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Bellefonte council discusses downtown sidewalk clearing, enforcement and resident reminders
Summary
Council members raised safety concerns about uncleared downtown sidewalks after recent snow, debated enforcement (warnings vs. fines) and discussed using the borough's notification systems and nuisance-code patrols to improve compliance.
Bellefonte Borough Council spent substantial time on Jan. 5 discussing downtown sidewalk snow removal, enforcement and communications after members and residents reported multiple sidewalks not cleared following recent snowfall.
Council members said sidewalks in retail corridors (notably Allegheny Street near storefronts) remained icy and hazardous for pedestrians several days after snow events. Some members advocated stricter enforcement, including fines rather than warnings for businesses that do not clear sidewalks; others emphasized staffing constraints and existing prioritization of arterial streets for plowing. Staff said the borough had a thin crew over the holiday, called in two employees to assist and prioritized main thoroughfares for emergency response access.
Council discussed outreach methods to remind property owners of clearing requirements and suggested using the borough’s opt-in Code Red/notification system or website reminders; staff said the system could be used but hadn’t been used previously for snow reminders. The nuisance-code officer was identified as conducting patrols after snow events and staff indicated he would follow up, with the chief noting specific Allegheny Street problems would be addressed.
No ordinance change or new enforcement policy was adopted at the meeting. Council asked staff to follow up on nuisance-code enforcement in targeted downtown locations and discuss communications options to remind property owners about clearing obligations.
