The City of Bradford held both a City Council meeting and a Board of Health meeting on August 12, 2025. Together, these sessions addressed critical neighborhood issues, property concerns, and community-focused resolutions.
Board of Health Meeting
Neighborhood Concerns
A resident raised ongoing issues with a troubled property where garbage, safety concerns, and lack of upkeep continue to impact surrounding families. While city crews recently stepped in to mow and clean up debris, board members stressed that this was a one-time intervention. Officials emphasized they are working within the law and alongside mental health professionals, but the property owner has been deemed incompetent to stand trial and refuses cooperation with agencies.
The city confirmed it cannot legally force removal or treatment without further court orders, though fines and liens will continue to accumulate. A private party has now agreed to fund lawn maintenance going forward.
Public Nuisance Hearing – 382 Congress Street
The Board held a formal hearing regarding 382 Congress Street, owned by Tara Ensley. The property had been condemned and declared a public nuisance. Ensley explained financial struggles had delayed rehabilitation but stated a mortgage refinance scheduled to close this week would provide resources for repairs. She outlined plans to restore the home as a rental unit.
City inspectors testified that while the roof and siding had been updated, major issues remain:
- Missing gutters and downspouts causing structural damage
- A deteriorating foundation
- Removal of the front porch without safeguards
- Unsafe rear access stairs and porch roof
- Inadequate window protection and unsecured entry points
- Lack of functional electrical service
The board unanimously voted to affirm the public nuisance designation, while requiring Ensley to provide updates every 30 days to code enforcement to demonstrate progress.
Budget Context
The city’s 2025 Adopted Budget directly supports nuisance enforcement and property maintenance, including:
- $10,000 for emergency demolitions
- $500 for emergency clean-ups
- $6,000 for Board of Health legal services
- Revenue from $70,000 in property maintenance registration fees and $5,000 from citations
These resources ensure Bradford can address unsafe conditions, cover legal costs, and—when necessary—remove dangerous structures.
City Council Meeting
Opening Business
- Approval of the previous meeting’s minutes.
- Confirmation that council may hold an executive session before the next regular meeting if necessary.
Bid Opening
-
A single bid of $660 was received for the Parks Department (August 11 at 8 a.m.). Action was deferred to the next meeting.
Ordinances Passed
- Ordinance 2945.2 – Prohibited Acts Amendment
This ordinance updates and clarifies prohibited acts under the city code. These amendments modernize the language of the code and tighten enforcement of public order violations, giving city officials clearer authority to address disruptive or unsafe behavior within city limits. - Ordinance 3301 – Vacant Property Registration
This ordinance establishes a mandatory registration program for vacant and foreclosed properties. Owners must keep properties secured, maintained, and registered with the city, paying an annual fee. The ordinance also provides for inspections, enforcement penalties, and liens against non-compliant properties. The goal is to reduce blight, improve neighborhood safety, and hold absentee owners accountable for property conditions.
Resolutions Approved
- Resolution 38039 — Payment to SOS Building Products for the Office of Community Development.
- Resolution 38040 — Certificate of Appropriateness approved for Norbert Ray at 39–43 Mechanic Street.
- Resolution 38041 — Certificate of Appropriateness approved (after opposition) for Rubinov Construction LLC at 14 Pine Street.
- Resolution 38043 — Approved advertising an RFP for investment management of city pension plans.
- Resolution 38042 — Termination and release agreement with CentralSquare Technologies LLC, a public sector software provider.
- Resolution 38044 — Cooperation agreement with Pennsylvania for the SR 346 improvement project.
- Resolution 38045 — Payment for Island Services (OCD).
- Resolution 38046 (Amended) — Donation of $4,800 to No Feline Left Behind in McKean County, a nonprofit that has spayed/neutered over 2,000 cats across the county. The Mayor urged other municipalities to follow Bradford’s example.
- Resolution 38047 — Payment for Refuge signage.
- Resolution 38048 — Approval of additional vendor payment.
- Resolution 38049 — Authorizes sale of certain city tax parcels to McKean County.
- Resolution 38050 — Approval of a service quote from First Due.
Key Takeaways from August 12, 2025
- The Board of Health continues to grapple with nuisance properties, balancing legal limits, neighborhood safety, and compassion for residents with mental health struggles.
- Two new ordinances will strengthen Bradford’s code enforcement: one updating prohibited acts and another creating a Vacant Property Registration program to combat blight.
- Council demonstrated strong support for animal welfare, backing No Feline Left Behind, while also moving forward on infrastructure, pension oversight, and technology contracts.
- The 2025 City Budget provides targeted resources—legal, financial, and operational—to sustain these enforcement and community initiatives.
