Here’s what local government boards in Centre County have planned the week of Feb. 19
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 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 and school boards will meet during the week of Feb. 19 based on information available on the respective municipality’s or school’s website, and legal advertisements. Some boards may stray from their normal meeting schedule this week due to Presidents Day.
This list may be updated as more meeting agendas and schedules become available.
Monday, Feb. 20
The Philipsburg Borough Council typically meets the third Monday of each month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the borough building, 4 N. 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 the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in the conference room at 124 Short Road, Spring Mills.
Agendas are posted online, pottertownship.org/2023-township-supervisors. The board will receive a presentation about the planning and design of a small flow treatment facility from Tom Levine of Levine Engineering, as well as a separate presentation on “The Horizon” from John Sepp of Penn Terra Engineering and Jules Loesch.
The agenda has a number of items for discussion, and in some cases, potential action. Agenda items include mowing and maintenance contracts for 2023, a job description for the Potter Athletic Complex manager, concessions at the Potter Athletic Complex, rental fees for use of the Potter Athletic Complex Facility for non-baseball related programs, proposed amendments to bylaws and appointment of board of directors for the Tri-Municipal Park, Inc. The board will also hear an update on the local services tax joint municipal agreement with Penns Valley EMS.
Supervisors are Dick Decker, Jake Tanis, Melvin Dutrow, Dennis Foust and Glenn Roth. Residents can contact the township at 814-364-9176 or secretary@pottertownship.org. Phone numbers for individual supervisors are available online.
The State College Area School District board will meet at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Panorama Village Administration Building, 240 Villa Crest Drive, State College. The meetings will be a hybrid combination of remote and in-person.
Agendas are available online, go.boarddocs.com/pa/stco/Board.nsf/Public. The board will potentially take action on several items, including to approve a Title IX engagement letter with Fox Rothschild for athletics. The letter included in the agenda states “as a result of the allegations made about the District’s athletic programs we have decided to hire an independent Title IX expert to conduct an audit of both our athletic programs and our club sports programs.”
The board will also discuss a proposal to start a girls wrestling team for the 2023-2024 winter season.
Board members are Peter Buck, Carline Crevecoeur, Dan Duffy, Gretchen Brandt, Deborah Anderson, Laurel Zydney, Amy Bader and Jacqueline Huff. Residents can contact the district at 814-231-1011 or the board at all-board@scasd.org. Emails for individual board members are available online, www.scasd.org/Page/627.
Tuesday, Feb. 21
The Centre County Commissioners typically meet at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte. It will be livestreamed on CNET’s Youtube channel.
The agenda can be found online at centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter. The board will consider a $28,000 contract with ElectionIQ, LLC to provide custom software for poll workers and inventory management and approval of the award notification of $99,500 for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant in aid. The board will also consider approval of the Countywide Action Plan Block Grant Subaward Projects, including $48,222 toward Ridenour Farm in-stream restoration project located in a tributary to Pine Creek near Aaronsburg, $34,660 toward a Spring Creek (Benner Springs) Stream restoration project and $26,712 toward Spring Creek Chapter Trout Unlimited Oak Hall project.
The commissioners are Mark Higgins, Amber Concepcion and Steve Dershem. Residents can contact the county at 814-355-6700 or the board at mark@centrecountypa.gov, aConcepcion@centrecountypa.gov and sdershem@centrecountypa.gov.
The Centre Region Council of Governments’ Executive Committee typically meets the third Tuesday of each month (or the Tuesday preceding the General Forum meeting) and will meet at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 21 in the COG general forum room, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College, and via Zoom.
The agenda can be found through the COG’s website, www.crcog.net. The committee will review and consider a modification to the 2020-2025 Refuse and Recycling Residential Collection contract to allow the haulers to begin collecting materials at 6 a.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year. The committee will also make a recommendation on a volume of COG’s electricity that should be allocated to solar energy through the Solar Power Purchasing Agreement.
The meeting contact is Scott Binkley, sbinkley@crcog.net or 814-235-7818.
Committee members are mostly elected officials from Centre Region municipalities and include 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 Centre County Planning Commission typically meets the third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 in room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte.
The agenda can be found online, centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter.
Commission members are Robert Dannaker, Dennis Hameister, Christopher Kunes, Deborah Simoncek, Andrea Pandolfi, Jenn Shufran, Michele L. Barbin and D. Richard Francke. Residents can contact Raymond J. Stolinas Jr., director of Centre County Planning and Community Development, at ccpc@centrecountypa.gov or 814-355-6791.
The Halfmoon Planning Commission typically meets the third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Halfmoon Township Community Center, 100 Municipal Lane, Port Matilda.
Agendas are available online, halfmoontwp.us/planning-commission-meeting-agendas. The commission will review and discuss the staff’s land development ordinance review memo.
Members are Andrew Meehan, Ricky Bates, George Stine, Mark Hartle and David N. Pick. Residents can contact the planning commission at planningcommission@halfmoontwp.us or the township at 814-692-9800 or townshipclerk@halfmoontwp.us.
The Bellefonte Borough Council will stray from its regular meeting schedule due to Presidents Day and will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 for a work session followed by a regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20. 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/. During its work session, the council will discuss the parcels, ownership and agreements of the north parking lot, as well as parking fees and length of enforcement, and downtown lighting and pedestrian safety.
