Latest News from the Borough

Charming. Beautiful. Unique. All words used to describe Talleyrand Park. Talleyrand is one of the region’s most visited parks and covers 3.5 acres. Founded in 1974, the all volunteer Talleyrand Park Committee continues to improve and maintain the park, collaborating with the Borough of Bellefonte and the Bellefonte Garden Club, while focusing on Bellefonte’s Victorian heritage and cultural richness.

Purchasing an engraved brick will help support the Talleyrand Park Committee’s ongoing improvements. Your brick—personalized with the name and message selected for yourself or loved one—will be part of Talleyrand’s ongoing history.

• Create a permanent place in the community for yourself, your children or grandchildren
• Promote your business and show community support
• Memorialize a lost loved one
• Honor a soldier or service person

Funds raised during this event will be used to support future improvements to Talleyrand Park. Bricks to be installed near waterfall viewing area, behind the gazebo. Click here for an order form.

The 2019 Centre County West Nile Virus Surveillance and Control season began on April 16.

Bellefonte Borough residents can assist the 2019 County program by eliminating sources of standing water such as unused swimming pools, stagnant ornamental ponds, poorly functioning roof gutters, and especially used tires. If it is feasible, poorly functioning storm water systems should be cleaned out to eliminate standing water. If you are aware of wet areas that are breeding large amounts of mosquitoes, you are asked to contact the County Planning & Community Development Office so samples can be trapped for identification and testing.

Additionally, the County Planning & Community Development Office is responsible for collecting and submitting dead birds for WNV testing. If you have questions concerning dead birds and West Nile Virus, please contact them at 814-355-6791. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) this year is limiting testing to crows, blue jays, hawks, and owls. PADEP will begin accepting dead birds for testing on May 1, 2019.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health website (www.westnile.state.pa.us) contains more information, as well as up-to-date local and statewide surveillance results during the mosquito season.

Please be advised that the deadline to renew the current Hometown Hero banners has passed. If you have not renewed, you will be presented with your banner on November 11th prior to the Veterans Day Services beginning at 10 a.m.

 

The Bellefonte Hometown Hero Banner Committee is proud to offer their third round of honoring our heroes including an exciting new program for first responders. To learn more about this, please review the applications below. Please pay close attention to the deadline dates and the proper applications.

Hometown Hero Banner Application–Veteran       Deadline:  July 31, 2019

Hometown Hero Banner Application–First Responder       Deadline:  April 30, 2020

 

Miscellaneous Plastic Recycling Container Moved in Bellefonte from the Burger King to the CVS

If you recycle miscellaneous plastic in Bellefonte, you may have noticed the container at the Burger King is no longer there.  It, along with the other recycling containers that were previously there, have been moved to the CVS parking lot in Bellefonte.  Click here for a list of all 6 miscellaneous plastic recycling locations and acceptable/unacceptable items.

“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. 

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 is currently 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