PHOTO PROVIDED / Council member Doug Johnson at the Jan. 5, 2026, Bellefonte Borough Council meeting in which he was appointed council president.

PHOTO PROVIDED / Council member Deborah Cleeton at the Jan. 5, 2026, Bellefonte Borough Council meeting, where she was appointed council vice president.

BELLEFONTE — In its first meeting of the year, Bellefonte Borough Council reorganized its leadership, welcoming longtime council member Doug Johnson once again into the role of president and council member Deborah Cleeton into the role of vice president.

Johnson, who succeeds former President Barbara Dann, last served as council president in 2023.

Under an agreement established in early 2022, the council reorganizes and rotates its leadership annually.

Directly following the Pledge of Allegiance, Dann motioned to step down from her position, and Johnson, the former vice president, was unanimously approved to assume the top role. Immediately after, Mayor Gene “Buddy” Johnson handed the gavel to Johnson to signify his ascendance to the presidency.

Assuming the role of vice president is Cleeton, who in 2025 served as council Pro Tempore.

Recently reelected council member Jon Eaton, who last served on borough council in 2022, then made a motion to nominate Joanne Tosti-Vasey as council Pro Tempore to replace Cleeton. In a competing motion, Cleeton nominated council member Randy Brachbill for the position.

Voting in favor of Tosti-Vasey were council members Eaton, Johnson, Shawna McKean, Zach Kelly, Claudia Wilson and Tosti-Vasey. Voting against were Brachbill, Cleeton and Dann. Tosti-Vasey secured the role with the 6-3 vote.

Johnson, Cleeton and Tosti-Vasey each expressed their gratitude for being selected for their respective roles before turning their attention to current and old business — at which time council addressed appointments to several borough authorities, boards and commissions.

These appointments included:

Council

— Reappointed Gregory Brown to the Bellefonte Borough Authority for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2031.

— Reappointed Phil Ruth to the Historic Architectural Review Board for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2031.

— Reappointed David Lomison to the Planning Commission for a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2030.

— Reappointed Lanny King to the Zoning Hearing Board for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2031.

— Reappointed Centre Region Code as the borough’s Sewage Enforcement Officer. The organization stepped into the role last year after the retirement of SEO Stan Wallace.

— Appointed Jennifer Cifelli to the Centre County Library Board for a three-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2029.

— Appointed Jean Gerber to the Vacancy Board for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2031.

Details about each of these authorities, boards and commissions are available online at bellefonte.net/government/authorities-boards-and-commissions/.

Continuing its focus on filling roles, council also unanimously directed staff to prepare and issue a Request for Proposals for solicitor services for borough council.

According to Johnson, the borough seeks requests for proposals every two to three years to ensure the best possible terms.

In other business, council noted:

— Christmas Trees will be collected by the Bellefonte Borough Refuse Crew from now through Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. A separate truck will travel throughout the borough in the mornings to collect the discarded trees. There is no additional charge for Christmas Tree pick up. Questions may be directed to the borough office at 814-355-1501.

— Bellefonte Borough Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 20, instead of Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.