Showing posts with label Boro Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boro Council. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Council gets tough
At Monday's council meeting, the borough took a major step that will return the area to a vacant lot. Council approved a motion to stop the lot from being used as a parking lot and also instructed its highway department to repair the curb on the Fourth Street side and lien the property for the cost of the repair.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
River cabin purchase moves forward
By a 6-1 vote, Columbia Borough Council moved forward with the proposed sale of the cabin area along the Susquehanna River to the River Cottage Owners Association.
The sale, which was first proposed late last summer, will net the borough an undisclosed amount of money, believed to be $350,000, that will be used for infrastructure improvements.
The borough, who was gifted the land from the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation, will use the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, as the middle man in the proposed sale. This is similar to the approach used when the borough sold the property at Third and Linden streets, which will become the Turkey Hill Experience late this summer.
Council vice-president Mary Barninger expressed concern on any potential financial impacts the transaction will have on the borough. She didn't the borough to get into the real estate business again. Borough Manager Norm Meiskey explained the impact would be minimal.
Resident Frank Doutrich, under citizen comments, questioned the deal and wanted to know about any hidden costs. He was given a copy of the two documents approved last night.
Voting for the two motions to accept the gift of the land and then to proceed to sell it were Barninger, Mike Beury, Jim Smith, Mary Wickenheiser, Sandy Duncan and Renae Sears. Voting against the motions was Kelly Murphy, who explained his "no" vote.
Murphy said it had to do when he first moved to Columbia back in 2002 and he and his wife were walking around the cabin area and were told to get "off private priperty."
He also said the borough should have explored other opportunities for the area.
"It was a tough decision for me, but 10,000 residents of this community would love to have an opportunity like this. There wasn't enough thought given to this process and I know my position is unpopular," Murphy said.
After the vote, Doutrich also questioned Smith's vote as a potential conflict of interest. Smith is a board member of the CEDC. Solicitor Barry Handwerger said there was no ethics violation.
The sale, which was first proposed late last summer, will net the borough an undisclosed amount of money, believed to be $350,000, that will be used for infrastructure improvements.
The borough, who was gifted the land from the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation, will use the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, as the middle man in the proposed sale. This is similar to the approach used when the borough sold the property at Third and Linden streets, which will become the Turkey Hill Experience late this summer.
Council vice-president Mary Barninger expressed concern on any potential financial impacts the transaction will have on the borough. She didn't the borough to get into the real estate business again. Borough Manager Norm Meiskey explained the impact would be minimal.
Resident Frank Doutrich, under citizen comments, questioned the deal and wanted to know about any hidden costs. He was given a copy of the two documents approved last night.
Voting for the two motions to accept the gift of the land and then to proceed to sell it were Barninger, Mike Beury, Jim Smith, Mary Wickenheiser, Sandy Duncan and Renae Sears. Voting against the motions was Kelly Murphy, who explained his "no" vote.
Murphy said it had to do when he first moved to Columbia back in 2002 and he and his wife were walking around the cabin area and were told to get "off private priperty."
He also said the borough should have explored other opportunities for the area.
"It was a tough decision for me, but 10,000 residents of this community would love to have an opportunity like this. There wasn't enough thought given to this process and I know my position is unpopular," Murphy said.
After the vote, Doutrich also questioned Smith's vote as a potential conflict of interest. Smith is a board member of the CEDC. Solicitor Barry Handwerger said there was no ethics violation.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Special meeting is scheduled
A Special Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 pm to appoint terms for Board Members of the Market House Historic Trust and any other necessary Borough business.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Union, borough agree
There's labor piece for now: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/374890
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
From Monday's council meeting
Notes from Monday's council meeting: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/310466
Jesse Sweigart has video of the protest at http://www.columbiapaonline.com/
Jesse Sweigart has video of the protest at http://www.columbiapaonline.com/
Monday, October 18, 2010
Letter of intent sent
By a vote of 5-1-1, Columbia Borough Council, at its meeting last Monday, approved sending a "letter of intent" to the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation so that the borough can officially accept the gift of three parcels of land along the Susquehanna River from Walnut Street south to the Lancaster Water Company.
The three parcels are currently housing the Columbia Water Company and the river front cabins.
Voting to send the letter were Mary Wickenheiser, Mary Barninger, Sandy Duncan, Renae Sears and Mike Buery. Voting against the motion was Kelly Murphy, while newly appointed councilmen Jim Smith abstained.
In the letter, Wickenheiser explained the potential purchase of the three parcels will most likely involve the Columbia Economic Development Corporation or another entity, the Columbia Water Company and the Columbia Heritage River Cottage Association.
