Bids were opened for the Second Ward Neighborhood Streetscape Improvement, which will include Jefferson and Congress streets and Thompson Avenue, during Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford City Council.
Three bids were received: a bid from M & B Services, which included a total bid of $403,364.80, an alternate bid of $44,681.17; a bid from Gleason Masonry and Contracting with a total bid of 435,715.00, an alternate bid of $37,184.00; and a bid from Bob Cummins Construction with a total bid of $367,166.00 and an alternate bid of $37,720.00.
Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews noted that an engineer will review the bids and make a recommendation. Council will take action at a future meeting.
During the visitors’ portion of the meeting, Jim Connelly, who resides in Derrick City but owns rental properties within city limits, questioned ordinance no. 3282 on the agenda, “2020 A and B General Obligation Bonds,’ which involved refinancing the General Obligation Bonds from 2012 and 2013 and also a pension bond for the $8.6 million pension unfunded liability for the City of Bradford’s three pensions — police, fire and non-uniform.
City Administrator Chris Lucco explained that, as previously discussed, the pension bond will total a $500,000 payment in the City of Bradford’s 2020 budget, compared to the required $1.3 million payment the state required toward that unfunded liability during 2020.
Lucco also explained that bond rates are at an historical low, so the move to refinance will mean an approximate savings of $350,000 for the city.
The ordinance does not involve new debt being taken on, according to Lucco, but a readjustment of debt already accrued. The ordinance passed with a unanimous vote of 5-0.
Alan Poyer of Willard Avenue was also in attendance, requesting an update on the survey and research completed on his property and the brick wall along Bennett Brook. City councilman Brad Mangel reported that the survey and research results had not yet been provided to the council. When asked, Mangel said the results should be available “relatively soon.”
In other business, council voted to approve an ordinance amending zoning regulations for Forestry, section 220-101; approved payment of a Facade Improvement Grant in the amount of $978.13 to Brandon Little, owner of JSS Vape Shop at 57 Main Street, for 50% of the total cost for signage and window coverings; approved a lease agreement with Nick Foster, doing business as Safetech Fire Protection, for space in Building A of the Robert P. Habgood Jr. Business Development Center and rescinded a resolution approved Feb. 11, 2020, which authorized the execution of a downtown revolving loan agreement in the amount of $23,000 with Edward Wright Sr., Shelley Wright and Andrew Wright Sr., doing business as The Wright Scoop.
