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Because the HARB Coordinator, Shannon Wright, will be out of the office at a conference on April 18 and 19, all HARB applications for the April 24 HARB meeting must be turned in to Shannon Wright by noon on Tuesday, April 17.
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Bellefonte Municipal Parking Lot A, behind First National Bank along Howard Street, will be closed effective Monday, April 16, for approximately six weeks. You can use the municipal Lot D by the Waffle Shop, municipal Lot H by CVS, or on-street parking. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Bellefonte Borough Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments to Chapter 575 Zoning Article VII § 575-27, Article VIII § 575-31, Article XIV § 575-87, and Article XXV § 575-150 (pertaining to stadiums and tattoo establishments) at their regular meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 236 W Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. They will also consider approval and adoption of the Codified Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 575 Zoning § 575-27, § 575-31, § 575-87, and § 575-150 at that time. A complete copy of the proposed changes can be viewed in the Borough office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by clicking here.
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Because the leaves were so late to fall from the trees last year, the Borough will be doing a spring leaf collection. The leaf collection truck will go around for one week, beginning April 9. They will follow the normal refuse pickup schedule.
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On April 14th and 15th, the Central PA Soap Box Derby (aka DuBois Area Soap Box Derby) will be hosting their second annual Bellefonte Rally. This Soap Box Derby race will feature highly refined gravity race cars, racing down Allegheny Street from a point near the Reynolds mansion to the Bellefonte library. This race, being a sanctioned event of the All American Soap Box Derby will draw racers from up and down the east coast and will run from approximately 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Saturday April 14th and Sunday April 15th. Allegheny Street will be closed to traffic from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday April 14, and from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday April 15th. Further there will be no parking on Allegheny Street between Linn Street and Howard street beginning at 7:00 am on Saturday April 14th until approximate 6:00 pm on Sunday April 15th. The Central PA Soap Box Derby thanks you for your understanding and patience, and further invites all to join us and watch the race. Admission is free and concessions are available on site, provided by the Bellefonte Logan Fire Company.
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Who is the Centre Area Cable Consortium?
The Centre Area Cable Consortium (CACC) was organized in 2004 with the purpose of negotiating a regional cable franchise. It includes the following municipalities – the Boroughs of Bellefonte and State College and the Townships of Benner, College, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris and Patton. The CACC Board is comprised of one elected official from each of the eight member municipalities. The costs for negotiating the cable franchise are split among the eight members by the percentage of Comcast subscribers in each municipality.
When was the last franchise adopted?
The last franchise was adopted in 2008. It was the first franchise with Comcast, who purchased the cable system from Adelphia after that company declared bankruptcy.
Why isn’t there competition in the area?
Comcast holds a franchise in all eight municipalities. Windstream holds a cable franchise in State College Borough and College and Ferguson Townships.
We are not opposed to having other cable companies serve our area. They would have to negotiate a franchise, similar to what both Comcast and Windstream have done. To date, we have not received interest from any other providers.
What items can be negotiated?
Under federal law, we are allowed to negotiate customer service standards, density and build out requirements, technical requirements for the cable system, use of our rights of way and provisions for public, educational and governmental access channels. We are not permitted to negotiate pricing structures. We are also not allowed to negotiate internet or phone service.
What are Public, Educational and Governmental Access Channels?
We are allowed under federal law to have access channels. C-Net is our educational (channel 98) and our governmental (channel 7) access channels. We have language in our franchise that provides for technical provisions for C-Net. C-Net also received a capital grant from Comcast the last time the franchise was negotiated.
We currently do not have a public access channel, though there is language the permits the addition of a third public, educational or governmental access channel when a programming threshold is met. There was interest in public access in 2008, but that interest has largely waned over the last 10 years.
Who oversees Comcast’s performance?
The CACC does have a provision that allows for a bi-annual review of the cable franchise in its current agreement. The last bi-annual review was completed in 2011. We did not identify any deficiencies with Comcast or its performance under the franchise.
What is the timeline for negotiations?
The CACC is in the beginning of the franchise negotiation process. Comments from the public hearing will be gathered and considered as we begin the process. We hope to have a new franchise in place by mid summer.
Can I submit additional comments after the hearing?
Written comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or mailed to Amy Farkas, Harris Township, 224 East Main Street, Boalsburg, PA 16827, until March 12th.
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To review materials from the Feb 22nd Public Input Session, including the conceptual trail alignment, please follow this link:
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A reminder that the owner, occupant or tenant of every property fronting upon or alongside of any street in the Borough is required to remove or cause to be removed from all of the sidewalks in front of or alongside of such property all snow and/or ice thereon fallen or formed within 24 hours after the same has ceased to fall or to be formed.
In any case where the owner, occupant or tenant fails, neglects or refuses to comply within the time limit prescribed, the Borough authorities may proceed immediately to clear all snow and/or ice from the sidewalk of such delinquent and to collect the expenses thereof, with 10% added thereto, from such owner, occupant or tenant, as the case may be, in addition to any fine or penalty imposed under §495.25.
To read the entire section of the ordinance pertaining to removal of snow and ice from sidewalks, click here.
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There is no date as to when Purdue Mt. Road will reopen. Benner Township has stated with certainty that it will not be open this winter season.