During the voting meeting, the council will potentially take action to have staff prepare recommendations and cost estimates for improving lighting at intersections, and sending a letter to the state department of transportation to ask permission to install lighted crosswalks downtown.
The council may also take action to ask staff to develop options for charging EV owners for the electricity used in municipal lots.
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 Benner Township Water Authority typically meets the third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Benner Township building, 1224 Buffalo Run Road, Bellefonte.
Board members are Thomas Eby, Andy Swales, Jerry May, Tim Edkin and James Lanning. Residents can contact the authority at 814-355-4778 or the township at 814-355-1419 or BENNERTWP@aol.com.
The Bellefonte Area School District board will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Bellefonte Area Middle School cafeteria, 100 N. School St., Bellefonte. A recording will be available on C-NET’s website.
Agendas are available online, go.boarddocs.com/pa/bellasd/Board.nsf/Public.
Board members are Jack Bechdel, Nate Campbell, Julie Fitzgerald, Jon Guizar, Marie Perini, Andrea Royer, Donna Smith, Jeff Steiner and Kimberly Weaver. Residents can contact the board at boarddl@basd.net (emails for individual board members are available on the school’s website) or the district at 814-355-4814.
The College Township Planning Commission typically meets the first and third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in the second floor meeting room of the the township building, 1481 E. College Ave., State College.
Agendas are available online, www.collegetownship.org/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4. The commission will review the Rhodes Lane Land Development Plan, a single-family residential condominium development.
Commission members are Ray Forziat, Ed Darrah, Peggy Ekdahl, Robert Hoffman, Bill Sharp, Matthew Fenton and Noreen Khoury. Residents can contact the township at 814-231-3021.
The Ferguson Township Supervisors typically meet the first and third Tuesday of the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in the main meeting room of the township building, 3147 Research Drive, State College, and on Zoom.
Agendas are available online, www.twp.ferguson.pa.us/minutes-and-agendas. The board will review “prefinal” master plans for Greenbriar-Saybrook Park and Fairbrook Park, and review work plans for Pine Grove Mills Small Area Plan Advisory Committee, Planning Commission and Tree Commission. The supervisors will also hear an update on the Pine Grove Mills Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project. The board also review the Centre Region Council of Government budget timeline and budget priorities, and discuss the township’s financial health.
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. Feb. 21 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.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
The Centre Region Council of Governments’ Parks and Recreation Governance Special Committee typically meets on the fourth Wednesday and will meet at 8:30 a.m. in the COG General Forum Room, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College and via Zoom.
Agendas are available online, www.crcog.net. The committee will elect a chair and vice chair for 2023, and will review and discuss a draft document regarding a facilitator to assist with the work of the special committee.
Committee members are mostly mostly elected officials from Centre Region municipalities and include Rich Francke (College Township), Patty Stephens (Ferguson Township), Bruce Lord (Harris Township), Dan Trevino (Patton Township), Jesse Barlow (State College Borough), and Kathy Matason and Gretchen Brandt from the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority.
The public may register to attend by emailing jlight@crcog.net. Residents may also send written comments on agenda items to jlight@crcog.net in advance of the meeting. Contact COG at 814-231-3077.
The Patton Township Supervisors typically meet the second and fourth Wednesday of the month but canceled the Feb. 22 meeting due to lack of action items. The next meeting will be March 8.
The Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District board typically meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 in the boardroom of the P-O middle school, 200 Short St., Philipsburg.
Board members are Timothy Bainey, Estelle Bowman, Todd Jeffries, Shawnna Baney-Shaw, Richard Wood, Dustin Minarchick, Nancy Lamb, Linda Bush and Tiffany Warlow.
Thursday, Feb. 23
The Centre County Commissioners and Salary Board will meet meet at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 in room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte.
The agenda can be found online at centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter.
The commissioners are Mark Higgins, Amber Concepcion and Steve Dershem. Residents can contact the county at 814-355-6700 or the board at mark@centrecountypa.gov, aConcepcion@centrecountypa.gov and sdershem@centrecountypa.gov. The salary board members are the three commissioners and the county controller, Jason Moser.
The Bellefonte Area School District board will hold a special meeting and listening session regarding the new elementary school project at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Bellefonte Area Middle School cafeteria, 100 N. School St., Bellefonte.
Meeting agendas are available online, go.boarddocs.com/pa/bellasd/Board.nsf/Public.
Board members are Jack Bechdel, Nate Campbell, Julie Fitzgerald, Jon Guizar, Marie Perini, Andrea Royer, Donna Smith, Jeff Steiner and Kimberly Weaver. Residents can contact the board at boarddl@basd.net (emails for individual board members are available on the school’s website) or the district at 814-355-4814.
The Benner Township Planning Commission typically meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the township building,
Agendas are typically posted online, www.bennertownship.org.
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.
The Halfmoon Township Supervisors typically meet the second and fourth Thursday of each month and will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Halfmoon Township Municipal Building, 100 Municipal Lane, Port Matilda.
Agendas are available online, halfmoontwp.us/all-board-of-supervisors-meeting-agendas.
Supervisors are David Piper, Ron Servello, Rose Ann Hoover, Patti Hartle and Chuck Beck. Residents can contact the township at 814-692-9800 or townshipclerk@halfmoontwp.us, and the board at supervisors@halfmoontwp.us.
This story was originally published February 19, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
