Latest News from the Borough

PUBLIC NOTICE

CENTRE COUNTY’s intended use of Ffy 2019 CDBG Funds
BELLEFONTE BOROUGH’s intended use of Ffy 2019 CDBG Funds

Centre County and Bellefonte Borough will hold a joint Final Public Hearing on Thursday,
October 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm in Room 116 of the Willowbank Bldg, 420 Holmes St, Bellefonte,
to receive comment on the County’s intention to apply to the PA Dept of Community & Economic
Development for a total of $448,971 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the
Ffy 2019 Program. Under Act 179 of 1984, Bellefonte Borough as an Entitlement Municipality will
receive $112,283 of the 2019 CDBG Grant, with the County getting $336,688.

Proposed project activities must meet one of three national objectives: benefit low- and moderate income persons; prevention or elimination of slums or blight; alleviation of immediate threats to the
health and safety of the community. The First Public Hearing was held June 25, 2019. Copies of
the minutes, agenda and comments from that Hearing may be obtained at the Centre County
Planning & Community Development Office, 420 Holmes St, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

Projects under consideration by Centre County to receive FFY 2019 CDBG Funds are:
Construction of a new Drinking Water Supply Well for the Village of Woodward, Haines
Twp., ($251,088). Demolition of blighted properties in Rush Twp., ($25,000). $60,600 of the County’s total allocation is set aside for Grant Administration.

Projects under consideration by Bellefonte Borough to receive FFY 2019 CDBG Funds:
Ongoing Safety Improvements at Talleyrand Park ($92,083). $20,200 of the total grant is set aside by the Borough for Grant Administration.

Those requiring special accommodations should call 814-355-6791; forty-eight (48) hours in
advance. It is expected that the Centre County Board of Commissioners will take final action on
the Ffy 2019 CDBG application at the Board’s meeting at 10:00am on Tuesday, November 19,
2019. Bellefonte Borough Council will take final action at their Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m. on
Monday, November 4, 2019.

Raymond J. Stolinas, Director
Planning & Community Development Office

Please note that the date for Bellefonte Victorian Christmas is actually December 13 and December 14, 2019. The date provided to us for our Spring newsletter was incorrect.

The following authorities/boards/commissions (ABCs) have appointments whose terms will expire on December 31, 2019. If you are interested in applying for any of the upcoming vacancies, please complete a Volunteer Application and a resume and provide to the Bellefonte Borough office, 236 W Lamb St, by November 15, 2019. For a description of the function of each of the ABCs below, please look at the Volunteer Application.

Airport Authority (five year term) (one vacancy)

Borough Authority (five year term) (two vacancies)

HARB (five year term) (two vacancies–one preferably someone with architectural or historical preservation experience)

Housing Appeals Board (five year term) (two vacancies)

Industrial Development Authority (five year term) (one vacancy)

Planning Commission (four year term) (two vacancies)

Shade Tree Commission (three year term) (one vacancy)

Zoning Hearing Board (five year term) (one vacancy)

Bellefonte Borough and The Centre Region Code invite you to join us for an information session on how to go about getting into the short-term rental game. One-hour sessions will be held at the Borough building on:

Friday, October 18 @ Noon
Wednesday, October 23 @ 6:30 PM
Saturday, October 26 @ 10:00 AM
Thursday, November 7 @ 10:00 AM

The Borough of Bellefonte is requesting proposals for independent audit services.  Complete proposal details, including the required proposal format, may be obtained by clicking here or by contacting Ms. Lori McGowan, Finance Director, Bellefonte Borough, 236 W. Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA, 16823 at 814-355-1501 ext. 212 or [email protected].

Sealed proposals will be accepted until Wednesday, October 18, 2019, 4:00 PM prevailing time.  Proposals will be opened at the Bellefonte Borough Council meeting to be held Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers.  Proposals must be sealed and clearly marked on the outside “Audit Services” and submitted to Bellefonte Borough, 236 W Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA, 13823.

The Borough reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any irregularities in any bid submitted. Proposals that are faxed or e-mailed to Bellefonte Borough cannot be accepted.

The Borough of Bellefonte is requesting sealed proposals for an Early Intervention Program and Five Year Financial Plan. Proposals are due Monday, October 21st, 2019, at 4:00 P.M. EST. Proposals will be opened in Council Chambers, during the Council Meeting which starts at 7:30 P.M., the same evening.

Proposals shall be mailed or delivered to the Bellefonte Borough Building, 236 West Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and marked “Early Intervention Program Proposal and Five Year Financial Plan – Technical Proposal”. Fee/Cost information shall be in a separate sealed envelope marked “Early Intervention Program Proposal and Five Year Financial Plan – Price Proposal”.

Questions regarding this request for proposal shall be directed to Ralph Stewart, Borough Manager, at [email protected]

Proposers may download the proposal by clicking here

Bellefonte Borough Council reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, or to accept any part of a proposal without accepting the whole thereof, or to accept such proposal as they deem to be in the best interest of the Borough.

 

PRCC & EP-ACT along with host sponsors PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) held one in a series of Summer Electric Vehicle (EV’s) Workshops and Ride & Drive Events in Bellefonte on August 9 and 10.

For over 3 years a coalition of government, industry, utility, educational and non-profits have been convening to plan for EV adoption throughout the Commonwealth. The Drive Electric PA Initiative is a direct result of these meetings. This event was planned to help consumers, municipalities, businesses, and educational facilities with the adoption of EVs.

To view a video of this event, click here.

In the 2009 International Fire Code (Section 302.1) recreational fires are defined as “an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes.”

This type of fire must be at least 25 feet away from a structure or combustible materials and must not at any point move any closer to the structure than the stated 25 foot distance.

Outdoor fires in a permanent fixture (such as BBQs and gas-fueled fire pits, chimineas) must be at least 10 feet away from a structure or combustible materials. Portable, manufactured outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 feet away from a structure or combustible materials except for 1- and 2-family dwellings.

For more information, go to ftp://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/ibr/icc.ifc.2009.pdf

Bellefonte Borough Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed amendment to Chapter 35: Fire Department, at their regular meeting on Monday, August 19, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 236 W. Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. 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.

Ralph Stewart
Borough Manager/Secretary

The Bellefonte Borough Housing Appeals Board consists of five members with each member serving a five-year term. It 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 in instances where literal application of the code would result in exceptional practical difficulty.

There is currently a vacancy on the Housing Appeals Board.  The term expires on December 31, 2019. If you are interested, and you are a Borough resident, please fill out a Volunteer Application and return it to the Borough.