At Tuesday’s meeting, Bradford Board of Health voted to give some potential landlords a chance to fix up a property, and heard from Abbott Road residents fired up about an unruly neighbor.

An appeals hearing was on the agenda for the property at 382 Congress St., owned by Tara Hensley. Representing her at the hearing was Jeffrey Day, whom she said was her partner. He began by explaining they had encountered financial problems, and got behind on their plans. Their mortgage on the Congress Street house is closing soon and they’ve been doing work on it. He presented a letter to board president Fred Proper outlining what has been done, and plans for completing what is left.

382 Congress St.

“Basically by your timeline, the work will be completed by the end of summer or fall of next year,” Proper said.

Board member Kris Goll asked how long Hensley had owned the property; since 2022 was the response. Did they only begin work after being cited by code enforcement, he asked.

Day said he’d been working inside, not on the exterior of the property. They did obtain a new roof, and he did the interior wiring, cleared out a significant amount of debris, and readied the house for work on heating and siding. He said he has thousands of dollars worth of materials kept off-site, and added that he’s been maintaining the yard and keeping the structure secured.

Health director Brandon Plowman and inspector Jeff Andrews testified to crumbling issues in the foundation, along with missing downspouts causing water damage, problems with the windows, egress issues on both the front and rear porches and missing utilities.

After the presentations, the board voted to continue with the public nuisance designation for the property, but gave them more time to work on it.

“I would ask the defendants keep in touch with code enforcement every 30 days to let them know what improvements you’ve made and where you want to be,” Goll said.

Also at the meeting, seven neighborhood residents spoke to the board about continuing problems with Nancy Fire at 29 Abbott Road.

The matter of her home was to be taken before the board Tuesday. However, legal issues delayed that appearance.

Michelle Cleveland thanked city representatives who mowed Fire’s lawn and took care of the garbage she’s been throwing into her lawn and hedges. “Although we do appreciate the mowing and the picking up the garbage today, we do wonder what’s the process going forward,” she said.

Proper said they were waiting on advice from their solicitor.

Goll spoke up. “I go by there almost every day and there’s nobody in this room that has any more attention to detail and desire for organization than me. I have had enough.

“Since 2023 the police department has either cited her or arrested her 12 times,” he said. When she appeared in McKean County Court, she was found to be not competent to stand trial.

That leaves the city in a bit of a bind.
“From that aspect we’re doing what we can,” he said. Property maintenance has cited her and the City of Bradford Police have as well. She owes fines to the city.

“But she’s not paying, correct? She’s going to continue,” Cleveland said.

Goll replied, “Yes they are working with mental health professionals. They have made an effort within the law and it did not work out.”

Board member Tom Riel said Fire “refuses to cooperate with any agency. We can’t legally kick in her door. Someone did come forward today who is going to pay to have her lawn mowed. We’re doing everything we can legally. She does have rights.”

Neighborhood resident Sarah Matzner said, “So then it’s status quo.”

That’s not true, Riel said. “We’ve reached out to dozens of agencies. If you guys don’t want her to speak to your children, call the police.”

Matt Cleveland spoke, adding Fire is incompetent for court, but lives alone. She stays in her house most of the time and gets takeout food delivered. “I don’t want her to go to jail, I want her to get help.”

Goll said he’s become the advocate for the people in the area. “We need to follow up on this. We need to communicate with you. I have confidence Chief (Mike) Ward will be doing everything we’re able to do. I understand what you are saying. Let’s make sure we keep the line of communication open.”

Michelle Cleveland said the problem is Fire’s mental health. “No one wants to do anything to help this woman.”

Riel snapped, “You’re wrong. She will not cooperate. It’s not illegal not to leave your house for 6 months. There’s plenty of people that don’t leave their houses. They can not forcefully remove her from there. We’re doing everything we can. The City of Bradford is spending hundreds and hundreds of hours on this.”

Proper said the board sympathizes with the people in the neighborhood, but their options are limited by the law and by Fire’s own rights.