View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com

View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com

View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com

View full post on Latest Local News From BradfordToday.com

The second ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in front of the Old City Hall Building on Kennedy Street. This ceremony celebrates the completion of the final phase of the revitalization and redevelopment of the Boylston Street and Kennedy Street area of historic downtown Bradford. The $2.2 million downtown streetscape project primarily funded through Impact Bradford includes the replacement of curbs and sidewalks, which include decorative stamped concrete and traffic-calming areas, new stamped-concrete crosswalks, decorative streetlights, new trees and plantings and the upgrade of the traffic signal at the corner of Kennedy Street and Boylston Street.

Speakers for these ceremonies include Jackie Z. Parker, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community Action Team. Ms. Parker is representing Govenor Rendell. Other speakers included Senator Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, Representative Martin Causer and Bradford City Mayor Tom Riel. The public is invited to help the Bradford community celebrate by attending both of these ceremonies.

Based on ordinances from various other municipalities, Council presented a draft ordinance. The draft ordinance can be found here. After a reading of the draft by Mayor Tom Riel, comments were called for from the residents.

The ordinace proposes to:

• Formally make graffiti a crime.
• Ban the sale to, and possession of, spray paint for minors.
• Require property owners to clean up graffiti in a reasonable time period.

During the public comment period, residents aired concerns such as, what penalties could be levied for offenders, and if the ordinance would apply to everyone equally.

The proposed ordinance leaves punishment up to Pennsylvania state guidelines as imposed by a judge. It also specifically states that it applies to, “associations, businesses, clubs, corporations, partnerships, and bodies politic”.

Council member Rick Benton questioned the “possession” clause, that there are many legitimate reasons for minors to possess spray paint, such as a senior project, or decorating a home coming float. He felt the wording of the ordinance would prevent legitimate activities as well as graffiti. Council member Ross Neidich expressed a preference for coordinating ordinances with Foster and Bradford Townships, and enacting the ordinances simultaneously to present a united front.

Resident Dick McDowell made an impassioned plea for property owners to stand up for their rights by not putting up with blight. That sentiment was echoed by Elm Street manager Lisa Campogiani and Council member Bob ONuffer, who urged residents to work with police to make the ordinance effective.

Mayor Tom Riel and Police Chief Michael Close stated that there is absolutely no evidence that the graffiti is gang related.

The work session involved the draft ordinance. To become law, the final draft will have a “first reading” at a future Council meeting. It can then be voted into law at a subsequent council meeting. The first reading is scheduled for the next Council meeting.

This is a hot topic on TalkAboutBradford.com. Join the discussion.

First there was a wrap-up party at the Bank Street Community Garden. The party marks the end of the garden’s design and construction. It was also intended to thank Kara Smith and Rachel Ence, the interns who contributed so much to make the project a reality. See our previous post with video.

After the wrap-up party, Bradford held it’s first celebration of National Night Out in the Family Video parking lot on West Washington Street. The City of Bradford Police Department provided children’s fingerprinting ID kits, safety information, and gave tours of the City’s Emergency Response Team van. The local D.A.R.T. (Diving And Recovery Team) were also there to explain their operations. McKean County CARE for Children was on hand with safety information and SAFE Kids McKean County handouts.

Project Pride Manager Linda Campongiani explains the concept behind Bradford’s National Night Out:
[audio:campongiani-nno-1.mp3|titles=Linda Campongiani ]

Today the Mayor revealed that when the citation was issued there were “six or seven white flags with lettering, that sat much lower to the ground”, that were not evident when the Era photograph was taken. Riel said that the display in the Era photo weren’t placed there until after the citation was issued.

“The true story is that he had other flags up and he’s trying to twist it into an American flag issue”, Riel said.

The story of the citation has drawn national attention, although Riel says the City has received a half a dozen or less emails on the issue. Our local discussion forum, TalkAboutBradford.com, has been carrying on an intense discussion of the subject. Visit the forum to read the opinions, or register to join the discussion and let others know your thoughts.

John Kohler was given the Key To The City Of Bradford. Sara Andrews, Director of the OECD, gave a presentation outlining some of Kohler’s contributions. Andrews told the audience, “Ten years ago nobody was investing in Main Street. The City had bought three buildings. We felt there was a need to renovate and encourage investment. John was one of those investors who really stepped up. Not only did he purchase and renovate several downtown buildings, but he actually went out and recruited businesses to occupy them”. It was also noted several of Kohler’s projects resulted in retaining businesses in the area, citing the three acre warehouse he built for Graham Packaging.

During the public comment portion of the meeting one resident raised privacy concerns. She complained that a neighbor had mounted a camera pointed at her house. Bradford City Police Chief Mike Close offered to talk to her after the meeting. Later a police spokesman stated that no charges could be filed in the matter. “The circumstances of each complaint are different. In this case it appears that no criminal law is being broken”.

The large upswing in still and video camera use, and the ease of publishing on the Internet has created a great deal of debate. Most laws that address the subject are civil, not criminal laws. Most of these laws hinge on the individual’s expectation of privacy. Columnist Andrew Kantor recently wrote this editorial on the subject in USAToday.

What do you think? Click here to send us your comments.

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