Bradford council approves 2025 budget, millage, zoning changes and a series of appointments and resolutions
January 01, 2025 | Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania
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The Bradford City Council voted to adopt the 2025 budget and millage ordinances and approved a package of zoning, public-safety and administrative actions during a council meeting (date not specified).
The council passed Ordinance 3298, the 2025 budget ordinance, and Ordinance 3299, the 2025 millage ordinance, approving the city's planned appropriations and fixing the real-property tax rate for city purposes for 2025. Councilors also approved amendments to zoning regulations (Ordinance 3231.6) and an amendment related to solid waste (Ordinance 2801.37).
Why it matters: adopting the budget and setting the millage rate establishes the city's spending plan and the property tax rates that fund city services; zoning and solid-waste ordinance changes affect development rules and municipal waste handling.
Key actions and approvals
- Budget and taxes: The council adopted Ordinance 3298 (2025 budget) and Ordinance 3299 (2025 millage). The transcript records motions, seconding and affirmative roll-call responses; a formal tally was not specified in the record.
- Zoning and solid waste: The council approved Ordinance 3231.6 (amend zoning regulations) and Ordinance 2801.37 (amend solid-waste provisions), motions that were moved, seconded and carried in the meeting transcript.
- Public-safety agreement: The council authorized execution of a memorandum of understanding between the Bradford Police Department and the Bradford Area School District Police (Resolution/Item 37825); the motion was carried.
- Grants and payments: The council approved a $2,500 additional rehabilitation payment for Suzanne Gays for work at 101 Catawba Street (Item 37827). The council also approved payments or disbursements to Northwest OECD (Item 37828), Panther Northwest OECD (Item 37829), and a payment to Smart Sign Street (Item 37830); each item was moved, seconded and recorded as approved.
- Fire department appointments and grants: The council appointed Jeff Klaas as deputy chief (Item 37831) and Christopher Solerino as lieutenant (Item 37832) for the Bradford Fire Department. The council authorized permission to apply for the 2024 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (Item 37833) and appointed Andrew Piganelli as a full-time firefighter/EMT (Item 37834); each action was approved in the meeting record.
- Quarterly and annual allocations: The council approved quarterly 2025 allocations to the Bradford District Flood Control Authority (Item 37835), the Bradford Area Public Library (Item 37836), and an annual allocation for the McKinsey County SPCA (Item 37837). The council also approved an improvement-related allocation for the Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center (Item 37838).
- Administrative, personnel and contracts: The council amended meeting scheduling for the Tree Board (to Thursdays as needed at 10 a.m.), set certain 2025 meeting dates (Resolution 37839), authorized an addendum to the contract with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 655 (Item 37840), adopted a master fee schedule (Item 37841), and authorized transferring funds from the capital reserve account to the general fund (Item 37842). The council appointed Karen Castello Pake as executive director for OECD (Item 37843) and approved an employment agreement with Carrie Costello Pake (Item 37844). The council authorized a sales agreement with DEWBOI Property LLC (Item 37845) and approved a stipend for zoning officer John Peterson (Item 37846). Each motion was moved, seconded and recorded as carried in the transcript.
Meeting process and votes
Most items recorded in the transcript show motions, seconds and affirmative voice roll calls; the speaker-by-speaker tallies are not fully recorded for every item in the transcript excerpt provided. The meeting transcript consistently records council members answering "Yes" when the clerk called the roll after motions; the transcript does not show nays, abstentions or detailed numeric tallies for the items listed.
The council adjourned after completing the agenda items listed in the transcript excerpt.
Supporting details and clarifications
- The rehabilitation payment for Suzanne Gays was for $2,500 and tied to work at 101 Catawba Street (Item 37827).
- The Tree Board meeting schedule was amended to "every Thursday as needed at 10 a.m." per a council request recorded in the meeting.
- The FEMA application referenced was for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program (Item 37833); the council authorized staff to apply.
Adjournment
After completing the listed votes and appointments, council members moved to adjourn and the meeting concluded (time not specified).
The council passed Ordinance 3298, the 2025 budget ordinance, and Ordinance 3299, the 2025 millage ordinance, approving the city's planned appropriations and fixing the real-property tax rate for city purposes for 2025. Councilors also approved amendments to zoning regulations (Ordinance 3231.6) and an amendment related to solid waste (Ordinance 2801.37).
Why it matters: adopting the budget and setting the millage rate establishes the city's spending plan and the property tax rates that fund city services; zoning and solid-waste ordinance changes affect development rules and municipal waste handling.
Key actions and approvals
- Budget and taxes: The council adopted Ordinance 3298 (2025 budget) and Ordinance 3299 (2025 millage). The transcript records motions, seconding and affirmative roll-call responses; a formal tally was not specified in the record.
- Zoning and solid waste: The council approved Ordinance 3231.6 (amend zoning regulations) and Ordinance 2801.37 (amend solid-waste provisions), motions that were moved, seconded and carried in the meeting transcript.
- Public-safety agreement: The council authorized execution of a memorandum of understanding between the Bradford Police Department and the Bradford Area School District Police (Resolution/Item 37825); the motion was carried.
- Grants and payments: The council approved a $2,500 additional rehabilitation payment for Suzanne Gays for work at 101 Catawba Street (Item 37827). The council also approved payments or disbursements to Northwest OECD (Item 37828), Panther Northwest OECD (Item 37829), and a payment to Smart Sign Street (Item 37830); each item was moved, seconded and recorded as approved.
- Fire department appointments and grants: The council appointed Jeff Klaas as deputy chief (Item 37831) and Christopher Solerino as lieutenant (Item 37832) for the Bradford Fire Department. The council authorized permission to apply for the 2024 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (Item 37833) and appointed Andrew Piganelli as a full-time firefighter/EMT (Item 37834); each action was approved in the meeting record.
- Quarterly and annual allocations: The council approved quarterly 2025 allocations to the Bradford District Flood Control Authority (Item 37835), the Bradford Area Public Library (Item 37836), and an annual allocation for the McKinsey County SPCA (Item 37837). The council also approved an improvement-related allocation for the Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center (Item 37838).
- Administrative, personnel and contracts: The council amended meeting scheduling for the Tree Board (to Thursdays as needed at 10 a.m.), set certain 2025 meeting dates (Resolution 37839), authorized an addendum to the contract with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 655 (Item 37840), adopted a master fee schedule (Item 37841), and authorized transferring funds from the capital reserve account to the general fund (Item 37842). The council appointed Karen Castello Pake as executive director for OECD (Item 37843) and approved an employment agreement with Carrie Costello Pake (Item 37844). The council authorized a sales agreement with DEWBOI Property LLC (Item 37845) and approved a stipend for zoning officer John Peterson (Item 37846). Each motion was moved, seconded and recorded as carried in the transcript.
Meeting process and votes
Most items recorded in the transcript show motions, seconds and affirmative voice roll calls; the speaker-by-speaker tallies are not fully recorded for every item in the transcript excerpt provided. The meeting transcript consistently records council members answering "Yes" when the clerk called the roll after motions; the transcript does not show nays, abstentions or detailed numeric tallies for the items listed.
The council adjourned after completing the agenda items listed in the transcript excerpt.
Supporting details and clarifications
- The rehabilitation payment for Suzanne Gays was for $2,500 and tied to work at 101 Catawba Street (Item 37827).
- The Tree Board meeting schedule was amended to "every Thursday as needed at 10 a.m." per a council request recorded in the meeting.
- The FEMA application referenced was for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program (Item 37833); the council authorized staff to apply.
Adjournment
After completing the listed votes and appointments, council members moved to adjourn and the meeting concluded (time not specified).
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