BELLEFONTE — During a July 20 work session, Bellefonte Borough officials unveiled the community’s Capital Improvement Program, a five-year planning document designed to help council anticipate major equipment, technology, infrastructure and staffing needs through 2031.
Borough Manager David Pribulka stressed the plan is a planning tool rather than authorization to spend money.
“This is not an official action of Borough Council to authorize the expenditure of any money,” Pribulka said. “That’s done through the annual operating budget.”
The proposal identifies capital projects costing at least $2,500 with an expected useful life of at least one year. Council will continue reviewing the plan before considering adoption at its Aug. 3 meeting.
Among the priorities are the Bellefonte Police Department’s vehicle replacement schedule, technology upgrades and replacement of aging body armor. Police Chief Bill Witmer said establishing a consistent vehicle rotation will help reduce maintenance costs while ensuring officers have reliable equipment. Part of that equipment also includes computer upgrades.
“We do everything through computers,” Witmer said. “The officers really can’t do their job out in the field without a computer.”
The department is also planning for a future detective vehicle, replacement of in-car computers and eventually a new computer server as existing equipment reaches the end of its service life.
The Office of Community Affairs proposed several long-term planning initiatives, including zoning ordinance updates, development of a recreation, parks and open space plan, creation of an official municipal map and implementation of wayfinding signage throughout the borough.
Officials said much of the design work for the signage system has already been completed and future grants could help offset construction costs. The project would include directional signs to key destinations and updated “Welcome to Historic Bellefonte” signs.
General administration requests include redesigning the borough’s website to meet upcoming accessibility requirements, replacing an aging computer server and eventually implementing enterprise software that would combine accounting, permitting, utility billing, human resources and other borough operations into one system.
The proposed plan also outlines possible staffing additions over the next five years, including converting the community development and HARB coordinator position to full time, adding a full-time parks maintenance employee, a future police officer and additional support for the Office of Community Affairs if development activity increases.
Earlier in the regular meeting, council recognized retiring member Randy Brachbill for 14 years of service. State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-171, presented Brachbill with a citation, a Pennsylvania state flag that had flown over the State Capitol and a commemorative America250 ornament.
Council also announced that Councilwoman Shawna McKean has submitted her resignation. Her departure creates a second vacancy on the nine-member council alongside the previously announced South Ward opening. Residents interested in serving are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and resume to the borough.
Council also accepted the borough’s 2025 audit, which received an unmodified, or “clean,” opinion from independent auditors, the highest opinion available. Auditors reported the borough ended 2025 in a stronger financial position than anticipated.
“It’s good news,” Pribulka said of the audit. “All our pension plans are doing very well.”
