BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough Council on Monday awarded more than $925,000 in contracts for the Talleyrand Stage project, moving the long-planned park improvement closer to construction.

However, attention quickly shifted to lingering questions about its impact on the town’s water supply and restroom requirements tied to the project, including who will fund construction and assume long-term maintenance responsibilities.

Council voted 7-1 to award Mid-State Construction the general construction contract for the stage, with a bid of $820,000, and Westmoreland Electric the electrical contract, with a bid of $105,999.

Councilman Jon Eaton cast the lone dissenting vote on the bids, saying, “I’m going to vote no because I fear for the future.”

Throughout the meeting, Eaton and Council President Doug Johnson, who abstained, raised concerns about the safety of Bellefonte’s Big Spring–the drinking-water source for Bellefonte, Milesburg and several nearby townships–and the potential long-term obligation the borough could face in maintaining restrooms required by the Centre Region Code Administration.

Concerns related to the protection of the Big Spring were largely addressed, in large part through contingencies attached to the general construction contract.

The contract requires the project’s architects, Hoffman Leakey Architects, of Bellefonte, to validate the scope of work included in the bid proposals and calls for the borough to work with Mid-State Construction to develop a response plan in the “unlikely” event groundwater is encountered during foundation work for the stage.

According to Borough Manager David Pribulka, a site assessment commissioned by the Friends of Talleyrand–the group behind the stage–found no groundwater or harmful residue from a former gas station that once occupied the site.

“That being said, because of its proximity to the Big Spring and the importance of the Big Spring as a resource to borough residents and others, we believe it is important that the contractor have a plan in place that’s approved by borough staff and the architect that provides for contingencies in the event they hit groundwater,” Pribulka said.

The contractor was also asked to conduct preliminary testing to ensure pre- and post-construction measurements show no harmful effects to the spring, Pribulka said, adding that he and the architect will meet with the contractor to review contingencies and evaluate the scope of work before it proceeds.

Eaton asked Pribulka to bring data from previous site assessments to cross-reference and help validate the most recent study.

The more contentious discussion centered on restroom requirements imposed by the Centre Region Code Administration.

According to Rick Jacobs, of the Friends of Talleyrand, the requirement for a public restroom within 500 feet of the structure was not raised with developers or borough officials until roughly six months ago.

Prior to Monday’s meeting, stakeholders reached an agreement with the code administration allowing temporary restroom facilities at the site for the first five years of operation. After that period, however, the stage’s certificate of occupancy would be revoked unless permanent restrooms are installed elsewhere in the park.

That condition sparked debate over who would be responsible for funding the required facilities.

Johnson said that, absent outside funding, the burden would ultimately fall on the borough, despite earlier indications that the municipality did not intend to assume financial responsibility for the project. Eaton, who also serves on the Bellefonte Borough Authority, said the authority similarly does not support funding construction or maintenance of restrooms.

Councilwoman Joanne Tosti-Vasey said that the stage’s current funding structure supports construction of the stage itself and said the Friends group intends to continue fundraising efforts for additional components.

Jacobs said he raised the issue of shared restroom costs in a 2022 letter to borough officials and the authority, but said he did not receive a response. He added that while the group has sufficient funds to construct the stage, it has not secured full funding for the restroom facilities.

“This isn’t just for the stage, it’s also for the park. It’s for the community,” Jacobs said. “We’d like to build the bathrooms — there should be restrooms on that side of the park — but we need some help, and we’d like to have a plan that shows that we’re not the only ones doing it.”

Eaton also raised concerns about long-term maintenance, including cleaning and staffing costs, if the borough ultimately assumes responsibility.

“If we’re taking on putting in a bathroom at that end of the park then we have a long-term item that we’re going to have to maintain daily,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing, but it’s going to require maintenance. It’s going to require some costs.”

He added that Bellefonte already devotes significant resources to park funding compared to surrounding municipalities and said any restroom plan must include a clear funding strategy for ongoing costs.

On the other hand, Councilwoman Claudia Wilson said she would have supported borough participation in restroom construction were she on council at the time, arguing the project would increase park usage and benefit downtown businesses.

“I think the project will add to the use of the downtown. It’ll bring people in, it’ll create opportunities for businesses and the more that area is used, the more that having a bathroom that is far away to get to becomes a problem,” Wilson said, noting the site’s proximity to accessible parking. “I understand the financial implication, but I think the suggestion that we work together… is something that we should definitely commit to as a council.”

In other business, council took action or commented on several items, including upcoming community events, road closures, a council vacancy and several appointments to local committees and commissions.

Tire

Collection Event

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA) will hold a tire collection event Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 253 Transfer Road in Bellefonte.

Only tires 43 inches in diameter and smaller will be accepted, including car and light truck tires, motorcycle tires, ATV tires and bicycle tires. Participants are limited to 12 tires per appointment.

CCRRA will not accept shredded tires or tires filled with mud or debris.

Registration is required through Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/tire-collection-event-saturday-september-12-2026-tickits-1989026240027?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Participants should bring a printed ticket or have a digital confirmation available. Check-in can also be completed by providing a name upon arrival.

The event is open to Centre County residents only.

Bellefonte Cruise Road Closures

The Bellefonte Cruise, a Father’s Day weekend tradition since 1989, will return to Historic Bellefonte with a showcase of classic, exotic, antique and European cars and motorcycles.

The event also includes a Friday night sock hop, live music and food vendors.

Temporary road closures and parking restrictions will be in place Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, during cruise activities.

Portions of High, Allegheny and Howard streets will be closed to accommodate the car show, vendors and related events.

Residents are encouraged to plan ahead, use alternate routes and observe all posted parking restrictions and detour signage, Borough Manager David Pribulka said.

Registration for participants is still open at www.bellefontecruise.org/registration-judging.

South Ward Council

Member

Vacancy

Bellefonte Borough Council will soon begin accepting letters of interest and resumes to fill a vacant South Ward council seat. The seat is currently held by Councilman Randy Brachbill, who will serve his final day July 30 as he relocates to South Carolina.

Applications may be submitted to Alyssa Doherty at adoherty@bellefontepa.gov or delivered to the Bellefonte Borough Administrative Office, 301 N. Spring St.

Submissions will be accepted from June 29 through July 30, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

Appointments

Council also made several appointments to a number of committees and commissions.

Council appointed Charles Witmer to the Civil Service Commission. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2029.

Council also appointed Borough Manager David Pribulka to the Bellefonte Fire Department Executive Committee.

Councilwoman Deb Cleeton was appointed to the Bellefonte Borough Workplace Safety Committee, and Councilman Jon Eaton was appointed to the Spring Creek Watershed Commission.