Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Bradford City Council handled various housekeeping matters prior to the end of the calendar year.

During the meeting’s correspondence segment, a letter written by Jim Connelly Jr. thanked Mayor James McDonald, City Council members and city department heads for the 2021 budget and the lack of a tax increase. Connelly noted that, in his opinion, a tax increase due to COVID-19 was most likely a necessity. However, as the council managed to avoid the measure, Connelly stated “the new budget for the upcoming year is your report card. I expect you to exceed expeditions for 2021. On a scale of one to 10, with one being the best, I give you a score of 20. The jobs you all do are not easy to do. You can’t make everyone happy but no tax increase is a welcome Christmas present to all you serve.”

McDonald expressed gratitude for the kind words, while City Councilman Brad Mangel noted he as a council member is pleased with the outcome of 2020 and thinks 2021 is “going to be an extraordinary year for us.” He noted he attributes that to the city administrators, department heads and city employees that sacrificed during 2020.

No emails with public comment were received prior to Tuesday’s meeting.

During old business, council approved the second reading of both the 2021 budget and the 2021 millage ordinance, referenced by Connelly in his correspondence. There will be no millage increase for the city for 2021.

In new business, council approved the meeting dates and times for 2021:

— Civil Service: the first Monday of the month as needed at 8 a.m.

— Planning Commission: first Tuesday as needed, 6 p.m.

— City Council work sessions, Tuesdays as needed, 6 p.m.

— Plumbing board, Tuesdays as needed, 6:15 p.m.

— Board of Health, Tuesdays as needed, 6:30 p.m.

— Pension Board, Tuesdays as needed, 6:45 p.m.

— City Council, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m.

— HARB, 3rd Monday of each month, as needed, at Noon

In other business, Councilman Terry Lopus commented prior to the approval of a resolution approving a fourth timber and mineral agreement between the City of Bradford Water Authority and the City of Bradford, noting that he feels we are lucky as a municipality to have such an “incredible resource that assures our future and a good and proper water source.” He noted that not all municipalities are as lucky as Bradford.

“I think people are aware but just to call attention to the fact, this agreement ensures the future and viability of our watershed and a good source of water…We are very, very fortunate,” Lopus said. “Council has taken a real positive and constructive approach in working on the agreement and setting our future.”

Council also approved a resolution to authorize the execution and delivery of a limited obligation note related to funding the city’s pension fund. Lucco explained the resolution is related to an alteration in the way the bond obligation is being handled and does not mean that any additional funds are being borrowed. The resolution to borrow the funds was approved in 2019.

Council also approved:

— payment of $50,238.60 for a patrol dash cam/prisoner transport camera system and $704 for winter tires, mounting and balancing for the Bradford City Police

— payment of two facade improvement grants to Todd Hennard, one for 10 Chestnut Street and one for 12 Chestnut Street, both in the amount of $5,000, which is 50% or less of the $13,000 for the restoration of fire damaged parts of the building, paint and trim and window replacement.

— the advertisement of bids for a used backhoe for the Department of Public Works to replace the aging backhoe currently in use.

To conclude the meeting, McDonald wished everyone a “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a Happy 2021.”