A Bellefonte Borough Council member of more than a decade is stepping down at the end of July as he prepares to move out of the area.
Council on Monday accepted the resignation of Randy Brachbill effective July 30.
Brachbill, who has held a South Ward seat since 2014, said he and his wife, Cathy, are moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“It has been an honor to serve the residents of the Borough and work alongside fellow Council members, staff, volunteers, and community partners during my time in office,” Brachbill wrote in his resignation letter. “I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the community and wish the Borough continued success moving forward.”
Brachbill currently serves on the Workplace Safety Committee, Bellefonte Fire Executive Board, Civil Service Commission, Spring Creek Watershed Commission and Centre Region Council of Governments Public Safety Committee.
Council President Doug Johnson, who has worked with Brachbill since they were both planning commission years ago, praised his colleague’s service to the borough.
“We’ve had disagreements, but we’ve also had more agreements than we’ve had disagreements and I really appreciate you on this council,” Johnson said. “Your due diligence is beyond recognition when you are looking at something. I looked at the list of spots we’re going to have to fill in your absence… and you’ve been great at all of those. I hope that wherever you are going or doing that it’s successful for you.”
Brachbill is a lifelong Bellefonte area resident who graduated from the Bellefonte Area School District and Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. He worked in facilities management for more than 30 years, retiring from AccuWeather as vice president of facilities in 2019.
He said it’s been a dream for him and his wife to move to Myrtle Beach.
“And that’s what we’re doing. I’m gonna smile all the way down until we get there,” Brachbill said. “So thank you all. I appreciate everybody that’s at this table and those who aren’t with us anymore. It was fun. But sometimes you just got to give it up and go the right way.”
The remaining eight council members will have 30 days from the date of Brachbill’s resignation to appoint a replace who will serve the remainder of his term ending Dec. 31, 2027. If they cannot agree on an appointment by then, it will be referred to the borough’s Vacancy Board, which the council members also will sit on, Borough Manager David Pribulka said.
Information about applications and the process for appointing an interim member will be distributed at a later date, Pribulka said.
