The brand new Elm Street bridge has been given a name, and with it, is honoring a native son lost in Vietnam.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford City Council, the bridge was named the James Keith Oxley Memorial Bridge. The resolution stated that Oxley was born April 3, 1946, to Keith and Mary Oxley, graduated from Bradford High and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 to become a Navy Hospitalman. He began his deployment in Vietnam on July 15, 1967, and was lost at the age of 21 in the battle of Quang Tri Province.
The unanimous vote to approve the naming of the Elm Street Bridge for Oxley came only after Councilman Terry Lopus said, “It was my pleasure to read this particular amendment out, in its entirety before the council and members of the community.” After the amendment was read out before the audience, Mayor James McDonald seconded the authorization noting his response as a “resounding yes,” while Councilman Fred Proper noted with his vote that the privilege to vote yes was “his pleasure.”
Also at the meeting, council approved purchasing two parcels of land from The Friendship Table to become part of the Area Transportation Authority Multi-Modal Center project. The parcels will be paid for with grant funds. The future site of the center will be the location of the old Sehmans Tire on East Corydon Street.
“Let it also be noted, the two parcels being discussed in this amendment are distinguished independently from the Friendship Table itself — the Friendship Table will NOT be moving,” Councilman Tom Riel mentioned while reading through this amendment.
Council approved three facade grants of $5,000 each to Todd Hennard for Slice of the 80s, Escape the 80s and Rookies Bar and Grill. The first two businesses, located side-by-side on Congress Street, were related projects. At Slice of the 80s, the total project cost was $12,674.44 for new window signage, replacement of the door, replacement of the skirting under the windows and the cleaning and repointing of the brick and painting above the door.
Escape the 80s, at 17 Congress St., had a total project cost of $10,205.20 for new signage and lighting on the building, a new door, cleaning and repointing of the brick, replacement of skirting under windows and new windows on the second floor.
The third project, Rookies at 211 Main St., has a total cost of $12,674.44, for new windows, repointing the brick, painting the building, new signage and the addition of lighting.
The council members then approved a special events waiver for Pumpkin Fest, allowing for public consumption of alcohol on public land where the event will be conducted — Chambers Street — between noon and 5 p.m. on Sept. 24.
In other business, council approved an enterprise zone loan agreement with Kelly Daniels, doing business as Muddy Paws, in the amount of $42,500 to assist with the purchase and improvements of 24 N. Kendall Ave.
An enterprise zone loan agreement was made to Allen Black and Lauren Melka in the amount of $75,000 to assist with improvements at 560 Chestnut St., the former Sears store.
Also approved was an additional hardship grant payment of $23,750 to Dolly Gobin for rehabilitation work at 168 Congress St. Hennard Construction is performing the work
Bradford Resident Troy Lewis spoke before the closing of the meeting before the council in order to draw attention to a previously filed petition to plant a memorial tree in Callahan Park, after the park’s remodel.
“Thank you for bringing our attention to this petition,” said McDonald. “This is a great petition to defer to our new Tree Board for further discussion of finer details with the folks who have great knowledge on the subject.”
McDonald also commended the Bradford City Police Department for handling a total of 868 calls during the month of August, which averages to approximately 28 calls handled per day.
“I just want to recognize how busy our police department is and to say keep up the great work guys,” stated McDonald.
Proper gave a nod to Chip Comilla and the Bradford City Parks Department.
“I’d like to take a moment to also give thanks to Chip and the entire parks department for their hard work this summer season, with work on the disc golf course coming right along,” said Proper.
In other news, during a brief Board of Health meeting for the city of Bradford, a petition from the Martin family, of 40 Cornen Street to keep five to 10 chickens on their property was unanimously approved by the board before the meeting was adjourned.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be 7 p.m. Sept. 27.
