COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4, 2013
www.bellefonte.net
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Bellefonte Borough Council was called to order at
7:30 p.m. by Council President Frank Halderman in the Bellefonte Borough Municipal
Building.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Council remained standing for a moment of
silence. Those in attendance were asked to either turn their cell phones off or put them
on vibrate.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Wilson, Dainty, Brown, Schneider, Provan, Beigle, DeCusati,
Dunne, Halderman, Confer
Members Excused: McCullough
Mayor Addis
Officials Present:
Ralph Stewart, Borough Manager
Don Holderman, Assistant Borough Manager
Staff Present:
Guests:
Barry Pearce
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Dunne made a motion to approve the minutes of the Bellefonte Borough
Council meeting of January 21, 2013. Ms. Dainty seconded the motion. A voice vote
was unanimous to approve the minutes as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS
WRITTEN
- A letter from Denise L. Elbell, Director of Financial Management/Deputy
Administrator, Centre County Board of Commissioners, informing Bellefonte Borough
they have not been awarded any 2013 County Liquid Fuel funds.
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- A letter from Eric V. Persic, BSA President, requesting the use of soccer fields
at Governor's Park around March 12, 2013 (weather permitting) through the first week
of June.
Ms. Dainty made a motion to approve this request as submitted. Mrs. Brown
seconded the motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
- A 2013 meeting schedule for the Nittany Valley Joint Planning Commission
(NVJPC)
- A letter from Nicole Summers, Ed.D., Executive Director, FaithCentre,
requesting permission to hold its 7th Annual Walk/Run of Faith on Saturday, April 6,
2013. The Walk/Run will begin at the Bellefonte Middle School and proceed through
the residential neighborhood of Parkview Heights, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and
concluding at noon.
Mr. Beigle made a motion to approve this request. Ms. Dainty seconded the
motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
- A letter from Patrick A. McCool, Chairperson, Bellefonte Cruise, requesting
street closings for the 25th annual Bellefonte Cruise and Car Show to be held June 14,
15 and 16, 2013. The street closings are:
Allegheny Street between Bishop and Howard Streets and High Street from
Allegheny to Spring Street on Friday, June 14, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.
On Saturday, June 15, the request includes Allegheny Street from Linn Street to
Bishop Street, West High Street from Allegheny Street, including the 100, 200 and 300
blocks of West High Street (Spring Street and Water Street will be left open for traffic
with police or fire police patrolling each intersection with the Borough arranging this) and
West Howard Street for the car show from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Following the show
there will be an exclusive cruise for just participants from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Allegheny Street from Howard Street to Bishop Street and East High Street will remain
closed until 7:00 p.m.
The request includes the use of the Municipal Parking lot located on Howard
Street behind the First National Bank, Bellefonte Museum and Nittany Bank for the food
court.
The request includes the use of several metered parking spaces along Spring
Street near the Presbyterian Church parking lot for handicapped parking.
The request includes the use of Talleyrand Park on Sunday, June 16, from
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a 5K race.
Mr. Provan made a motion to approve this request as submitted. Mr. Schneider
seconded the motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
- A letter from Jacqueline Flory, Accounts Payable/Donation Coordinator, CCR
(Coca-Cola Refreshments) Relay for Life Team, requesting permission to release
Chinese lanterns at the Relay for Life event on May 31. The release would be in the
baseball field/parking lot at Governors Park.
Ms. Dainty made a motion to approve this request. Mr. Beigle seconded the
motion. There is concern with the open flame in the luminaries. There is concern that
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you have no control once they are put in the air. Ms. Dainty withdrew her motion and
Mr. Beigle withdrew his second. Council would like Ms. Flory to come to the meeting
and explain the luminaries to them.
- A letter from David Klinefelter, President, Lion's Club, requesting the use of four
parking spaces next to the Brownstone Building (Beard Law Company) for its annual
Rib Roast and sale on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Beigle made a motion to approve this request. Mr. Wilson seconded the
motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
- An email from Ralph Stewart informing Council he will be attending the Rural
Water Rally in Washington, D.C. February 11–13. He is requesting the use of a
Borough vehicle and will have PA Rural Water pay the Borough the federal
reimbursement for mileage.
ORAL
- Mr. DeCusati reported the CCMPO, in their recent meetings, had a lot of
discussion regarding how to change the cost distribution formula. A lot of the
discussion has to do with municipalities that are benefiting from state road projects,
which Bellefonte Borough is, and they are saying some of the municipalities are not
paying anything in. The municipalities that are paying want more of a say in the
decision-making. Mr. DeCusati would like the Borough to review this again and be
aware that when you are not fully at the table projects that would benefit the Borough
are not going to be initially represented. Mr. Halderman stated it can be looked at
again, even though he feels a vote from the Borough is not going to change much.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Draft minutes from the January 9, 2013 IDA meeting are available for review.
