False information and “flat out lies” about the home rule process in the City of Bradford aren’t doing any favors for an apparently confused populace.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford City Council, resident Jim Tingley asked if the city was considering home rule — a topic first raised by council back in March.

“We’re trying to explore with an open mind and put together a commission to explore it,” Mayor Tom Riel said.

Tingley said he had “been hearing more in scuttlebutt on the street” that someone from Philadelphia had been in the city to “promote this idea.”

“Nobody came in from Philadelphia to try to encourage us to do so,” Riel said. “It’s not being influenced by anybody from the outside.”

The mayor continued, “I’m aware there’s a lot of scuttlebutt out there, a lot of misinformation and flat out lies and B.S. People are saying things like ‘the only reason we want to do this is because we want to be able to raise the millage rate.’ There’s no truth to that at all. We all live here, we pay property taxes here. We’re not looking at that.

“We want to have other ways of raising revenue other than raising property taxes,” he said.

The city isn’t at the maximum amount for taxation now, and has no plan to be. Riel explained out of a roughly $11 million budget, less than $3 million comes from property taxes.

“The city does not run on property taxes alone,” he said. “It’s a big misconception.”

Addressing the misconceptions, council members said many think the process is unfolding behind closed doors. That is far from the truth, as council has raised the issue at public meetings and work sessions since its introduction in March.

“It’s not going to be done in the dark,” Riel said, explaining public meetings will continue to be held throughout the 18-month process.

Tingley had a lot of questions about the commission, how to run for it and what happens after it is empaneled.

“This commission would be elected,” Riel said. Interested people can start circulating petitions — as they would in running for public office — next month.

City administrator Eric Taylor explained a question on whether city residents want to begin exploring the home rule process will be on the ballot in the November election. At the same time, candidates for the seven seats on the home rule commission will be running.

“The commission is the one that does the study and recommends whether the city moves forward,” Taylor said. “It will be on the ballot to see if the city residents want to do the study. If they vote yes, then you have people to serve on the commission. If they vote no, then it’s shot down.”

Should city residents vote yes, then the commission would be created.

Councilman Fred Proper said, “Another important point is once the committee is formed, city council is not involved at all.” It proceeds on a separate track from city government.

With guidance from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the commission’s members would decide whether home rule was a good fit for Bradford’s government.

“What entity, let’s say the commission, decides it’s a good idea, so put it on the ballot. Who puts it on the ballot at that point?” Tingley asked.

Taylor said the city council does, based on the commission’s findings.

Councilmen Terry Lopus and Tim Pecora both explained there is an education component for the commission.

“Part of the task is for the commission to educate on the forms of government,” Lopus said.

The Home Rule Charter would be created by the commission, and then approved or rejected by the people.

Pecora said, “The formation of the Home Rule Charter will be on the ballot for the citizens to vote.”

Riel explained that most Third Class cities in Pennsylvania have changed their form of government rather than being hamstrung by the 1960s tax code allowed by the state. “We need alternative forms to generate revenue,” he said.

Tingley said, “It’s very apparent the city doesn’t have the base it used to have.”

In other business, council opened bids, and awarded a resurfacing project to IA Construction for $191,535. Taylor said the streets project will include Campus Drive from the Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center to Onofrio Street, Mill Street from the mail line tracks to Jackson Avenue, Thompson Avenue from South Avenue to Congress Street, and Hobson Place from West Washington Street to Barbour Street.

Also at the meeting, council approved a revision to the contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 655 to allow for a fire code program. As many as six inspectors can be appointed, three as assistants. Inspectors will be provided a $1,000 annual stipend, with assistants at $500. The appointments will be made by the fire chief with recommendations from a fire code official/deputy chief.

The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be at 6 p.m. July 22.