City Council

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2020 at 7:30 PM EST AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENT OF COUNCIL MEETING CHANGES DUE TO CORONAVIRUS The Borough of Bellefonte has declared a local state of emergency due to COVID-19 and is closed to the public. Additionally, the Governor has issued a Stay-at-Home order. Bellefonte Borough Council meetings are essential events, therefore they have not been cancelled. However, Bellefonte Borough officials and staff will conduct meetings telephonically or otherwise electronically. 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 and how to watch the meeting. The Council Meeting Agenda will be posted on the Borough’s website at www.bellefonte.net no later than 4:30PM EST Friday prior to the Monday evening meeting. E-MAIL PUBLIC COMMENT– You may submit your public comments via email to boro@bellefontepa.gov with the subject “Public Comment”. You must include your name, address and the agenda item. Emails received by 3:30PM EST 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 the day of the meeting. You must include your name, address and the agenda item. 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. 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. LIVE FEED/RECORDING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS – Borough Council meetings can be viewed live at https://youtu.be/tlDgQY3LfFg and are also recorded. Recordings can be viewed on the Comcast local government education channel – Channel 7 or at www.cnet1.org 7:00 PM ZOOM PRACTICE SESSION – Council and staff participating - Unaired, for Instructional/Technical Purposes 7:30 PM COUNCIL MEETING CALL TO ORDER: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF SILENCE: ROLL CALL: Ms. Walker Mr. Prendergast Mr. Brachbill Ms. Thompson Ms. Cleeton Ms. Tosti-Vasey Mr. Eaton Mayor Wilson Ms. Hombosky Mr. Johnson APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 2, 2020 (March 16, 2020 Meeting Canceled) Given the Declaration of Disaster Emergency in effect, we are suspending the regular meeting agenda to allow for updates and discussion of the current situation as it relates to Bellefonte Borough Government/Public Services. MAYOR Thomas Wilson: Declaration of Emergency Issued March 16th, 2020 Census Drop In Not Available – call borough office 355-1501 x15, call Census Bureau for assistance 1-800-923-8282 or go online to ask.census.gov Thank you to Responders – Fire at Decker Building, South Spring Street Bellefonte Food Assistance – Faith Centre Food Bank, YMCA Backpack Program, others COUNCIL PRESIDENT Joanne Tosti-Vasey: Consider 211 System/services Cancelations and Changes Due to Coronavirus:  Borough Office is closed to the public, call 355-1501, email boro@bellefontepa.gov, use U.S. Mail service, drop off box outside main door, mail slot in main door  Brush/grass collection has been postponed  Street Sweeping has been postponed  Courtesy Parking in effect – only checking for blocked hydrants, vehicles parked too close to intersection, etc.  HARB and Planning Commission Meetings for the Month of April  Bellefonte Borough Authority April 7th meeting  Bellefonte Area IDA April 8th work session  Community Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 11th  PA DCED Blight Tour/Restore PA April 17 th postponed, no new date  Soap Box Derby scheduled for April 25th,26th  Bellefonte Library Novel Con scheduled for May 2nd  Mt Nittany Open Streets event on May 30th  CATA has reduced Services, CATAGO still operating – call 238-2282  Centre County Solid Waste Authority – No curbside recycling pick up, Large bins are located at the municipal lot near CVS and the former National Guard Armory property at Zion and Parkview Blvd.  Musser Lane Compost Facility – contactless, no key deposit/sign out required, adjusted hours are M-Thursday 7am-2pm, Friday 7am-1pm, Saturday 8am-11:45am  Park restrooms are closed. Portable toilets have been placed at Talleyrand and Governors. These are regularly cleaned and stocked. CHIEF OF POLICE Shawn Weaver: CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT Walter Schneider: DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Scott Rhoat: BOROUGH MANAGER Ralph Stewart:  Water, sewer and trash payments – we are offering no late fees, no shut offs, credit card fees being credited to your account, and flexible payment plans.  Reduced/postponed non-life sustaining services, staggered staff with at work/on call status to lessen the spread of potential contamination COUNCIL MEMBERS: PUBLIC COMMENT: CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be acted upon by a single motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of council request specific items to be removed for separate action. Mayor Police Report Mayor Police Exonerations Finance Stover Invoice Finance Voucher Summary February 2020: $2,814,043.95 Finance Treasurers Report February 2020 Finance Budget v Actual February 2020 Finance Budget v Actual Summary February 2020 Finance Current v Prior February 2020 COMMUNICATIONS WRITTEN: Letter Request from GoodSports re Baseball Tournament at Governors Park Letter Request from First Baptist Church OLD BUSINESS Borough Association Resolutions / Health Care Resolution for 2020 PSAB legislative action without new bill number Climate Action Survey online at www.bellefonte.net Pedestrian Bridge Project Bidding Update Historic District “Certified Local Government” status Renewed by PHMC NEW BUSINESS PSAB Conference Information Corona Virus Precautions/changes to the way we do business Lessee resolution Memo Nittany Valley Regional Fire Services Study Meetings/Events to Consider for Cancellation:  Council Committee Meetings  Borough Parks remain open; however, the playground equipment is not being disinfected. We encourage following safe hygiene and social distancing guidelines. Use the playground equipment at your own risk. Any changes to this policy?  Masullo Park Fishing Pier Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - April 11  Bellefonte Complete Counts Committee - April 22 at 3:30 pm - could be done virtually. Currently set up for council chambers.  Fire Executive Board – April 23 at 7 pm & May 28 at 8 pm - probably could be done virtually Currently set up for council chambers  Authorities, Boards and Commission Meetings for May  Watershed cleanup day - Saturday, May 2- Under consideration by Board, Decision forthcoming  Borough-wide yard sale May 15-16  Borough-wide bulk waste collection May 18-22 ADJOURNMENT: TIME_____ PM