- Mr. Holderman stated at the last Fire Executive Committee meeting that work
was done on old Ordinance 242. It was looked over line by line. It will come to Council
in the near future for approval.
Mr. Wilson thanked Mr. Holderman and Mr. Schneider for their efforts in
reworking and revising/updating the ordinance.
MAYOR’S REPORT
- No report.
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OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
ZONING/PLANNING
- Mr. Beigle made a motion to amend the Bellefonte Borough zoning
requirements within the Central Business District (CBD) to the Building Requirements
(575-33) B. Maximum building width: 100 feet. The zoning amendment would delete
the requirement for a maximum width of 100 feet. Ms. Dainty seconded the motion.
This refers to the CBD. The motion passed with Mrs. Brown voting no.
This will go to the Nittany Valley Municipalities for their review and comments.
The Draft Planning Commission minutes from the January 28, 2013, meeting are
in the packet for review.
CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS
1) 125 North Allegheny Street/Replace existing exterior signs.
2) 110 West High Street/Replace existing exterior signs.
Ms. Dainty made a motion to approve these two Certificates of Appropriateness.
Mrs. Brown seconded the motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
The January 22, 2013, HARB minutes are in the packet for review.
Ms. Dainty made a motion to approve Samuel McGinley for another one year
term as Chairman of HARB and Russell Shuey for another one year term as
Vice-Chairman of HARB. Mrs. Brown seconded the motion. A voice vote was
unanimous.
COMMITTEES
Building & Property – There was no report.
Finance and Government Performance – There was no report.
Park & Recreation – Mrs. Brown reported a drinking fountain at Talleyrand Park
near the playground that needs replaced will be replaced this spring.
Mr. Holderman reported the Ordinance for the Establishment of the Recreation
Authority was approved by all the other municipalities. Spring Township had something
to work out and anticipate approving. Mr. Holderman anticipates moving forward with it
over the next month.
Human Resources – Mr. Provan reported both the Public Works Contract and the
Police Contract were signed before this meeting. Negotiations are completed and the
contracts are signed by both parties. Both contracts were completed early and without
arbitration. Mr. Halderman thanked the Committee for their work.
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Safety – There was no report.
Water/Sanitation – Mr. Beigle reported the Authority meeting will be held on
Tuesday, February 5, 2013.
Streets – Mr. DeCusati reported there is a list of things to work on when better
weather comes.
Mr. Stewart reported signage has been ordered and will be installed when it
comes in.
Mr. Beigle questioned which way the one-way street will run on Centre that was
discussed at the previous Council meeting. Mr. Stewart reported the neighborhood will
be polled. The current thought is out from Centre Street to Zion, but the Borough is
open to other ideas. Approximately fifty questionnaires were sent out to residents in the
Centre Street area. A survey will be sent out to residents in the Pike Street area.
Mr. Stewart talked with the residents that have dumpsters on Bishop Street. One
resident came in for a permit renewal. Mr. Halderman was told something blew out of a
dumpster and onto somebody's windshield when they were driving past. Mr. Stewart is
working on changing the ordinance.
Energy & Environmental Conservation – Mrs. Dunne invited Council members
and the viewing public to the next Fire Protection Task Force meeting that will be held
Thursday, February 7, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. in the Borough Building. Various means of
fire prevention and suppression will be discussed, including sprinklers
Junior Council Report – There was no report.
OLD BUSINESS
- Mr. DeCusati made a motion to pass Resolution 020413, Bellefonte Borough
Purchasing Ordinance as submitted. Ms. Dainty seconded the motion. A voice vote
was unanimous.
- Mr. Stewart met with Nittany Engineering regarding a combination of things
such as the streets, criteria, paving, the water system for fire protection issues, how
water flows from the reservoir, what needs to be done to improve higher flow pressure,
etc. NEA will continue discussions with the Authority.
- Mr. Stewart would like to have the Goals discussion at the work session before
the February 18, 2013, Council meeting.
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- Mrs. Brown would like to discuss the Borough Code regarding the blighted
residential properties. Mr. Stewart will schedule time in the work session before the
February 18, 2013, Council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
- Mr. Stewart reported there is an application window for the PennWorks Grant.
The upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant were done with funding from this
grant. He will discuss needs at the treatment plant and on the water system with
Authority members at their meeting. PennWorks offers grants and low-interest loans.
POLICE EXONERATIONS
- None.
ADJOURNMENT
- With no other business to come before Council Ms. Dainty made a motion to
adjourn the meeting of February 4, 2013, at 8:05 p.m. Mrs. Dunne seconded the
motion. A voice vote was unanimous.
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