Council to hold work session after resident complaint about new park light

Bellefonte Borough Council agreed Jan. 6 to discuss a resident complaint about a newly installed light in Missoula/Talleyrand Park at an upcoming work session, after members described recurring concerns about brightness and timing.

A resident complaint about the installed light was raised during the communications portion of the meeting. Council members said similar concerns have arisen previously and suggested discussing options with West Penn Power, including installing deflectors or adjusting the fixture to reduce light intrusion on nearby homes. Council also noted that park hours had changed several years prior and are now 24/7; the change will be communicated to the complainant.

Council member Doug, who said he inspected the site, noted there are lights throughout the park used for evening walking and said an earlier post or street light actually casts more light into the resident's yard than the newly installed fixture. Another council member said the light was installed based on safety concerns and with the support of the police chief at the time.

Why it matters: The light installation ties to public-safety considerations and neighbor concerns about light trespass. Councilors agreed a work session would allow fuller discussion of technical fixes, liaison with West Penn Power, and possible budgetary or maintenance implications.

Action taken: Council agreed to place the item on a future work session agenda for detailed review and possible referral to staff to contact West Penn Power and explore deflectors or other mitigations. No ordinance or policy change was adopted at the Jan. 6 meeting.