It was a familiar complaint from Abbott Road residents — the alleged unruly behavior of retired school teacher Nancy Fire is ramping up again.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford City Council, neighbor Michele Cleveland addressed the board with complaints and photos of Fire’s home at 29 Abbott Road.

“She’s throwing the garbage out into the bushes,” Cleveland said, adding that animals get into it, and it ends up on the street. Her lawn isn’t mowed. She makes loud noises throughout the night.

“I’ve got skunks going over there ripping the bags apart. I’ve got cats going up on the porch ripping stuff apart,” Cleveland said. “What I have to pay in taxes on that street, I should not have to look at that across the street.

“The city mowed her lawn for her but now they don’t want to do it?” she asked. Rather than mow her own lawn, she would pay a fine and someone with the city would mow it. That has apparently come to an end.

“I don’t know all the details,” said Mayor Tom Riel. The city and its police department have tried working with her, and Area Office of Aging had tried, and Fire turns away help, he said. Now, the conduct with the garbage and her lawn has led to involvement from the Board of Health.

“She’s being cited and that house is being brought before the Board of Health to be declared a public nuisance,” Riel said.

It’s on the calendar for Aug. 12.

The mayor continued, “It’s hard to help people who don’t want to be helped. Now it’s become a health matter. We’re taking steps, but they aren’t cut and dried.”

She’s facing criminal charges for past allegations of making threats and continuing harassment. However, her case hasn’t progressed, as she had been deemed unfit for trial.

Cleveland said she feels like they are wasting 911 resources calling throughout the night, “Nancy’s slamming, Nancy’s screaming, Nancy’s throwing.”

City Police Chief Mike Ward said, “We understand, but it’s building a record.”

Jim Tingley addressed council next about the November vote regarding home rule, which he said will not benefit city residents and will only raise taxes.

Riel said that wasn’t accurate, adding, “The last thing we want to do is raise property taxes because we all live here. We want to generate revenue through alternative taxes. We’re not trying to push this through. What you said is wrong.”

Tingley said, “I only see negative things happening to property owners of this city. I hope I’m proven wrong.”

Councilman Fred Proper pointed out to Tingley that council’s role in this process is done. Now it’s up to the public to decide.

“Council has voted to move forward with the study commission, that’s all the further we can go,” he said. “We need to stay, as a council, completely away from that. It’s the commission’s duty to put together a home rule charter and present it to the community. Basically we can’t really be going further with selling it or not selling it.”

Under the new business portion of the meeting, council approved on first reading a “vacant property registration” ordinance. It addresses properties being foreclosed on, and sets out obligations for maintaining the property.

Resolutions on the agenda included approving a change order for the Callahan Park project. Bob Cummins Construction Co. encountered additional work because of tree roots, installed a sanitary drain line for the water fountains, and added an additional portion of sidewalk, for a total of $6,880.

A T-Mobile Hometown Grant of $4,742.58 was approved for Small Town Girl Boutique to purchase and install laminate flooring and new dressing rooms at 125 Main St. The total project cost is $9,485.16.

Also approved were the following:

• Applying to the county for $13,906.62 in liquid fuel funds for street repairs;
• Naming Jahmair McKenzie as a temporary firefighter/EMT as summer help; and
• Naming Bureau Veritas for uniform construction code inspections.