The residents speak

Here is a sampling of what residents who spoke to the borough council on Monday night spoke about and the responses they got.


The citizen comment portion took two hours at Monday's meeting.

Frank Doutrich, a former member of the council, addressed the council concerning the status of the boat access area at the River Park; why Police Chief Joe Greenya doesn't stay at council's safety committee meeting; why council waited until the final "minute" at meeting last month to determine it needed to purchase two police vehicles; who does maintenance on borough vehicles and how the borough came to consider those who were appointed to a Bulding Code of Appeals.

Council President Mary Wickenheiser said the Thursday before Easter, borough employees were working on an access area to the river at Union Street and there is adequate parking until River Park opens May 1.
Wickenheiser also told Doutrich the information on the police vehicle purchase was not done at the final minute and the purchase will be reviewed at the next meeting of the council's property committee.

Vern Detz, another former member of the council, wanted an update on the settlement of the property at Third and Linden streets, site of the planned Turkey Hill Experience; whether or the non-uniformed workers and police have signed their new contract; the status of 12 hour shifts for the police department; requested financial reports and wanted to know if Columbia ever had a deputy tax collector.

Herbert Spiese thanked the council for its use of Roberts Rules of Order when running a meeting and said he was down at the River Park recently and doubts if it will be done by May 1.

Council President Wickenheiser said things are moving forward at the park and it should be ready by May 1.

Heather McDonald asked the council is they could re-arrange the street sweeping schedule in the 100 block of Locust Street and if the borough could help change the look of that area because there is a chain linked fence around a business that takes away from the area.

Detz and Doutrich, along with Spiese and other residents Shirley McBride, Ron Fritz, Chris Leonard and Howard Stevens commented on other issues at the meeting on issues involving the Market, the fire service and code enforcement issues, which will be posted in three other stories.