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BELLEFONTE -- Bellefonte Borough Council is sending a letter to the Centre Area Transportation Authority Board in order to express its displeasure with a nearly ten-fold increase notice after its 2024 budget was already adopted.
Council also voted to use CATA services "up to the budgeted amount for calendar year 2024." The borough will be notifying CATA before their deadline on June 30 regarding 2025 services.
During public comment, one speaker stressed to the board just how important the CATAGo service is to those she works with on a regular basis.
“The situation is dire... We have a mandatory loss of license. (Individuals in our program) have no other way to get where they need to go other than public transportation or finding a ride with someone else. They’re required to be at the courthouse 5-7 days out of the week to do different things for our program. It’s a highly intensive program and it requires a lot of effort from them to make sure they’re maintaining their sobriety, and that they’re being a productive member of society, and CATA Go is essential to that. I have individuals who will quite literally end up back in state prison if that resource goes away," she said.
The borough published an update letter from Mark Parfitt, Chair of CATA's Board of Directors, that was sent the Friday before the latest meeting, which can be found at bellefonte.net/2024/update-letter-from-cata-to-bellefonte-borough.
Parfitt expresses CATA's expectations for the borough in the letter, and the notion that if the borough is not willing to commit to the plan presented CATA will "proceed under the assumption that Bellefonte Borough plans to discontinue its contract relationship with CATA."
At the end of the letter, Parfitt notes that he is "very disappointed with the residents of Bellefonte and the way they directed their anger at CATA" and notes that "CATA is under no obligation to provide future service in Bellefonte."
Parfitt writes, "Your residents behaved like they are entitled to CATA services. They are not."
The board heard from Junior Borough Member Christian Larson who gave his first report regarding school activities.
"The school has currently been operating on a normal schedule, and we started the 3rd quarter about two weeks ago. In the last week, 9th and 10th graders have been working on their MAPS testing," said Larson.
MAPs testing is used to measure a student's knowledge in their core subjects and their growth.
"Upperclassmen have been working on their career development. We've had people come in and we could ask them separate questions about what their lifestyle is like, what their schooling was like and what they do in their career. We get shadowing opportunities for it," said Larson.
He also informed council that the Class of 2025 is holding a blood drive on Feb. 12, where teachers and staff are invited to participate. The National Honors Society is also holding a book drive and is asking for donations.
"Student council and MiniTHON are (also) looking for donations for children with cancer," said Larson.
For this meeting's Mayor Spotlight, Mayor Gene "Buddy" Johnson gave a shout out to the Bellefonte Borough Refuse crew.
"They do an incredible job in rain, snow and all sorts of conditions, and they're a very big part of our community. I just wanted to recognize (them) for everything they do for our community," said Johnson.