BELLEFONTE, PA – The petition for an off-leash dog park in Bellefonte, which had garnered the support of 190 residents and workers, has hit a significant roadblock following recent actions by the borough council.
During a work session held on January 16th, the council briefly addressed the petition for the dog park. Some legitimate questions were raised including concerns over the financial implications of its establishment and maintenance. Notably, Peter Serefine, a local advocate for the dog park, had earlier presented to the council, assuring that once approved, efforts would pivot towards fundraising to cover the costs of creating and maintaining the park.
However, the session concluded without setting any clear objectives or future discussion plans. This was followed by a decisive move in the subsequent borough council meeting, where a motion to halt all discussion on the dog park was introduced, seconded, and passed. Councilmembers Tossi-Vasi and McKean were the only dissenters. Under parliamentary rules, this action effectively stifles the proposal, as it can now be resurrected only by one of the members who voted for its tabling.
Further diminishing the likelihood of the park's realization, a second motion was successfully passed to remove the off-leash dog park from the 2024 goals and objectives on future agendas. This move indicates a reluctance by the council to revisit the topic, despite the apparent readiness of the community to fundraise for the project.
Despite the considerable backing from the community and a pledged commitment to fundraising, the Bellefonte Borough Council’s swift and unequivocal dismissal of the off-leash dog park proposal after a solitary, cursory discussion signals a clear lack of interest in pursuing the project.
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The preceding is the article which I submitted to all of the local newspapers. Now for more personal comments.
Of course I am disappointed that borough council tabled discussion of the project, but what I find more disturbing is that they did so with such speed. Bellefonte Borough Council has a reputation of acting very slowly. That was not the case this time
The Borough Manager said there was no maintenance staff and the park would require a tax increase. He made that statement without a single estimate of costs being presented. There was no discussion of the possibility of donations or volunteers. There was no discussion of requesting assistance from Centre Region Parks and Rec. No mention of help from the Governor’s new Office of Outdoor Recreation. There were no studies performed.
As the one presenting the petition, it felt like Council was going through the motions just to get me off their backs. I sent one email and spoke for three minutes three times and that must have been enough of me.
This process has me asking serious questions about my local government. Does Bellefonte Borough Council dismiss the desires of hundreds of its citizens without legitimate discussion often? If so, we the residents need to elect better representation.
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