It’s nearly February, months after the Nov. 20 appeal hearing for the revocation of the rooming house license of the OYO Hotel in the City of Bradford.
And there’s still no ruling.
Health director John Peterson didn’t immediately return a message sent seeking comment. City administrator Eric Taylor said he was “not aware of where they are in the process.”
In November, it seemed like an open-and-shut case after a four-hour appeal hearing in which OYO owner Millstone Investments and Ashok Bhatt didn’t show. Their property manager, Julie Tipton, argued on their behalf in an attempt to keep the hotel and rooming house open, despite hundreds of conditional issues noted by code enforcement officials.
“He’s making me the scapegoat,” Tipton told Peterson during a break in the hearing, referring to Bhatt. She asked if she could read a statement from him and have the hearing concluded. Her request was denied.
Bhatt had threatened litigation against the city regarding the enforcement, and multiple attorneys were involved in the process of the hearing and decision.
During the hearing, inspectors detailed problems with heating and electrical systems, plumbing, structure, roof, safety equipment like fire doors and the fire escape, architectural features and cleanliness. A bug infestation was mentioned, as were holes in the wall and ceilings.
Witnesses at the hearing were asked if the building could be brought up to code. Most weren’t optimistic, saying it would be cost prohibitive with the age and state of the building.
As of Thursday, OYO Hotel was still advertising rooms on hotel sites like Expedia, Priceline and Hotels.com.
