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BELLEFONTE -- Bellefonte Borough Council unanimously authorized the borough manager and solicitor to negotiate and execute a developer agreement for the Bellefonte Waterfront project Monday, while also reviewing the early stages of the borough's 2027 budget and discussing a proposed mobile dental clinic.
The action on the waterfront project came during the council's regular meeting following a work session that included presentations on the One Hand Foundation's mobile dental clinic and the borough's 2027 streetlight and EMS funds.
The developer agreement involves Bellefonte Waterfront Associates 1 and 2 and is intended to address the construction and maintenance of Dunlop Street as part of the waterfront development.
Tommy Songer, a developer involved with the project, told council the agreement represents one of the final steps needed before the project can move toward construction.
"But this is one of the last and final steps that we're going to need to get to the closing table here in a couple weeks for our construction loan on the garage and keep this project moving," Songer said.
Borough Manager David Pribulka said the agreement will establish the relationship between the borough and the grant program and ensure the borough does not incur out-of-pocket costs for the street construction.
"So what we're looking for is just the authorization to execute that agreement and once it's done being negotiated with the waterfront developer, that will enable the final pieces to come together for the recording of the plan and for mobilization of the site, ideally with a construction start date of this fall," Pribulka said.
Pribulka said construction of Dunlop Street would continue into next year.
"And of course that will go well into next year for the full build out of Dunlop Street," Pribulka said.
The motion passed unanimously.
The waterfront project includes a parking garage, commercial space, condominiums and a boutique hotel. The project also calls for Dunlop Street to become a public connection between Lamb and High streets.
During the work session, council also received an overview of the proposed 2027 budget for the streetlight and EMS funds.
Borough staff said the 2027 budget is still being developed and will be reviewed during additional work sessions before council ultimately considers adoption later this year.
The EMS fund is based on a 0.5-mill tax rate, the same rate used in 2026. Staff said the borough does not anticipate increasing the millage for the fund and estimated approximately $50,735 in revenue for 2027.
The EMS fund is generally used for expenses submitted by Bellefonte EMS, including its insurance premium, according to the presentation.
Council also discussed the streetlight fund, which pays for electricity and other expenses associated with the borough's downtown decorative lights and other streetlights.
The borough expects to use $20,000 from the fund's surplus for new infrastructure and lights, while approximately $180,000 will come from the bulk water fund. Officials said some reserves are being carried forward because of uncertainty surrounding future electricity costs.
The 2027 budget is the first budget to incorporate the borough's recently adopted Capital Improvement Program. Staff said capital items are generally defined as having a single-unit cost of at least $2,500 and a useful life of at least one year.
Earlier in the work session, Dr. Wael Jabr, president of the One Hand Foundation, discussed the organization's proposal to bring a mobile pediatric dental clinic to Bellefonte.
Jabr said the State College-based foundation focuses on health, food insecurity and literacy and has served about 1,500 people through its programs over the past year.
"Everything we do has been for free," Jabr said.
The foundation partnered with the Penn State Health Lion Mobile Clinic and held its first dental clinic in State College in June. Jabr said about 30 children were served in three hours.
The organization currently provides dental hygiene services and is working to purchase an X-ray machine that could allow it to expand its services.
"We are in the process of purchasing an x-ray machine so that not only do we do clinic dental hygiene, but also do x-ray and then maybe cavity filling, et cetera," Jabr said.
Jabr said the foundation is looking for a location in Bellefonte where the mobile clinic could be set up. Council discussed the possibility of using space near a local school and working with school officials to identify children who may not have access to dental care.
"We'll start with people that the school knows don't have access to dental care and then identify their needs and hopefully come back and service them," Jabr said.
No council action was taken on the proposed dental clinic during the work session. Council and Jabr discussed possible locations and logistics for a future clinic.
In other business, the council received information about Pennsylvania Sustainability Week, which is scheduled for Oct. 5 through Oct. 9. The borough also received information about a Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization survey seeking feedback from municipalities about transportation grant assistance. The survey is open through Sept. 30.
Council approved its consent agenda after making administrative corrections to names and other errors in the documents. Council also discussed an error in the July treasurer's report. Staff said the July report would be corrected before final ratification.
During reports, council members discussed the Bellefonte Borough Authority and a request to have authority meetings held in council chambers and recorded by C-NET. Council members also received updates on the airport authority, property maintenance code enforcement and other municipal matters.
Council unanimously appointed Borough Manager David Pribulka as the borough's Right-to-Know officer effective Sept. 26. The appointment was made after the council was informed that the current Right-to-Know officer was leaving the position.
Council also approved adding Pribulka as an authorized signer on all associated borough bank accounts.
Another approved agreement will allow Mischief Managed LLC to provide professional digital forensic support services to the Bellefonte Police Department as needed. The services will be billed at $50 per hour.
Pribulka said the demand for digital forensic services is increasing as criminal activity increasingly involves cell phones, computers and other digital devices.
"The demand is great and ever growing for digital forensics and law enforcement with the complexity of the criminal activity being more and more digital and involving cell phones, computers, hardware and software," Pribulka said.
He said the borough would use the company for certain investigations when police department personnel need additional expertise. Council approved the agreement by voice vote.
Council unanimously approved an agreement with The HR Office Inc. for recruitment and placement services and authorized the borough manager to execute the agreement.
Council did not immediately approve the InvoiceCloud service agreement. Instead, it referred the agreement to the Finance and Administration Committee for review and a recommendation to council. The agreement concerns online bill payment and electronic billing services.
No members of the public spoke during the public comment period. During council comments, members discussed work by the borough roads crew following a sinkhole issue that temporarily closed the intersection of West Curtin and North Spring streets and shared information about a retreat for women diagnosed with breast cancer and their loved ones scheduled for Oct. 18. The meeting lasted approximately 96 minutes.