The Bradford Township Board of Supervisors Mark Cline, chairman, and LareeSue Behan, vice-chair, welcomed newly elected Edward Hayden to the reorganizational meeting Tuesday night.
Bradford Township supervisors (from left) Mark Cline, LareeSue Behan and Ed Hayden.
Following the reorganizational meeting, a regular meeting was held. Due to protocol, Hayden abstained from many of the motions and votes of the regular meeting. Both meetings were adjourned in record time — 27 minutes, total.
One of the biggest items on the agenda for the regular meeting involved an increase in the cost of ambulance service. After negotiating down from the city’s original proposal, the board approved the Emergency Ambulance Service agreement for three years from 2024 through 2026 between the City of Bradford and Bradford Township.
“They wanted 10-10-10,” said Behan. The reasons for the increase, according to the city, were because the cost of everything is going up and because of the increase in the number of calls, Behan said. The new cost to the township will be $30,207.14 for 2024, a 5% increase from 2023; $33,227.86 for 2025, a 10% increase from 2024; and $35,553.81 for 2026, a 7% increase from 2025.
The board approved a motion to advertise sealed bids to purchase a Road Department work truck. Bids will be opened at the February board meeting.
Behan shared appreciation for all the township employees who worked on the East Warren Road Bridge. The U.S. Bridge “Roads & Bridges” publication features a calendar every year, “and the January 2025 picture is of the East Warren Road Bridge,” said Behan. She hoped that everyone who worked on the project would get to see the recognition.
The U.S. Bridge “Roads & Bridges” publication features a calendar every year. The January 2025 picture is of the East Warren Road Bridge in Bradford Township.
During the reorganization meeting, no engineer was appointed for the township bridge projects for 2024. Cline stated, “We’re not doing any this year.” Other engineers for the township include E&M Engineering as the firm for Chapter 94, Municipal Wasteload Management, and T.J. Stephens P.E. of Bankson Engineers for sewer projects.
Behan reported that the Bradford Township police patrolled 6,152 miles during December. Officers also conducted 61 hours of traffic enforcement, initiated eight criminal investigations, handled 186 calls for service, and investigated five motor vehicle accidents. During 2023, officers responded to 2,055 complaints, 36 motor vehicle accidents and 75 criminal investigations.
Robert Shipman retained the appointment of police chief, Jay Bradish as emergency management coordinator, and Dan Burkhouse as volunteer fire department chief and assistant emergency management coordinator.
The supervisors received two letters of interest for the vacancy board, one from Lori Johnson and the other from James Erwin. The supervisors unanimously appointed Erwin as the vacancy board member. Johnson also submitted a letter of interest for appointment to the planning commission. She will serve a four-year seat in that appointment. Erwin was also appointed the township’s Bradford District Flood Control Board representative.
Due to term limits, Francis Forbes’s seat on the Zoning Hearing Board was up, but she did submit a letter to retain her seat, according to the supervisors. William Huber also submitted a letter of interest for the appointment. The board appointed Huber, with Forbes as an alternate.
Susan Gibiser was appointed to township secretary. She was also appointed as the voting delegate to the state and county conventions, with Hayden as the alternate.
Hayden was appointed as the road master for the Road Department and superintendent of the Garbage Department. Behan will continue to be superintendent of the police department and was appointed superintendent of the Sewer Department. Cline was appointed as superintendent of office personnel.
Frank Behan retained the appointment as foreman for the Road and Garbage departments,
Michael Salerno will retain his appointment as zoning officer, code enforcement, and sewer inspector. Todd Fantasky was appointed sewage enforcement officer, with Nick Melnick as the alternate.
Regular monthly meetings will continue to be held the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. except for November’s meeting, which will be held Nov. 18 for budget purposes. Work sessions and general business meetings will be held the fourth Monday of each month, as needed, at 5:30 p.m. Special meetings and work sessions will be advertised accordingly.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 12.
