A new can sorter for the City of Bradford’s recycling program has been obtained, at no cost to the city. On Tuesday, Bradford City Council approved a resolution to pay $37,000 to Compactors Inc. for recycling center equipment. City Administrator Chris Lucco and Public Works and Parks Director Chip Comilla explained that the city received nearly $300,000 in recycling grant money from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to replace aging recycling equipment used by the city.

“Mr. Comilla and Tina Hallock were instrumental in putting that paperwork together, and that will allow us to replace very aging equipment that is used for recycling, including the can truck,” Lucco said, noting that during the past year, council has approved resolutions to spend “significant amounts for repairs to that vehicle.”

Comilla explained that, while the grant requires the city to match the grant, by using in-kind services and real estate, the city did not have to contribute funds for the purchase.

Tuesday’s payment was for a new can sorter that sorts aluminum and steel cans and crushes them before sending them into a 40-foot trailer the city has in place for storage.

“Thank you to Chip and to Tina and Chris for making that happen,” Mayor James McDonald said.

Council also approved the first reading of an amendment to the city’s employee salaries for the hiring of a new firefighter and also an increase for the salary of the city’s electrician.

Council approved a grant in the amount of $99,600 for John and Heather Kearns for the rehabilitation of 109 Congress Street from the Office of Economic and Community Development’s housing rehabilitation funds for elimination of lead hazards at the residence.

As discussed in relation to a similar approval at the June 22 meeting, OECD Executive Director Shane Oschman explained that the amount of the grant is due to the high levels of lead paint found in the residence and the fact the homes are two and three story structures located in the OECD’s “targeted neighborhood,” where most of the homes are in good condition and efforts to rehabilitate these homes mean they will maintain their value.

Council also approved the following:

— a certificate of appropriateness for a sign permit to Brick Oven Pizza at 117 Main Street for a sign with a black background, red, gray and white lettering, with a picture of a brick oven and a pizza, along with the name Brick Oven Pizza and Catering.

— a certificate of appropriateness for a sign permit to Burns & Burns Insurance at 12 Chestnut Street for new signage in one of two colors, either Dark Teal or Rookwood Red background, gold leaf and white lettering, as well as the installation of gooseneck lighting to illuminate the sign.

— a memorandum of understanding between the City of Bradford Police Department and the Bradford Area School District for “provision of Police Services which will maintain physical security and safety of the Bradford Area School District.”

— a resolution to solicit engineering proposals for playground, tennis court, basketball court and gateway improvements at Callahan Park.