Winter is the time of year for Bradford City officials to line up funding and award contracts for upcoming projects.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council approved a measure allowing the Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) to seek proposals from financing institutions for a $750,000 line of credit for the Bradford historic district streetscape improvement project. The resolution for the measure explained the OECD has received a $1.75 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Improvement grant for the project.
“This is a reimbursement grant,” explained OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews. “You have to provide evidence you have monies available. We did a similar thing with the improvements at the Callahan Park ice rink.”
“This will be paid back with grant money?” Mayor Tom Riel asked. “Yes,” she replied.
All interest charges for the line of credit will be eligible expenses for reimbursement as well, read the resolution.
Council also voted to award a contract to M&B Services LLC for $359,771 for construction for the Elm Street/Davis Street gateway enhancement project, Phase IV. The bids were opened by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which recommended awarding the contract to M&B.
In other business, council members passed on second reading the 2017 wage ordinance for city employees, granting contractually obligated raises to city employees.
Council also approved an agreement between the Sanitary Authority and the sanitation employees of the City of Bradford for the coming calendar year. With that, council approved wages for the sanitation employees.
The executive director, Rick Brocius, will earn $90,000 in his first full year in that post. Office manager Karla Leon will earn $55,692; secretary/delinquent billing clerk Sue Raabe will earn $42,451.50; and sanitations plant operator Barry Anderson will garner $63,003.30.
The sewage plant foreman, acting foreman, sewer line foreman and chief maintenance mechanic will each earn $23.80 an hour. There are five people in operator or utility positions who will each earn $22.70 an hour.
Council also set times and dates for meetings for 2017. City council meetings will remain on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Work sessions may be held every Tuesday at 6 p.m. as needed. Board of Health meetings may be held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. as needed.
The next regular council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 10.
