BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough Council on Monday heard a regional proposal aimed at addressing growing public service costs tied to tourism and large-scale events, while also approving an ordinance update and a feasibility study for a potential pedestrian trail connection.
During a work session preceding the regular meeting, consultant Mike Negra of Allegheny Strategy Partners presented a “regional local government revenue innovation and sustainability plan,” a six-month study examining how municipalities across the Centre Region might better fund emergency services strained by increasing visitation.
“Our services are being really stretched,” Negra said. “Fire, ambulance, 911 management — they’re being stretched not by everyday issues, but by the large events that are occurring in the center region.”
Negra noted that approximately “60% of their police calls are alcohol driven” in some areas and said the study is exploring long-term funding solutions, including potential hotel or drink taxes, rather than relying on property taxes.
“We’re looking for ways to have the visitors who are coming in here chime in for some of the expenses that we’re experiencing,” he said.
Participation in the study would come at a prorated cost based on factors such as liquor licenses. Borough Manager David Pribulka said Ferguson Township paid about $4,000 to participate.
Council took no action Monday but plans to review the proposal further through committee discussion before the end-of-May deadline.
In other business, council unanimously approved an amendment to its peddling and soliciting ordinance. Council member Joanne Tosti-Vasey said the changes were made “to bring the ordinance into compliance under the United States Constitution, First Amendment, and to clarify the difference between solicitation and door knocking, basically for nonprofits.”
Council also approved a $5,950 proposal from Stahl Sheaffer Engineering for a feasibility study examining a potential pedestrian connection between Talleyrand Park and Masullo Park.
The study, which came in under the borough’s $6,000 budget, will evaluate options for linking the parks via an abandoned railroad spur and may include potential pedestrian bridges over Spring Creek and Logan Run.
“The project is to look where to create a pedestrian walkway from the train station to the start of our portion of the railroad spur, and whether it is feasible to construct one or two pedestrian bridge crossings,” Tosti-Vasey said.
Council also heard an annual report from C-NET Executive Director Cindy Hahn, who announced her upcoming retirement after years of service. Hahn reported that the organization produced 496 programs in 2025 and that Bellefonte council meetings average more than 200 online views.
Council President Doug Johnson read a letter thanking Hahn for her “commitment to supporting local government” and for helping promote transparency.
Additionally, council recognized Centre Gives, a 36-hour online fundraising event supporting local nonprofits, proclaiming May 6-7 as “Centre Gives Days” in the borough.
In public comment, local postal worker Donald Townsend reminded residents of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual food drive scheduled for May 9, encouraging residents to leave donations by their mailboxes.
