Check out what local government boards in Centre County have planned the week of Jan. 15
This week is busy for local governments throughout Centre County, as there are several planning commissions, borough councils and school boards scheduled to meet 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.
Some meetings might stray from their regular schedule this week, as many local government offices are closed on Monday to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Here’s a look at which local government entities and school boards will meet between Jan. 16-20, based on information available on the respective municipality’s or school’s website. This list may be updated as more meeting agendas and schedules become available.
Monday, Jan. 16
The Philipsburg Borough Council typically meets the third Monday of each month and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the borough building, 4 North Centre St., Philipsburg.
It does not appear that agendas are posted to the website.
Council members are Sam Womer, Kathy Kalinosky, Harry Wood, Jerry Lese, Faith Maguire, Harry Wood, Sharon Goss and James Stiver. The mayor is John Streno. The borough can be contacted at 814-342-3440.
The Potter Township Supervisors typically meet the first and third Mondays of each month, with some exceptions, and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the township building, 124 Short Road, Spring Mills. Meeting agendas will be posted online at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, according to the website, at pottertownship.org/2023-township-supervisors.
The supervisors are Dick Decke, Jake Tanis, Melvin Dutrow, Dennis Foust and Glenn Roth. Residents can contact the township at 814-364-9176 or secretary@pottertownship.org. Emails and phone numbers for individual supervisors are available online.
The Burnside Township Supervisors will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Pine Glen Community Building, 609 Pine Glen Road, Karthaus.
Supervisors are Jayson Harter, Brett Umbenhouser and Mike Thompson. Residents can contact the township at 814-360-6327.
The Harris Township Planning Commission typically meets the third Monday of every month and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 in the township meeting room, 224 E. Main St., Boalsburg.
Agendas are posted on the township’s website, www.harristownship.org.
Commission members, which are appointed by the township supervisors, are Chris Gamble, Kent Baker, Amy Lorek, Robert Igo, Jeff Duerr, Jackie Sheader, Richard Manning, and alternates Phill Becker, Charles Risio and Cidalia Cornelio. Residents can contact the township at 814-466-6228 or manager@harristownship.org.
Tuesday, Jan. 17
The executive committee of the Centre Region Council of Governments typically meets the third Tuesday of each month (or the Tuesday preceding the General Forum meeting) at 12:15 p.m. Jan. 17 in the COG general forum room, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College and via Zoom.
Agendas are posted online and the public can register to attend by emailing sbinkley@crcog.net no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting, according to the website. Residents can also send written comments on agenda items to sbinkley@crcog.net in advance of the meeting.
Executive committee members are Carla Stilson (College Township), Lisa Strickland (Ferguson Township), Ron Servello (Halfmoon Township), Frank Harden (Harris Township), Elliot Abrams (Patton Township) and Jesse Barlow (State College Borough). The meeting contact is Scott Binkley, 814-235-7818 or sbinkley@crcog.net. Residents can contact the COG at 814-231-3077.
The Bellefonte Borough Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. for a work session followed by a regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m. The meetings will be livestreamed on C-NET’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@CNetCentreCounty. A recording of the meeting will be available on C-NET’s website, www.cnet1.org.
Agendas are posted online at www.bellefonte.net/government/mayor-borough-council/borough-council/.
The council members are Randy Brachbill, Doug Johnson, Kent Bernier, Deborah Cleeton, Joanne Tosti-Vasey, Johanna Sedgwick, Shawna McKean, Rita Purnell and Barbara Dann. The mayor is Gene “Buddy” Johnson. Residents can contact the borough at 814-355-1501 or the mayor at 814-355-1501 ext. 218, or bjohnson@bellefontepa.gov. Emails for individual board members can be found online.
The Centre County Planning Commission typically meets the third Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise advertised, and will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 in Room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte.
Agendas are posted online, centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter.
The Planning Commission is comprised of members representing the following seven planning regions: Centre Region, Lower Bald Eagle Valley, Moshannon Valley, Mountaintop, Nittany Valley, Penns Valley and Upper Bald Eagle Valley. The members, appointed by the board of commissioners, are Robert Dannaker, Dennis Hameister, Christopher Kunes, Deborah Simoncek, Andrea Pandolfi, Jenn Shufran, Michele L. Barbin and D. Richard Francke.