"Not all three parcels will be transferred," Wickenheiser said.
Duncan said the motion to send the letter was council doing "due diligence."
"This is the safest way (for the cottage owners) to protect their property," said Buery.
The three parcels are currently housing the Columbia Water Company and the river front cabins.
Voting to send the letter were Mary Wickenheiser, Mary Barninger, Sandy Duncan, Renae Sears and Mike Buery. Voting against the motion was Kelly Murphy, while newly appointed councilmen Jim Smith abstained.
In the letter, Wickenheiser explained the potential purchase of the three parcels will most likely involve the Columbia Economic Development Corporation or another entity, the Columbia Water Company and the Columbia Heritage River Cottage Association.
"Not all three parcels will be transferred," Wickenheiser said.
Duncan said the motion to send the letter was council doing "due diligence."
"This is the safest way (for the cottage owners) to protect their property," said Buery.
Important meeting on Thursday
There will be a joint meeting Thursday night at 6 p.m. between Columbia Borough Council and the Municipal Authority to discuss the pending bond funding for a new waste water treatment plant and other projects in the borough.
The meeting will be held at the borough hall, 308 Locust St.
At last week's regular meeting of borough council, the meeting and the bond funding was discussed.
Earlier this year, council approved a bond issue for $16 million to construct a new plant to bring it up to state code. Recently, Borough Manager Norm Meiskey wanted to add another $5 million in a separate issue to include projects such as replacing old sewer lines in Columbia, constructing a building at the River Park and street construction projects.
There was some reaction to the plan.
Former Councilmen Tim Swartz said the plan would add too much to the borough's debt.
"The marina at the river front is not a necessity. It is more of a want," Swartz said.
"We are spending money in the wrong areas and we need to stop," he said.
He suggested reevaluating the projects that are planned in Columbia and prioritize them.
"You need to be cautious with what projects you move forward with," Swartz said.
Frank Doutrich, another former member of the council, also questioned the spending.
Mary Barninger, council's vice-president, also questioned the wishes with the bond issue, stating it also might be "more of a want than a need."
It was already discussed previously that with the construction of the new sewer plant, sewer rates will double within the borough. With the additional bond funding, it could cost taxpayers at least a mill in taxes.
The meeting will be held at the borough hall, 308 Locust St.
At last week's regular meeting of borough council, the meeting and the bond funding was discussed.
Earlier this year, council approved a bond issue for $16 million to construct a new plant to bring it up to state code. Recently, Borough Manager Norm Meiskey wanted to add another $5 million in a separate issue to include projects such as replacing old sewer lines in Columbia, constructing a building at the River Park and street construction projects.
There was some reaction to the plan.
Former Councilmen Tim Swartz said the plan would add too much to the borough's debt.
"The marina at the river front is not a necessity. It is more of a want," Swartz said.
"We are spending money in the wrong areas and we need to stop," he said.
He suggested reevaluating the projects that are planned in Columbia and prioritize them.
"You need to be cautious with what projects you move forward with," Swartz said.
Frank Doutrich, another former member of the council, also questioned the spending.
Mary Barninger, council's vice-president, also questioned the wishes with the bond issue, stating it also might be "more of a want than a need."
It was already discussed previously that with the construction of the new sewer plant, sewer rates will double within the borough. With the additional bond funding, it could cost taxpayers at least a mill in taxes.
Monday, October 11, 2010
New council member is
By a 5-1 vote, Jim Smith, former owner of Smith's Hotel was selected as the newest member of Columbia Borough Council tonight.
Council President Mary Wickenheiser voted against Smith's appointment, who will serve as a replacement for Anna Gerlitzki, who resigned last month.
With his appointment, Smith was forced to resign from the Civil Service Commission, which he held for more than 30 years.
As I said last week as much as it would have been nice to serve on Borough Council, it is not the end of the world. The sun will (okay might) come up tomorrow and life goes on. Yes, I will run for election next year.
Again, what I didn't like was some of the back door stuff that was going on with this appointment, which borough council apparently knew about. Learned today, that the other candidate for the position, Carmen Swinehart, was asked to drop out as late as tonight again and also offered $1,000 to do so.
I also question that if this was suppose to be debated on at a public meeting, and I was not the only one thinking this way, why was there no debate? And why did the new council member already have a name plate.
Again, there are no sour grapes, but something just isn't right with the way this went down.
Council President Mary Wickenheiser voted against Smith's appointment, who will serve as a replacement for Anna Gerlitzki, who resigned last month.
