Trending
BELLEFONTE -- During its meeting earlier this week, Bellefonte Borough Council addressed several police-related matters, including parking enforcement, a procedural change to a police ordinance and the establishment of promotion and hiring eligibility lists for officers.
The issue of parking enforcement was raised by Gary Landon, owner of Happy Wraps in Bellefonte, who says he has witnessed firsthand how inadequate parking enforcement negatively impacts businesses, residents and visitors to the community.
"I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding the ongoing parking challenges in downtown Bellefonte, particularly the lack of enforcement of existing parking regulations," Landon wrote in an email to council.
Landon alleged that two-hour meter limits, 15-minute short-term spaces and designated paid parking zones are inconsistently enforced and that citations for violators are infrequent.
"This lack of enforcement results in a situation where it is more economical for some individuals to risk occasional fines rather than purchase a legitimate parking pass," said Landon.
He attested that he has noticed customers struggling to find convenient parking near the businesses they wish to support, adding the issue is particularly challenging for customers who only need a few moments to pick up an order.
"Older customers, in particular, find this to be an ongoing challenge," he noted.
Landon recommended the borough increase the number of enforcement personnel and suggested efforts to educate frequent violators on legal parking options to help them comply with regulations more easily.
"Those who follow the rules should not be at a disadvantage while others take advantage of lenient oversight," he said.
Council President Barbara Dann responded briefly to the letter, saying that "police and parking are aware of this and are working on it."
Also at the meeting, Chief of Police Bill Witmer requested an amendment to Chapter 108 of the Borough Code to align with the department's collective bargaining agreement between its police officers and council.
Currently, the ordinance classifies the role of sergeant as a "line officer" (a command position), similar to the offices of chief, captain and lieutenant, which are excluded from collective bargaining. This means sergeants cannot be included in the negotiation of wages, hours or other subjects typically covered by the agreement.
However, for the past several years, sergeants have been included in collective bargaining agreements.
"We need to establish a clear definition, because right now, the ordinance states that the sergeant position is not part of the collective bargaining, meaning they don't have to follow it, but in our contract for the collective bargaining, they are listed as having to follow (the agreement)," said Witmer, who explained that he is seeking to clarify the definition of the sergeant role within the context of the bargaining agreement.
Witmer requested that sergeants be removed from the list of line officers to ensure consistency with the rules governing collective bargaining.
"To take (sergeants) out of collective bargaining, it would probably have to go through arbitration," Witmer explained. "It probably should have been changed way back when, but it never was, and now I'm trying to clarify it because we can't have it both ways."
Witmer's request to advertise the ordinance amendment will be on council's agenda April 21 for a vote.
Finally, the council also approved the establishment of promotion and hiring eligibility lists for the police department for 2025.
In other business council:
-- Announced that Centre County Transportation Authority Director David Lomison will attend their work session on May 5 to "explain how his program would work and how it would benefit (the borough)," and discuss Bellefonte's B-Line Service for fiscal year 2026, according to Councilwoman Deb Cleeton. Cleeton also noted that while the original funding request was for $40,000, it was later updated to be closer to $60,000. The Transit Task Force, which has been meeting with the county office of transportation, says they are preparing to propose a more cost-effective solution for county residents' transportation needs.
-- Opened bids for stamp pavement work for new crosswalks in the borough, to be funded by Centre County Liquid Fuels money. Bids were received from Laurel Asphalt, which bid $93,183.20, and Pavement Impressions, Inc., which bid $64,393.40. Council approved a motion for staff to review the bids and accept the offer from the lowest bidder.
-- Noted former borough manager Ralph Stewart's resignation from the Centre County Airport Authority.
-- Discussed a potential free public accommodations training for municipalities and businesses in Bellefonte.
"It would be learning about protections under the Commonwealth and federal law, with a focus on reasonable accommodations and accessibility for individuals with disabilities," said Councilwoman Joanne Tosti-Vasey.
The training will also cover First Amendment limitations for public speeches, which she suggested would be helpful in light of the Borough's questions regarding Talleyrand Park.
-- Approved a motion to coordinate with the administration to contact the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) for the training at their convenience.
-- Approved their consent agenda.
-- Approved two SALDO (subdivision and land development ordinances) projects reviewed and recommended for approval by The Bellefonte Planning Commission: the preliminary/final plan for the Centre County Community Services Building parking lot expansion and a lot addition of land from Edward S. and Kristine K. Ranio.
-- Approved the Sunnyside Paddle Park Submerged Lands License Agreement.
-- Selected Deb Cleeton as an alternate delegate for PSAB's Annual Conference voting, as Doug Johnson is no longer able to attend.
-- Appointed Deb Burger to the Centre County Tax Collection Committee.