Calling all Bradford residents, for a chance to dunk Mayor James McDonald or Bradford Officer Tony Lama in the dunk tank during the Tuesday, Aug. 2 National Night Out event, being held on Chambers Street from 5 to 8 p.m.
Shortly after calling Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting to order, McDonald spoke about the upcoming National Night Out event and its importance to the community, as well as announcing that he and School Resource Officer Lama would be taking turns in the dunk tank during the event. Bradford Police Chief Mike Ward announced that the newest member of the City of Bradford Police force, K9 Duke would be in attendance at the event as well.
With no department reports to read at this meeting, the council went straight into voting on new business set before them, approving multiple resolutions, after hearing from Bradford resident Cody Lunn concerning his intentions to put together a community garden.
Lunn met with the council at an earlier point in time to introduce his intent of the garden and subsequently worked with members of the Office of Economic and Community Development; he attended Tuesday night’s meeting to ascertain where the project stood due to a loss in funding. City Administrator Chris Lucco explained that the funding had not been canceled, simply postponed due to practicality reasons, such as staffing issues and a late start in the planting season.
While Lunn still intends to look for alternative methods to fund his community garden project, he stated he is hopeful to work with the OECD in the future on this project. However, in the meantime he mentioned that any residents interested in donating, sharing the project or helping out can contact him via the group’s Facebook page, @Community Gardens of Bradford.
Moving into new business, the council approved some payments to finish Duke’s enclosure and to pay for his training. The K9 payments approved were to CCS, Inc in the amount of $1,000 for spray foam insulation for Duke’s enclosure; to Blue Line K9 Training LLC. in the amount of $1,625 for handler training; and to Cousins Designs in the amount of $558 for K9 T-shirts, to be worn by the handler. It was noted that all of these purchases would be made entirely of donated funds.
The council approved payment of a facade improvement grant in the amount of $5,000 to Main Street Office Solutions. Under the Main Street Facade Improvement Program the City of Bradford has made state funds available to assist with facade improvements aiding in the revitalization of the City’s downtown district. This grant represents 50% of the total cost of $10,780 for the installation of new windows on the seventh floor of the building located at 125 Main Street.
A resolution to approve payment to Harris Technology Services for police cameras and licensing in the amount of $8,359.40. Other payments approved included: payment to Sandburg Oil Co. for oil and supplies for road maintenance; payment to Hunter Truck Sales & Service for repairs and equipment; payment to Gorman Enterprises for conducting a pump test on Engine 1; payment to Emergency Medical Products for ambulance supplies; payments to Bradford Tire Center for tires and mounting services; and payment to Schindler Elevator Corporation for elevator repair and preventative maintenance services at Old City Hall, among a few others.
The council also approved to authorize and execute an amendment concerning Teamsters Local No.110 contract, in which a special allowance for quarantining due to COVID-19 infection was added to their sick time policy.
The next scheduled meeting of the Bradford City Council will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at City Hall on Kennedy Street.