With his appointment, Smith was forced to resign from the Civil Service Commission, which he held for more than 30 years.
As I said last week as much as it would have been nice to serve on Borough Council, it is not the end of the world. The sun will (okay might) come up tomorrow and life goes on. Yes, I will run for election next year.
Again, what I didn't like was some of the back door stuff that was going on with this appointment, which borough council apparently knew about. Learned today, that the other candidate for the position, Carmen Swinehart, was asked to drop out as late as tonight again and also offered $1,000 to do so.
I also question that if this was suppose to be debated on at a public meeting, and I was not the only one thinking this way, why was there no debate? And why did the new council member already have a name plate.
Again, there are no sour grapes, but something just isn't right with the way this went down.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Help wanted
Columbia Borough will accept applications for its vacant council position through Monday, Sept. 27. Interviews will be held Tuesday, Sept. 28 and the new council mebers will be sworn in at the Oct. 11 meeting of borough council.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Council woman resigns
COLUMBIA TALK has learned Anna Gerlitzki, who was just sworn in as a member of borough council in Januaury, submitted her resignation to Council President Mary Wickenheiser on Monday.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Turkey Hill happy!
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Is Turkey Hill tea now the official drink of Columbia Borough!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Cabins are safe
For those who own cabins along the Susquehanna River, it has been a tense summer and it has nothing to do with the hot weather that has locked into the area.
For the last four months ever since Columbia Borough Council said it was considering a gift from the Safe Harbor Power Company for land the cottages sit on, the owners have been attending meetings in mass, trying to find out the fate of their properties.
Last week, the cabin owners attended council's property meeting and were told the "gifting" was still in the hands of the solicitor.
Monday night, the cabin owners and others again packed the monthly meeting of borough council and finally got a response on their questions.
The response came in a three-page written statement from Mayor Leo Lutz, who told the council to accept the gifting of the land from Safe Harbor and sell it to the River Cottage Owners Association through the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, similar to the way the Turkey Hill Experience project was completed
Lutz said (Food for Thought, posted elsewhere on COLUMBIA TALK) the sale would allow the borough to move forward with other projects.
Lutz' letter was greeted with a round of applause from the cottage owners, but there were no comments or a vote taken by the council on the mayor's request.
For the last four months ever since Columbia Borough Council said it was considering a gift from the Safe Harbor Power Company for land the cottages sit on, the owners have been attending meetings in mass, trying to find out the fate of their properties.
Last week, the cabin owners attended council's property meeting and were told the "gifting" was still in the hands of the solicitor.
Monday night, the cabin owners and others again packed the monthly meeting of borough council and finally got a response on their questions.
The response came in a three-page written statement from Mayor Leo Lutz, who told the council to accept the gifting of the land from Safe Harbor and sell it to the River Cottage Owners Association through the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, similar to the way the Turkey Hill Experience project was completed
Lutz said (Food for Thought, posted elsewhere on COLUMBIA TALK) the sale would allow the borough to move forward with other projects.
Lutz' letter was greeted with a round of applause from the cottage owners, but there were no comments or a vote taken by the council on the mayor's request.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sewer plant plans sent to state
Columbia Borough Council approved submitting to the state its Act 537 Plan, dealing with improvement to its sewer plant.
The approval came following a hearing on the plan as part of a special meeting of borough council on Tuesday night.
The cost of the new park is expected to be at least $16 million and under a worst case scenario presented sewer bills in Columbia could double as the result of the project.
The changes to the sewer plant are not on a wish list of the borough, but a mandate from the state and to help with the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay, where water from the Susquehanna River empties into.
The last major upgrade to the sewer plant on South Front Street was in 1972, said Patrick Brown, an engineer for Buchart-Horn.
Columbia has until Aug. 30, 2013 to become compliant with state DEP regulations.
During a power point presentation, Brown outlined the steps, needs and alternatives for Columbia.
He also reviewed the options that were suggested to the Columbia Municipal Authority. Two options considered were selling the plant to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority or do nothing at the plant.
"Selling to LASA was not an option because Columbia would lose control of the operations and decision making and wouldn't be cost effective," Brown said.
The system chosen for Columbia is something called Aero Med and would meet all the state requirements.
Brown also provided cost estimates of up to $16 million, the possibility of floating a bond for 30 years at a four percent interest rate and getting a state H2O grant covering $10 million.
The worst case scenario, Brown said would mean a doubling of a customers' yearly rate from an estimated $235 to $563.
"The estimates are difficult to predict because we haven 't taken into consideration the grant process," Brown said.
The design of the new sewer plant will begin in August, with contracts, if all the approvals are gained, being awarded next July.