Residents can contact the Centre County Planning and Community Development Department by contacting Raymond Stolinas, 814-355-6791 or rjstolinas@centrecountypa.gov, or the commission at ccpc@centrecountypa.gov.
The College Township Planning Commission typically meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the township building, 1481 E. College Ave., State College, or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found on the agenda. The meetings are recorded by C-NET.
Agendas are typically posted online, www.collegetownship.org/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4. According to a legal advertisement, the commission will review and comment on the Arize Federal Credit Union preliminary/final land development plan; the proposed project site is located at 1145 Benner Pike.
The commission members, which are appointed by the township council, are Ray Forziat, Ed Darrah, Peggy Ekdahl, Robert Hoffman, William McKibbin, Bill Sharp, Matthew Fenton and Noreen Khoury (alternate). Residents can contact the township at 814-231-3021.
The Ferguson Township Supervisors typically meet for their regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month, with some exceptions, and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the township building, 3147 Research Drive, State College, and on Zoom.
Agendas are typically posted online, www.twp.ferguson.pa.us/node/39/agenda/2023.
The township supervisors are Lisa Strickland, Patricia Stephens, Laura Dininni, Jeremie Thompson and Corey Gracie-Griffin. Residents can contact the township at 814-238-4651.
The Port Matilda Borough Council Typically meets the third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at 400 S. High St.. The borough does not currently have a website but the agenda is posted on the building at least 24 hours before the meeting.
Council members are Mark Lively, Mark Belinda, John Fogleman, Sandra Neal, Bernard Kalt, Joe Bloom and William Hamer, and the mayor is Ida Lively. Residents can contact the borough at 814-692-0092 or portmatildaborough@windstream.net.
The Penns Valley Code Enforcement Agency will have its quarterly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the agency office in the Millheim Borough Building, 225 E. Main St., Millheim. Residents can contact the agency at 814-349-8177.
Wednesday, Jan. 18
The Penns Valley Area School District board will meet for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at Penns Valley Elementary-Intermediate School, 4528 Penns Valley Road, Spring Mills, and via Zoom; the Zoom link will be included with the agenda.
Agendas are posted online, www.pennsvalley.org/apps/pages/BoardOfDirectors. Based on information on a previous work session agenda, the board will take action on school security personnel topics, including creating the position of school police officer.
Board members are Lisa Bierlein, Patricia Battaglia, Scott Butler, Marcia Kimler, Jefrey Wall, Allen Miller, Domer Smeltzer, Barry Sands and Ryan Martin. The district can be contacted at 814-422-2000 and the board can be contacted at board@pennsvalley.org.
Thursday, Jan. 19
The College Township Council typically meets the first and third Thursday of the month, and will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 in the council room on the second floor of the township building, 1481 E. College Ave., State College, and via Zoom. The council meetings are live streamed on C-NET’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@CNetCentreCounty, and a recording will be available on C-NET’s website, www.cnet1.org.
Agendas are posted online, www.collegetownship.org/AgendaCenter.
Council members are Carla Stilson, Dustin Best, Rich Francke, Eric Bernier and Susan Trainor. Residents can contact the township at 814-231-3021 or the council at ctcouncil@collegetownship.org.
The State College Borough Council will hold a joint meeting with the Zoning Revision Advisory Committee and Planning Commission at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the borough building, 243 S. Allen St., State College, Room 304, and via Zoom.
Agendas are typically posted online, www.statecollegepa.us/606/Borough-Council-Agendas-Minutes.
Council members are Jesse Barlow, Deanna Behring, Janet Engeman, Gopal Balachandran, Peter Marshall, Nalini Krishnankutty and Divine Lipscomb. The mayor is Ezra Nanes.
Planning commission members are Zoe Boniface, Josh Portney, Anita Genger, Sarah Klinetob Lowe, Ron Madrid, Mallory Meehan and Dan Meehan.
Residents can contact the borough at 814-234-7100 or boro@statecollegepa.us, the planning department at planningdept@statecollegepa.us and the mayor at mayor@statecollegepa.us.
This story was originally published January 15, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
