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BELLEFONTE -- The Bellefonte Borough Council flew through their agenda during this week's meeting, discussing current, old and new business as well as giving shoutouts to a few members of the community.
Council President Doug Johnson indicated at the start of the meeting that beforehand, they held an executive session in regards to working on an agreement.
There was a long list of written communication items for the council to be made aware of, including:
-- A reminder of the PA Boroughs Association Leadership Conference schedule for October 13-15.
-- A reminder of the Centre County Boroughs Association Fall meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 19 at 6 p.m.
-- The cancellation notice of DBI's Under the Lights Fundraiser Event for October, with an official public announcement to be made by DBI in the near future.
-- The August report from Safer Routes to Parks was distributed in their council packets. The report gave detailed information of what the committee has been up to in the month of August.
Council was also given an update on a community member who had spoken up at a public meeting previously about encroachments by a neighbor on their property. The property owner was sent letters from the borough and authority solicitors giving him notice to remove the encroachments within 60 days.
Council member Kent Bernier commented on the borough's response to the community member's complaint.
"It's a good thing. That property dispute that gentleman brought up, he came to us and (we) were able to send somebody out to help him and resolve it. It was a legitimate complaint and it's being resolved. It's a positive thing that came out of a resident coming here and speaking up," said Bernier.
During Mayor Gene "Buddy" Johnson's report, he gave a shout out to a local student named Caleb V. of BSA Troop 34 with the Juniata Valley Council who achieved scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout as of Feb. 5, 2023. Caleb will be honored later this month.
"The time and dedication that he took. I know the community is very very proud of what he has done and this accomplishment," said Johnson.
Council member Johanna Sedgwick also mentioned Abby Weiser, a local Girl Scout who painted the parking lot of the Saint John Catholic School.
Weiser painted various games onto the pavement of the parking lot, a village of houses, a matchbox track, a theater and even a grocery store with a new ledge and plastic food.
"(She) made it a really creative place for the school kids to play. I was excited to watch her process," said Sedgwick.
Borough staff also opened the bids for the Parkview Heights Stormwater Project during this meeting. They were able to review, approve and select the lowest responsible bid.
The two bids were from John Nastase Construction Inc. and John Claar Excavating Inc.
John Nastase Construction's total base bid was $155,350 and the rock removal was $127.
John Claar Excavating's total base bid was $261,495 and the rock removal was $625.
Borough Manager Ralph Stewart also took time towards the end of the meeting to discuss the 2024 Budget development process.
Borough staff are currently working to develop departmental needs for next year, and the draft fund budgets are to be presented at upcoming work sessions.
"The software is very expensive, we really only have numbers for 2 years out and no numbers beyond that... The information that's most important is the top expenditures of every fund, personnel, electricity, whatever it is we want (council) to see. We're going to put our best efforts forward in developing some ways to express that information through charts," said Stewart.
The intention of this is to take away some of the "homework" for borough members and have all of the information in an easy to read chart.