Bellefonte environmental committee declines local pesticide ban, will post state hypersensitivity registry; parks projects move toward grant funding

The Bellefonte Borough Environmental and Parks Committee reported to council that it will not recommend a local pesticide‑use ordinance at this time and instead urged the borough to place the Pennsylvania Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry application on the borough website so affected residents can register each year.

Committee members said state regulation through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture governs pesticide spraying and includes notification requirements for property owners with chemical sensitivities within 500 feet of spraying. The committee recommended that, when the borough contracts for right‑of‑way spraying, the borough follow the state’s 12‑ to 72‑hour pre‑notification practice and post planned spray locations (for example, “200 block of North Spring Street”) on the borough website so renters and property owners have notice.

The nut graf: Rather than pursue a local ordinance that committee members concluded the state already enforces, the group proposed administrative steps (publishing the hypersensitivity registry application and following state pre‑notification timings) to address residents’ notification needs while leaving enforcement at the state level.

Parks and projects: The committee also reported that funding is now sufficient to fully repair or replace parts of the suspension bridge at Talleyrand Park and that new projects — such as stamped sidewalks and replacement of the wooden fence behind the pergola — should be considered for upcoming Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) cycles. The Talleyrand Park Committee is seeking volunteers to help weed the wildflower peninsula between the suspension bridge and the sculpture garden; contact information is available through borough staff.

Accessibility project: The committee said Hoffman and Leakey provided an estimated cost of $90,000 to construct an ADA ramp at the train station area of Talleyrand Park; the committee said it would pursue a grant through the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau to fund that work.

Ending: The committee advised council that it will place the pesticide hypersensitivity registry application packet at the council table and recommended the council consider a property‑maintenance revision on a future agenda to address pesticide uses by landlords and the borough where appropriate. No ordinance or rule changes were adopted at this meeting.