Latest News from the Borough

This message was sent to us by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED):

We are one of only three states in the country that has flattened our curve while reopening our economy.

We have a lot to celebrate as our counties continue to move from the Yellow Phase to the Green Phase in our reopening plan. Our collective efforts to contain COVID-19 are paying off, but our work is far from over.

When we move to the Green Phase, remember that it isn’t a return to how things were before. We must stay alert to keep the virus from resurging.

Under every phase, we must:

• Wear masks in public
• Keep our physical distance of six feet or more
• Wash our hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
• Clean and disinfect surfaces often
• Limit group gatherings and crowds

Masks Are Mandatory

Wearing a mask is an important part of keeping COVID-19 from spreading.

Everyone must wear a mask. That includes workers and customers. Remember, my mask protects you and your mask protects me.

No mask, no shirt, no shoes, no service. If a worker or customer attempts to enter your business without a mask on, ask them to leave and return when they have a mask. A fabric mask is fine if they aren’t a medical worker or first responder.

Find PPE to protect your workers. Masks and other PPE can be hard to find given the high demand. But we’ve got you covered. Check out our online directory of PPE manufacturers and suppliers in Pennsylvania.

Have good mask hygiene. Don’t touch the front of your mask. Make sure it covers both your nose and mouth. Don’t lift it up when talking to someone. Remember, the virus travels in the droplets we breathe out when talking or laughing, not just when we cough or sneeze. If wearing a fabric mask, make sure you wash it and let it fully dry between uses.

Together, we are tougher than COVID-19

These measures are in place to keep us on the right track. When so many other states are seeing the virus regain a foothold in their communities, we all need to do our part to make sure we don’t experience the same here.

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep our families, communities, and each other safe. For more information and resources, check out our COVID-19 Guidance and Resources.

 County-wide COVID 19 Study

Please Participate

Why Penn State is conducting this study. The goal is to measure the health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID pandemic across our county so that we can understand the local impact on residents’ lives and livelihoods. The COVID 19 crisis will have an impact in months and years to come. Having local data to help guide actions will be important. For Penn State researchers, having local data to help form and test innovative programs that promote resiliency and reduce risk will also be important.

What study is about? We hope to get the information that will help inform new programs and communication. It’s important to get broad representation from as many residents as possible so that we have the same quality of data that others have at the regional, national, and international levels.

The first part of the study simply involves a 10-minute anonymous survey.

The second part of the study involves additional surveys and biological testing for infection.

Both community members and returning Penn State students can participate.

We will offer repeated testing of participants:

1. for recent coronavirus infection
2. for past coronavirus infection

Will quantify amount of active and undetected coronavirus transmission AND duration of immunity

3. In-depth surveys about behavior and impact of coronavirus control efforts

How to participate.

• Online at: psu.edu
• By phone toll-free at (814)753-4799
• Monday –Friday 12:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.
• Contact [email protected]

THANK YOU!

June 3, 2020

“You can apologize over and over, but if your actions do not change, the words become meaningless.”

Our country finds itself in the midst of social unrest, fueled by a hideous crime against all that I have pledged an oath to protect- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  No matter color, gender, creed, or anything else that one can identify as, we in law enforcement took the same exact oath.  Our oath in its most simple form is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to preserve peace and to ensure that all are safe from harm

I am sickened and angered by the police officers responsible for killing George Floyd.  The oaths that every police officer takes, our dreams to make a difference, our hard work, our training, all were degraded to nothing, as we watched in disbelief the loss of life under the knee of a police officer.  To further add insanity to this atrocity, fellow officers stood by and did nothing to save that life.

We have much work to do in this Country.  Saying we are sorry is not enough anymore.  Our good intentions, deeds and training mean nothing if we don’t protect our fellow citizens.  I as well as your Police Department, are committed to treating ALL people with respect, dignity, and fairness.   We have and will continue to build positive relationships with our citizens.  We also will begin an attempt to rebuild the public’s trust in law enforcement that has been rightfully severed by the recent deplorable actions of a few.

I can say with absolute certainty that The Good Police Officers of this Nation are also sickened.  We too have seen all that we can endure of these types of actions.  Those Police officers are the ones that I am proud to be a part of.  They do stand alongside the good people of this country who demand that changes are necessary to evolve our society into one in which we ALL are truly considered equal.

Shawn P. Weaver
Chief of Police
Bellefonte Borough Police Department

Due to the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and related precautions, the Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) and Planning Commission will hold their meetings using a virtual meeting application of which will be recorded and placed on the Borough’s website.

The Borough will not make available any physical location from which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment. Below you will find information on how to offer public comment on agenda items.

The HARB and Planning Commission Agendas will be posted on the Borough’s website at www.bellefonte.net no later than 4:30PM EST Friday prior to each regular meeting.  The Planning Commission meets the 2^nd Monday of the month at 6PM.  The HARB meets the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month at 8:30 AM.

E-MAIL PUBLIC COMMENT– You may submit your public comments via email to [email protected] with the subject “Public Comment”. You must include your name, address and the agenda item.  Emails received by 3:30PM EST on the Monday of the Planning Commission Meeting or by Monday by 3:30PM EST prior to the HARB meeting on Tuesday will be compiled and entered into the public record during the public comment period.

LETTER FORM PUBLIC COMMENT– You may also drop off, in letter form, public comments by putting the letter in our mail slot in our entrance door at 236 West Lamb Street by 3:30PM EST on Monday of the Planning Commission Meeting or by Monday by 3:30PM EST prior to the HARB meeting on Tuesday.  You must include your name, address and the agenda item.   Comments will be compiled and entered into the public record during the public comment period.

REQUEST TO SPEAK-PUBLIC COMMENT-To make a comment during a public hearing, a request to speak must be emailed or put in letter form to the above addresses also by 3:30 p.m. the day of the meeting for the Planning Commission and the day before for the HARB meeting.  Include name, address, phone number and the agenda item.  At the time for public comment, the speaker will be called by the Borough and placed on a speaker.

The Borough offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25. If your refuse would be picked up on Monday, it will be picked up on Wednesday, May 27. Please be sure to have your container out the night before by 6:00 p.m. as the crew will be collecting refuse at an earlier time than usual. There will be no brush/grass container collection on Wednesday, May 27.

Bellefonte Borough received this in an email:

This was in an email for Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority. We thought we would pass it along to our residents.

“A lot has been going on lately with curbside recycling.  My latest column gives you some of our latest guidelines as well as some tips and reminders when recycling curbside.  I have been finding that, these days, reminders have been very helpful to me.”  Amy Schirf

The Hometown Hero Committee has decided to postpone the First Responder Banner program to 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Nastase (The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau/Bellefonte Satellite Office, Train Station, 320 W. High St., Bellefonte, PA 16823) by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling 814-355-2917.