Here’s what your local government boards in Centre County have planned this week
Between planning commissions and borough council meetings, there are several municipal meetings scheduled this week throughout Centre County, where officials will discuss and take action on items that could have a direct impact on the residents.
It can be hard to know when certain boards meet and to understand what action the members may or may not take. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act requires a local governments to post an agenda, which should include a list of each item of business that will be — or may be — the subject of deliberation or action during the meeting, at the location of the meeting and at the office of the agency. If they have a publicly accessible website, the agenda also has to be posted there, 24 hours ahead of the meeting.
Here’s a look at which local government entities will meet between Jan. 9-13, based on information available on the respective municipality’s website. This list may be updated as more meeting agendas and schedules become available.
Monday, Jan. 9
The Patton Township Planning Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. in the township building meeting room, 100 Patton Plaza, State College. The meetings are livestreamed on CNET’s Youtube channel.
The agenda and Zoom link are available at twp.patton.pa.us/agendacenter. The commission will discuss and potentially make recommendations to the township board of supervisors on items including a subdivision plan for two parcels located at 1062 Ghaner Road, State College, which includes a minor lot line adjustment and replot of two existing residential lots, and a request that the township considers amending the zoning regulations to add climate-controlled public self-storage as an additional permitted use in Patton Township’s C2 District.
Residents can contact Patton Township at 814-234-0271 or patton@twp.patton.pa.us.
The Bellefonte Borough Planning Commission, which typically meets at 5 p.m. the second Monday of the month, has canceled its meeting for January.
The commission members are Dave Lomison, Mark Edwards, James Mills, Robert Dannaker and Dallas Gallo. Residents can contact Bellefonte Borough at 814-355-1501.
The Ferguson Township Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. in the main meeting room at the Ferguson Township building at 3147 Research Drive, State College, and via Zoom.
The agenda and Zoom link are available online, www.twp.ferguson.pa.us/planning-commission. The commission will be reviewing items such as a lot line adjustment to a parcel along West College Avenue, and a sidewalk waiver and a parking waiver for the 125 East Pine Grove Road Preliminary Land Development Plan.
Commission members are Jerry Binney, Ellen Taricani, Rob Crassweller, Ralph Wheland, Bill Keough, Shannon Holliday, Lewis Steinberg, and alternates Qian Zhang, Lisa Rittenhouse and Jennifer Eccleston. Residents can contact the township at 814-238-4651; the planning commission contact is Jenna Wargo, jwargo@twp.ferguson.pa.us.
The State College Borough Council will meet at 6 p.m. for a public hearing, followed by its regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building, 243 S Allen St, State College, and via Zoom.
The agendas for both meetings are available online, www.statecollegepa.us/606/Borough-Council-Agendas-Minutes. The council will hold a public hearing on a request to amend the conditional use permit that allows a parking reduction at the State College Area School District high school property, as the district is proposing construction of a new Physical Plant Building, which will include onsite parking spaces, according to the agenda. The council will have a public hearing on a liquor license transfer request, from Fuiji & Jade Garden to Brothers Bar & Grill, listed at 134 S. Allen Street, State College.
During its regular meeting, the council will take action on a number of items, including a resolution for the cable television franchise for Shenandoah Cable Television, LLC and a resolution to create an advisory committee to assist and advise on matters related to racial equity and social justice in State College.
Council members are Jesse Barlow, Deanna Behring, Janet Engeman, Gopal Balachandran, Peter Marshall, Nalini Krishnankutty and Divine Lipscomb, and the mayor is Ezra Nanes. Residents can contact the borough at 814-234-7100 or boro@statecollegepa.us, and the mayor at mayor@statecollegepa.us.
Tuesday, Jan. 10
The Centre County Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. at the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes Street, Bellefonte. It will be live streamed on CNET’s Youtube channel.
The agenda can be found online at centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter. The board will discuss and take action on a number of items, including considering approval of a $25,000 Fee for Local Use application for the Bellefonte Borough for Spring Street improvements and paving.
The board of commissioners are currently Mark Higgins, Michael Pipe and Steve Dershem. Residents can contact the county at 814-355-6700 or the board at mark@centrecountypa.gov, mike@centrecountypa.gov and sdershem@centrecountypa.gov.
The Bellefonte Borough Council will hold a special work session at 6 p.m. to discuss the short-term rental draft ordinance. The meeting will be held in the council chambers, 236 W. Lamb St., Bellefonte.
The council members are Randy Brachbill, Doug Johnson, Kent Bernier, Deborah Cleeton, Joanne Tosti-Vasey, Johanna Sedgwick, Shawna McKean, Rita Purnell And Barbara Dann. Residents can contact the borough at 814-355-1501. Emails for individual board members can be found online.
The Millheim Borough Council will meet at 7 p.m. at 225 E. Main St., Millheim.
The agenda is available online, www.millheimborough.net/document-category/borough-council-agendas, and includes items such as streets and alley updates for mapping and 911 purposes and reviewing ordinance 273.
The council members are Nickelaus Engle, Cecilia Gallup, Katie Blume, Beth Cowher and Robert Zeigler. Residents can contact the borough at 814-349-5350 or millheim@verizon.net.
The Potter Township Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at the Potter Township Office, 124 Short Road, Spring Mills. An agenda will be posted at least 24 hours ahead of the meeting, according to the website, at pottertownship.org.
Commission members are Scott Floray, Mike Troyan, Michele Foust, Allen Ishler, Dave Henning, Ryan Newman and Glenn Roth. Residents can contact the township at 814-364-9176 or secretary@pottertownship.org.
The Upper Bald Eagle/Halfmoon Council of Governments will meet at 7 p.m. at the Port Matilda Fire Hall.
Wednesday, Jan. 11
The Haines Township Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at the Haines Township Municipal Building, 153 Rachels Way, Aaronsburg. As of noon Monday, an agenda was not available online. Past agendas have been posted at hainestwp.org/township-government/minutes-agendas/.
Commission members are Marlin Fultz, Robert Conklin, Austin Lewis and Samuel Derugen. Residents can contact the township at 814-349-8193 or hainestownship@verizon.net.
Thursday, Jan. 12
The Benner Township Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Township Building, 1224 Buffalo Run Road, Bellefonte. As of noon Monday, an agenda has not been posted online.
Commission members are Randy Moyer, Lee Copper, Lynn Chaplin, Willis Houser, Judson Mantz, Rick Weaver and Jim Lanning. Residents can contact the township at 814-355-1419 or bennertwp@aol.com.
This story was originally published January 8, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
