The City of Bradford has reduced staffing by 90% in response to the global pandemic, and has closed city buildings and parks to the public.
On Friday, city administrator Chris Lucco made the announcement. He explained that after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close, city officials “worked late into the night to determine what the order meant to operations within city government.
“After speaking to one of Governor Wolf’s top officials as well as our special labor counsel, we believe the city is exempt, but it is not entirely clear from the Governor’s order, Lucco explained. “The mayor and city council determined that to both lead by example and to protect our employees, that we would follow the order, in the same manner in which the community must follow.”
Lucco said emergency services are exempt, and little will change in the services they provide.
“The safety of our residents is our primary responsibility and will remain so throughout the duration of this emergency,” he said.
Staffing reductions have taken place in other departments, Lucco added.
“With the exception of emergency services, we have reduced staffing to only allow for the most essential operations of the city to continue,” he said. “We have reduced staffing levels by 90% and instituted plans for the other employees to maintain availability in the event there are necessary functions to be completed.”
City officials are continuing to monitor the situation, and will “review operations and implement changes as the situation dictates,” Lucco said.
All city buildings and parks have been closed to the public as well.
To make payments to the city, residents can use the mail or can drop a payment in the night deposit box at city hall.
Lucco continued, “We wish all of the community well during these unprecedented and unchartered times. Please remain diligent in your individual efforts to help bring this pandemic to an end.”
He added that for everyone’s health and well-being, residents should follow the state and federal orders, laws and directives, as well as the CDC’s guidelines.
