The ever changing make up and discussion concerning the position of Market Manager in Columbia took another turn at Monday's borough council meeting.
While borough council approved to begin the hiring process of a new manager at $18.50 an hour for a part-time position up to 25 hours a week, debate again centered on the previous manager, Renae Sears, who was fired late last year and is now a member of the council.
The vote to begin the hiring process was a 6-1 vote with Mary Barninger, council woman voting against the plan. That was the easy part of the discussion.
First, council, management and citizens needed to discuss the "hot bell" topic of ringing a bell in the Market House by Tim Brown of Rap's World following a successful sale.\It has been debated at council meetings for the past few months.
Frank Doutrich, a former member of the council, was the first to speak. He brought his own bell to the meeting to use as an example and asking what the problem was.
"I think it adds to the market and I like it. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with it beause it gives the market soe class," Doutrich said.
"It is not an annoyance. It indicates custoer satisfaction," said Norm Meiskey, borough manager.
"There is no issue with the Market House bell," said Councilman Kelly Murphy, who chairs the council's market committee
Murphy also said its times to move forward with the market position, which is now being done by Meiskey.
"The bell is also not an issue for me," added Council President Mary Wickenheiser.
Next, council and others turned their attention toward Sears. At last month's meeting, Vern Detz, another former member of the council, asked Sears to resign her post on council after she allegedly cursed at a citizen during a March market committee meeting.
The incident was centered around Doutrich and he said he wanted a public apology from Sears. He took it one step farther saying he contacted two agencies in Harrisburg, telling the council, they could legally censor Sears for her comments.
"But, she already did that (by swearing) and now you will get people in here using the entire alphabet (while swearing)," Doutrich said.
He also objected to the salary planned to be paid to the new Market Manager, adding if the salary was lower, the borough could sae money and allow the new manager to show they were worth the higher salary.
Council President Mary Wickenheiser told Doutrich there would be no censorship of Sears.
"We don't have the power to do that," Wickenheiser said.
Detz said he was at the market meeting when the incident happened, but left before the alleged incident.
"I did leave but when I got home, I got numerous phone calls tlling me what happened. I believe it happened and you are opening up a can of worms by allowing this,: Detz said.
"She should stand up and apologize to Mr. Doutrich, if not she should resign from the council," Detz said.
Wickenheiser said the issue has been put to rest. She also said she observed some type of incident, but did not hear anything.
"The person in question wasn't sitting at the table and got up and left and went out the door," Wickenheiser said.
Two others defended Sears.
"I've known Renae Sears for 50 years and I never heard her swear," said "Cubby" Spiese.
Shirley McBride also defended Sears.
"I've never heard her say the four letter word she is accussed of. It is not inher character," McBride.
She then turned her attention to Detz telling him "not to bring issues" to council."
"You didn't get your way on council. Why don't you (Detz) just go away, sell your home and move out of Columbia,"McBride said.
"Just leave," ahe said.
"The market is good, sell your home and move out of Columbia. Columbia is a good place to live," McBride said.
"Renae," McBride said to Sears, "keep your head up and smile. You work for Columbia and I am glad to have you on council. It's horrible for someone to do this."
And in an interesting turn of events, Howard Stevens of Columbia, told the council, he had nothing to do with Sears getting fired as the Market Manager and would like to have the comments made to him about the issue stopped.
Stevens said he did work at the market.
"I ran into people in the market you told me that I was the reason Renae lost her job. I've been verbally attacked,. Can you plus address the people at the market and tell them it wasn't me," Stevens said.
Everyone on the council said they were surprised to hear of the comments.
"I do not condone this behavior," Council President Mary Wickenheiser said.
"I never accused you of anything and I am sorry people are saying that," Sears said,.
"What you have been subjected to is unfortunate," Mary Barninger, another member of the council said.
6 comments:
I have interacted with Mrs. Sears in Columbia on many levels and have witnessed her in different moods and stressful situations. A four letter word or connotation would not surprise me one bit. It is very unprofessional to verbal attack someone and should not be excused. Specialty treatment by the council seems obvious here. Mrs. Sears should highly consider fessing up, and apologizing, otherwise the issue will never rest. Forgive and forget? If she is fortunate enough.
I too have interacted with Mrs. Sears on numerous occasions and she has a very foul mouth. For anyone to stand up at a public meeting and defend Mrs. Sears and stating they never heard her use profanity must not know her very well or be around her all that much. With all the crap that Shirley McBride has brought before Council in the past, how can she say anything about the issues Mr. Detz brings up to Council? How many months did Council have to hear about her fire? The skateboarders in her neighborhood? She stated on many occasions that she wishes she could sell her house and move out of Columbia, now, because her friend in on Council, Columbia is the best thing going? Give us all a break Mrs. McBride and stay inside and keep pumping Mrs. Sears up, because she needs it. Mrs. McBride acts like she's in the Market House all time making purchases when, truth be told, she only shows her face to get the gossip and start trouble, she rarely makes any purchases.
Get a life shirley,Just sit on perry street and watch skateboarders.
So, $18.50 hour, for 25 hours a week as a part-time job, not too bad if you can get that type of work. Wonder which one of sheriff lutz' friends needs a job? With the economy the way it is and the finances of this Borough in the shape they're in, what is wrong with this Council? They're spending money like they have it. I guess they do, they have unlimited funds in taxpayer money and all these part-time positions that they're hiring for is way out of control. Mrs. McBride might have a point, anyone who could sell their house should get out while they can, because living in this town will bankrupt you!
Council and the mayor think they can SAY and DO what they want in this town,its time we make them held responsible.
I used to live in Columbia and got out while the getting was good. However, I do like to keep an eye on what's happening there. Anyway, this is my take on this Council: President Nosebag(wick), dumb(duncan), dumber(sears), dumbest(gerlitzki), the village idiot(beury), waffle-boy(murphy) and safety first(barninger). Of course, they're led by Know-it-all Norm. Barninger seems to be the only one who will question Meiskey, all others follow like a duckling following their mother. I feel bad for those still living in Columbia, especially when Shirley McBride opens her mouth!
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