BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough council voted Aug. 8 to promote its part-time officer to full-time as part of a larger discussion about policing in the community
The borough has been down an officer as Chief Shawn Weaver has been recovering from an injury that will keep him from his duties for six weeks.
Stephanie Cooper, a Bellefonte attorney, argued during public comment in favor of hiring more officers and praised the job of school resource officers. She said since she sometimes defends juveniles, she has been aware of the drug problems in the community and in local schools. Cooper, who also said she sometimes defends those arrested by Bellefonte police, spoke in favor of having 13 officers on staff and adding detectives for investigations.
Mayor Tom Wilson said the discussion on policing will continue and he hopes to arrange a future public forum for the community to give their views. Before the Aug. 8 voting meeting, council and the public discussed issues in community policing.
In other news, borough council voted in favor of moving forward with two municipal parking lot upgrade projects that would also bring with them an electric car charging station in each.
“Lot A,” behind the Bellefonte Art Museum, First National Bank, F&AM Lodge No. 268 and New Horizons Real Estate Co. along North Allegheny Street, will see improvements, including a change in layout, green space and trees. Todd Smith, of ELA Group, said a speed hump on West Pike Street also will slow traffic for those backing out of the spaces on the southern end of the lot.
“Lot H,” on the far side of the railroad tracks near Talleyrand Park and CVS, will see similar improvements and the replacement of the retaining wall on the western end of the lot. Right now, both entrances have traffic entering from West High Street. The new plan calls for an entrance and exit along West High Street. Grass and curbs will better define the lot from Meek Lane and CVS parking lot.
Parking meters will be replaced by a parking kiosk in the northeast corner of the lot, which will encourage walkers to exit there instead of crossing the railroad tracks to get to Talleyrand Park or the business district.
Assistant borough manager Don Holderman said they do not yet have an estimated cost, but the borough has $200,000 budgeted for the project.
Bids will be going out soon. Lot A work is expected to begin in April and finish in June, with Lot H to begin in June and finish in August.
