting where council hears from visitors.

The complaint was filed in May alleging misconduct against Chief Butch Bartlett and Patrolman Matthew Gustin after the pair was filmed arresting a Bradford man. At the June 23 city council meeting, resident Jacob Mott presented a petition calling for Bartlett to be fired.

Mott inquired about the complaint again at Tuesday’s meeting, noting, “I think the point of (the petition) was kind of lost.” He explained the petition was not meant to focus only on the new complaint against the chief but rather “on Bartlett’s entire history.”

McDonald told him, “I believe a determination will be reached and a conclusion will be made in the very near future.”

Resident Gordon Howell wondered who made the decision that the two law enforcement officials be put on paid leave while the complaint is investigated.

Legally, it was the way the city had to handle it, according to McDonald, Solicitor Casey Graffius and City Administrator Chris Lucco.

“There’s clear legal procedure that has to be followed,” Lucco explained.

Drew Flanagan, a resident and teacher at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, made a statement “to amplify Jake’s petition.”

Flanagan said he’s heard from several students who had concerns about interactions with city police, particularly Bartlett. He called the complaint a “political issue,” explaining that “a police chief is a leader, not just an employee” and that a chief serves as a public face for the city.

In other news, motorists in the city will need to be watchful of a new stop sign that will begin being used at any time now at the end of Marilyn Horne Way for traffic turning onto Main Street. Council approved an amendment to the city’s stop intersections ordinance.

Lucco explained after the meeting that anyone turning off Marilyn Horne Way will have to stop unless they are making a right turn. He noted that use of the sign was delayed because a traffic study needed to be done.

Also regarding ongoing street improvements, Director of Public Works Chip Comilla advised residents to watch for traffic delays Thursday and Friday for paving projects.

On Thursday, paving will take place on Boylston and North Bennett streets. On Friday, work will take place on High Street between Main and Elm streets and on Bagley Avenue between East Main Street and Burnside Avenue.

Comilla asked motorists to be patient, as crews will have to let the streets cool before people can drive on them.

Council addressed a couple of other inquiries from residents, too.

One woman asked where funding came for the new light poles downtown and wondered what was wrong with the old ones.

Sara Andrews, executive director of the Office of Economic and Community Development, said the light poles were paid for with state and federal funding. She explained the new LED lights and traffic signals are more “cost effective,” and the improvements are a way to make a “viable and beautiful place for people to want to shop.”

Andrews noted that she has received both negative and positive feedback about the large street signs that were installed and believes they will likely be replaced.

Howell also asked council how the city’s budget is in light of the pandemic.

McDonald and Lucco said the city is about where they would normally be financially at this point in the year, but Lucco added there is “another tax deadline coming up that may tell a bigger story.”

Also at the meeting, council declined the sale of the following properties from the McKean County Tax Claim repository because they are beyond the scope of renovations: a Thompson Avenue property, 128 W. Washington St., 19 Belleview Ave. and 159 E. Main St.

They authorized the filing of a Greenways, Trails and Recreation program grant of $197,115 for playground improvements at Callahan Park, too. They will file another grant application with the Department of Community and Economic Development for Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funding to meet needs identified in a Community Needs Assessment.

Ceegan Danielson was appointed to the Bradford City Zoning Hearing Board.