Latest News from the Borough

The Borough is picking up Christmas trees until January 31, 2019. Please place your tree at the curb, and the Borough will come by and pick up the tree as they are able.

Every year Centre County takes part in a statewide initiative called Point-in-Time (PIT) to provide outreach and collect valuable data on our unsheltered homeless population. Often times, this population may be found living in a tent, a car, a hallway, a campground site, abandoned building, or even under a bridge. They may also be finding respite at various retailers, restaurants, libraries, and other community buildings during the day.

This year, teams will be out in the community on Thursday, January 24th, looking to connect with the unsheltered homeless population to ask where they slept the night before (Wednesday, January 23rd), provide care packages, and offer assistance. Additionally, teams want to connect with individuals/families who are homeless, but “doubled-up” (i.e., staying with family and/or friends), and not considered unsheltered for the PIT count. This would give teams the opportunity to provide information about our county’s emergency, temporary, and permanent housing options.

In an effort to connect with these individuals/families, the County is asking for your assistance. If you know the whereabouts of someone who is unsheltered or “doubling-up,” please contact the Office of Adult Services no later than Tuesday, January 22nd, at 814-355-6768 ([email protected]).

Thank you for your help during our effort to assist those in need!

Faith R. Ryan, Director
Office of Adult Services
Centre County Government

“Happy New Year from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the ReadyPA Team.  As we enter January, we would like to stress the importance of safe driving over the winter months.  The January 2019 ReadyPA Monthly provides some winter driving tips and safe driving practices to help you navigate Pennsylvania roadways.

Did you know that although your pets are covered in fur, many just aren’t equipped to be out in frigid temperatures for prolonged periods?  This issue of the ReadyPA Monthly provides suggestions to help your animals stay healthy throughout the winter.

Finally, the State Meteorologist has provided information on the “chilling dangers of cold weather.”

The January Action Sheet contains information provided by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.  Be sure to practice these “10 musts for winter driving.”

We encourage you to share this newsletter and action sheet. Both the ReadyPA Monthly and the Action Sheet are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or you can view it by clicking on ReadyPA Monthly January 2019.”

Below is a listing of Bellefonte Borough “ABC” vacancies. If interested in any of these vacancies, click here to obtain a volunteer application.

Historical and Architectural Review Board (HARB):

The purpose of the HARB is to offer advice and counsel to Bellefonte Borough Council concerning the erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of all or any part of a building or structure located within the boundaries of the Historical and Architectural Review Board District and visible from a public right-of-way. For this purpose, the Historical and Architectural Review Board may make and alter rules and regulations for its own organization and procedure.

The HARB shall be composed of seven members and at least one alternate member, recommended by the HARB, and approved by Council. Of the seven members, one shall be a registered architect, one a licensed real estate broker, one the Borough building official, one a business person whose principal place of business is located within the HARB-regulated historic district, and three additional persons with a knowledge of and interest in historic preservation.

The HARB’s regularly scheduled meetings shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month unless circumstances warrant a postponement.

For more information, a copy of the HARB’s By-Laws can be found here

There is currently one vacancy on this Board (preferably someone with architectural or historical preservation experience), with the term expiring on 12/31/2023. 

Zoning Hearing Board

The Board hears requests for variances and appeals of the determination made by the Zoning Officer, where it is alleged that the provisions of the zoning ordinance inflict unnecessary hardship upon the applicant.  The Board is made up of five members and meets on an as-needed basis.

For more information regarding the Zoning Hearing Board, please click here.

There is currently one alternate vacancy on this Board.

Bellefonte Borough Housing Appeals Board

This Board considers appeals regarding the requirements, determinations, and decisions made by the Borough’s inspectors in their enforcement of Chapter 425 of the Property Maintenance and Safety Code ordinance. Also, the Board grants variances to elements of the Property Maintenance and Safety Code ordinance in instances where literal application of the code would result in exceptional practical difficulty.

There is currently one vacancy on this Board, with the term expiring on 12/31/2019.

Civil Service Commission

The Civil Service Commission is a three member Commission with each member serving a six-year term.  The Commission is designed to oversee the hiring and promotional process related to full-time police officers.  Residency is required.  Candidates for these positions must go through a civil service process where written and oral exams are given and scored.  The Commission presents a list of eligible candidates to Council for their consideration.  The Commission must meet the first Monday of the even-numbered new year to re-organize.  Other meeting times are on an as-needed basis.

There are currently one vacancy (term expires 12/2022) and one alternate vacancy on this Commission.

Comcast has undergone a significant transformation over the past several years to improve their customer experience. Click here to review some examples of the recent changes.

Winner Other Category

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 12^th.

To review materials from the Feb 22^nd Public Input Session, including the conceptual trail alignment, please follow this link:

http://centrecountypa.gov/index.aspx?nid=860

Ash collection is currently done on Wednesdays; however, beginning January 1, 2018, ash will be collected with your trash. It can be mixed in with the rest of your trash. Please be sure that the ashes are cold and fully extinguished before placing them in your trash can. If you have any questions, please call the Borough office at 355-1501.