BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough Council approved two new lease agreements for local businesses and finalized its 2026 paving schedule during its recent meeting.

The leases, which include an expansion of My Cafe Buzz and a new office for a local psychologist, give the businesses access to borough-owned property under terms designed to encourage commercial and professional activity. Meanwhile, council adjusted their annual paving list to accommodate upcoming stormwater projects, awarding the contract to HRI, Inc. for nearly $82,000.

Council gave conditional approval to a lease agreement with C&L Lingle Real Estate, LLC for a small borough-owned parcel adjacent to My Cafe Buzz on West High Street.

The site will be used as an extension of the cafe and for related business activities. The terms permit commercial uses allowed in the Waterfront Business District, including electric bike rentals, outdoor cafe space and other approved recreational uses.

The lease, which was previously drafted several years ago but never finalized, includes an automatic renewal provision. However, Tosti-Vasey raised concerns about the lack of a formal review process, noting similar issues in past agreements. She proposed adding a clause requiring the borough to review the lease every four years, which council approved unanimously along with the lease itself.

Council also approved a lease agreement with Revival Room, LLC for Office Suite 130 in the Bellefonte Borough Administration Building.

Under the terms of the agreement, the space will be leased at an annual rate of $6,762 and used for professional services. The suite has been vacant for approximately a year, and the tenant, a psychologist, plans to use the office to see patients.

That lease was also approved unanimously.

Council’s final major action was a revision to the borough’s paving list for 2026.

The Streets, Infrastructure and Public Works Committee recommended awarding the 2026 paving contract to HRI, Inc. in the amount of $81,989. HRI was selected over Big Rock Paving, the only other bidder, for the contract.

The recommendation called for the removal of East Lamb Street, Locust Lane and the East Lamb Street/Wilson Street intersection from the paving schedule due to stormwater projects that must be completed beforehand.

Councilmember Claudia Wilson asked when those streets would be added back into the paving cycle.

“I do not (know). That’s based on budget,” said Johnson. “It most likely would be next year.”

The approved paving list includes North Potter Street, Parkwood Drive, Hale Lane, Badger Lane and West Ardell Lane.

In other business:

— Clearwater Conservancy Watershed Cleanup Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026. To volunteer and view event details, visit www.clearwaterconservancy.org.

— Officials announced the Bellefonte Borough Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public hearing Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m., in the large meeting room at 301 N. Spring St., Bellefonte. The hearing will address a request for a variance from the zoning ordinance’s sign provisions to allow Reliance Bank to install an electronic message center sign at 801 E. Bishop St.

— Mayor Johnson proclaimed April 2026 as Safe Digging Month. The designation coincides with the typical start of spring outdoor projects and reminds excavators and homeowners to call 811 at least three business days before digging to ensure underground utility lines are properly marked. Calling 811 helps prevent injuries and reduces the risk of utility outages.

— Council discussed whether to return the property at 167 S. Potter St. to the jurisdiction of Centre Region Code Administration for continued code enforcement. Tosti-Vasey said the borough has not had oversight of the property for about eight years and noted concerns about liability and ensuring the building is safe for public use. She added that officials also want to see the future tenant, the Bellefonte Bread Baker, open as soon as possible. Further delays would delay the business opening.

“The borough cannot, or will not, continue to take the liability of the building, and the best procedure — or way forward to resolve this — is to reinstate Centre Region Code,” said Johnson. “Centre Region Code will then work with Gina [Thompson], David Pibulka, the owners of the property and the Bellefonte Bread Baker to come to a resolution that all would be happy with.”