Council authorizes $29,000 from special‑projects fund to transfer Potter Street rail spur to borough

Bellefonte Borough Council voted to use $29,000 from the special‑projects fund to cover costs associated with transferring the Potter Street rail spur to the borough. Council members debated whether to acquire the track metal and preserve the rails as a historic/amenity feature or to exclude a portion of the track to lower the price. Staff explained the $29,000 would pay for a survey and subdivision work, payment to the current holder for the track material, and recording the conveyance with the county recorder of deeds. Council members discussed an option to exclude a longer blue‑lined portion of the tract to save approximately $18,932 (figures are from the spoken record and were inconsistent during the discussion). Proponents said keeping the rails could reduce future construction costs for a walkway and preserve historic character; others said the borough’s current budget pressures argued against buying the track metal now. One council member suggested the borough could sell the metal later if it did not use it. After discussion a motion to approve the $29,000 expenditure carried in roll call: one member voted no and the remaining members present voted yes. Staff will proceed with the survey, subdivision and transfer work as approved.