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Bellefonte council elects new president, names pro tem and approves routine appointments
Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting, Bellefonte Borough Council rotated officers (John Johnson became council president; Joanne Tostavasi elected pro tem) and approved a series of routine appointments and administrative items including board reappointments, an updated fee schedule, and directing staff to issue an RFP for solicitor services.
Bellefonte Borough Council voted on new leadership and a slate of routine appointments at its Jan. 5 meeting, adopting the recommended officer rotations and approving several board reappointments and administrative actions.
Council confirmed a previously announced officer rotation, with Mr. Johnson moving from vice president to president; council formalized the change by passing a motion and returning the gavel. In a separate nomination and roll-call vote, Joanne Tostavasi was elected council pro tempore by a 6–3 margin after nominations from John Eaton and Randy Bracknell.
The council approved multiple recommended appointments and reappointments from advisory bodies. By roll call, members reappointed Greg Brown to the Bellefonte Borough Authority and approved Jennifer Cicelli for the Centre County Library Board. Phil Ruth was reappointed to the Historic Architectural Review Board; council members noted Ruth will present Jan. 14 on the farmhouse behind the elementary school. David Lommission was reappointed to the Planning Commission and Lanny King to the Zoning Hearing Board. Jean Gerber was appointed to the borough’s vacancy board; staff explained the vacancy board convenes only if a council seat becomes vacant and the appointed at-large member chairs that board in such an event.
Council also completed routine administrative business: it approved the Stover McLaughlin legal invoice for December 2025 and clarified a Barton & LoGuidice engineering invoice for the suspension bridge (the council approved $2,475 now; other invoices have been routed to grant payors). The borough approved an updated fee schedule that includes changes tied to water and sewer rates. Council directed staff to prepare a request for proposals for borough solicitor services, a periodic procurement step intended to ensure value and service quality.
All formal motions were adopted by roll-call votes as recorded during the meeting. The council adjourned after members’ reports and routine announcements.
Votes at a glance
- Approve officer rotation (Johnson to president, Clayton to vice president): passed (roll call vote; motion recorded). - Pro tem nomination (Joanne Tostavasi vs. Randy Bracknell): Joanne Tostavasi elected, 6–3. - Reappoint Greg Brown to Borough Authority: passed (roll call). - Appoint Jennifer Cicelli to Centre County Library Board: passed (roll call). - Reappoint Phil Ruth to Historic Architectural Review Board: passed (roll call). - Reappoint David Lommission to Planning Commission: passed (roll call). - Reappoint Lanny King to Zoning Hearing Board: passed (roll call). - Appoint Jean Gerber to Vacancy Board: passed (roll call). - Approve Stover McLaughlin legal invoice (Dec. 2025): passed (roll call). - Approve Barton & LoGuidice invoice (suspension bridge) — $2,475 now; other invoices billed to grant: passed (discussion and roll call). - Approve updated borough fee schedule (includes water/sewer-related changes): passed (roll call). - Direct staff to prepare RFP for solicitor services: passed (roll call).
The council’s actions were procedural and administrative; no new ordinances or budget appropriations requiring a second reading were introduced during this meeting. Future items mentioned by council members include a presentation on an electric-bicycle program and follow-up on councilroom furniture and sound-system adjustments.