During the hearing on the Act 537 plan, officials discussed the impact of the construction on not only Columbia residents, but the 200 residents of West Hempfield Township, who are hooked into the system and what might happen if WHT would join LASA.
"I can;t imagine they (West Hempfield) would consider pumping to LASA," said Columbia Borough Manager Norm Meiskey.
"We have to be successful in the great application," noted Mayor Leo Lutz.
Questions surrounded the proposed sewer increase. Meiskey said according to projected rates would rise 68 percent on the average gallon of usage. Officials also said because of the economy and many firms looking for work, actual costs for the project might come in less than the estimates.
The approval came following a hearing on the plan as part of a special meeting of borough council on Tuesday night.
The cost of the new park is expected to be at least $16 million and under a worst case scenario presented sewer bills in Columbia could double as the result of the project.
The changes to the sewer plant are not on a wish list of the borough, but a mandate from the state and to help with the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay, where water from the Susquehanna River empties into.
The last major upgrade to the sewer plant on South Front Street was in 1972, said Patrick Brown, an engineer for Buchart-Horn.
Columbia has until Aug. 30, 2013 to become compliant with state DEP regulations.
During a power point presentation, Brown outlined the steps, needs and alternatives for Columbia.
He also reviewed the options that were suggested to the Columbia Municipal Authority. Two options considered were selling the plant to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority or do nothing at the plant.
"Selling to LASA was not an option because Columbia would lose control of the operations and decision making and wouldn't be cost effective," Brown said.
The system chosen for Columbia is something called Aero Med and would meet all the state requirements.
Brown also provided cost estimates of up to $16 million, the possibility of floating a bond for 30 years at a four percent interest rate and getting a state H2O grant covering $10 million.
The worst case scenario, Brown said would mean a doubling of a customers' yearly rate from an estimated $235 to $563.
"The estimates are difficult to predict because we haven 't taken into consideration the grant process," Brown said.
The design of the new sewer plant will begin in August, with contracts, if all the approvals are gained, being awarded next July.
During the hearing on the Act 537 plan, officials discussed the impact of the construction on not only Columbia residents, but the 200 residents of West Hempfield Township, who are hooked into the system and what might happen if WHT would join LASA.
"I can;t imagine they (West Hempfield) would consider pumping to LASA," said Columbia Borough Manager Norm Meiskey.
"We have to be successful in the great application," noted Mayor Leo Lutz.
Questions surrounded the proposed sewer increase. Meiskey said according to projected rates would rise 68 percent on the average gallon of usage. Officials also said because of the economy and many firms looking for work, actual costs for the project might come in less than the estimates.
Council president's questionable moves
Such was the case last night at the special council meeting to discuss improvements to the borough's sewer plant and a couple of other items of business.
Front and center again again was Council President Mary Wickenheiser.
Toward the end of a public hearing, which was an information gather presentation on the proposed $16 million construction proect at the waste water treatment facility, the council president cut off up to four citizens, who raised their hands to ask funding questions regarding funding for the project, which could leaad to a major increase in sewer rates.
Wickenheiser's move came after an hour of a presentation and question ans answer session. When the citizens raised their hands to talk, the council president, quickly moved onto the next topic on the agenda, angering those who wanted to ask questions.
Then, council had to approve changes in a resolution to a previous resolution on small term borrowing, Wickenheiser chided fellow council member Mary Barninger for voting no on the resolution. Barninger voted no earlier this month othe resolution to borrow $125,000 for the purchase of new police cars, a ventilation system for the market house and bollards for the town square.
Barninger explained she was being consistent with her vote, which didn't sit well with the council president.
The final act came when the council sought to approve a previously approved request from the Ashley Tabernacle Church, who each August holds a baptism in the River Park.
In June, council approved use of the park but only for the canoe and kayak area. At the Community Development Committee meeting prior to the special meeting, representatives from the church asked if he baptism could be moved back to the main boat ramp to accommodate the several hundred people who attend the event.
At the committee level, the vote was 2-1 in favor of the request with chairperson Renae Sears and Anna Gerlitzki voting in favor and Wickenheiser voting against the request.
The park's boat ramp will be closed from 3-6:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 8.
Council woman Sandy Duncan said the move was needed to accommodate those attending the event and the fact the church didn't have time to look at the canoe/kayak area to see if it was suitable for the event.
"We've never had any real problems down there," Duncan said.
Resident Harry Knighton said council should approve the request.
"They shouldn't be denied that right," he said.
When it came for the full council to vote on the issue, Wickenheiser again voted no.
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