Ballot questions for an environmental bill of rights in State College and a reduced age requirement to serve as Ferguson Township supervisor received voter approval Tuesday.

The borough ballot question asked if voters wanted an environmental bill of rights, outlining citizens’ rights to water, clean air and sustainable energy, and also a ban on natural gas drilling.

The local group Groundswell PA advocated for the question, collecting enough signatures to place it on the ballot.

Five of seven Borough Council members wrote a letter to the editor to the CDT opposing the idea, because it could open the borough to litigation. State law limits local control over drilling.

Groundswell founder and 2011 Penn State graduate Braden Crooks led the push for the home rule charter amendment.

“The will of the people needs to be implemented and respected,” he said. “It sends a very clear message to Harrisburg that this drilling industry might run Harrisburg, but they don’t run our town,” he said.

In Ferguson Township, voters approved removing the requirement that an elected supervisor be 21.

Now supervisors must have lived in the township and been a registered voter for a at least one year, placing the minimum age at 19.

Supervisors approved placing the question on the ballot when Elliott Killian, 19, received primary write-in nominations from both parties and requested the change to be more in line with state law, which allows citizens to serve as supervisors at age 18.

Killian was the only candidate running in Ward 3, and, with passage of the referendum now will be able to take that seat.

“I think it’s great that Ferguson is being current,” Killian said. “I hope through serving ... I’ll encourage younger people to get involved.”

Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910.