Bellefonte council approves free public-accommodations training from state agency

Bellefonte Borough Council voted April 7 to arrange a free public-accommodations training offered by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Centre County Business & Industry Chamber (CBICC).

Council member Joanne Costevesi moved that administration coordinate with the PHRC to schedule a training “in person, hybrid, or virtual” and that the borough secure a recording option so staff and council members who cannot attend live can view the session later. The motion was seconded by Rita Purnell and passed in a roll-call vote.

The training will cover state and federal protections for public accommodations, with emphasis on reasonable accommodations and accessibility for people with disabilities and on First Amendment limitations for public speech, Costevesi said. “And it is totally free,” she added during her remarks.

Council discussed delivery options — in-person, hybrid with a recorded session, or fully virtual — and asked administration to work with Costevesi to set time and format. No date or venue was set at the meeting; council members indicated they will decide logistics after staff follow-up with the PHRC.

The action came during the communications portion of the meeting after the PHRC and CBICC offered to provide the training at no charge. The borough clerk will place the training arrangement as an administrative follow-up and notify council members once scheduling details are confirmed.

Costevesi said the training would be helpful given recent questions about allowable speech and activities in borough parks and other public settings.

The motion passed unanimously in a roll-call vote.