Kevin Kraft, Sr. rang the bell on the 11th hour at this year’s 11-11-11 memorial service. He’s shown here at the event several years ago. [Columbia Spy file photo].
Veterans, families and community members gathered Wednesday for the 11-11-11 Club’s annual Veterans Day tribute, an event featuring speeches, music and personal stories of military service.
The memorial began at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at Red Rose Memorial VFW Post 2435, at Fourth and Manor Streets.
This year’s keynote speaker was Stu Huggens, a Vietnam War veteran, musician and Columbia graduate. Huggens, 75, whose legal name is Stuard Hogentogler, is a well-known local musician. He recounted his two combat tours in Vietnam to the audience.
The 11-11-11 Club exists for a single purpose: to hold a memorial event each Veterans Day in Columbia. Club Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Kraft said the organization takes pride in hosting one of Lancaster County’s largest Veterans Day observances.
The club’s name refers to the end of World War I, when the armistice took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Five Columbia veterans of what was then called the Great War founded the club around 1920.
Brown Plus will handle accounting and finance for 2027; Commonwealth Code Inspection Service takes on rental inspections and zoning
Columbia Borough Council on Tuesday approved two contracts that move much of the borough’s day-to-day finance and code work to outside firms: one with the accounting firm Brown Plus and one with Commonwealth Code Inspection Service of Manheim.
The votes came the same night council hired Keystone Municipal Solutions as interim borough manager at $120 an hour, and they reflect a broader shift toward contracted services at Borough Hall.
Council framed both deals as temporary supports while the borough rebuilds. “We need to get something to get us from A to B,” Councilman Kelly Murphy said of the finance contract.
Brown Plus takes over finance
The finance agreement runs from Jan. 1, 2027, through the earlier of Dec. 31, 2027, or the date the borough hires its own finance manager. It is billed hourly and as needed. Councilwoman Joanne Geesey read out Brown Plus’s rate sheet: $190 an hour for an associate accountant, $210 for a human resource coordinator, $250 for a human resource manager, $330 for a human resource director and $385 for a partner or principal.
Eric Kauffman, council president, said Brown Plus staff will attend roughly one council meeting a month plus budget meetings. The firm’s lead accountant, John Weidman, who attended the Nov. 5 workshop, would be in the office about twice a week. Council also asked the firm for set office hours so residents can make appointments to talk with a finance staffer.
The firm is not new to the borough. “We’ve been working with this outfit since [the previous finance manager] left,” Heather Zink, council vice president, said. She added that the firm’s payroll specialist has run payroll whenever the post was vacant. Zink also said Brown Plus has already started gathering information for the annual audit and handles recurring state filings such as quarterly unemployment compensation reports.
Zink said the contract provides continuity that a single employee cannot. “When we have a staff member leave, we’re kind of scrambling until we can get someone else in place,” she said. With Brown Plus, “we’re not left floundering.”
Commonwealth Code Inspection Service
Commonwealth Code will perform rental inspections, property inspections and zoning administration. “Commonwealth strictly does rental inspections, fire inspections, and zoning,” Kauffman said. The contract runs up to a year and uses a set fee schedule, not an hourly bill.
The fee schedule in the council packet sets $75 for a single-family rental inspection and $75 for the first unit of a multifamily building, plus $60 for each additional unit. Rooming houses cost $55 for the first room and $45 for each additional room. Reinspections after the first follow-up cost $50 a trip and are charged to the property owner, as are $50 cancellation fees.
Zoning administration is billed at $65 an hour, with extra charges for meetings, hearings and court appearances. Zoning duties include investigating complaints, issuing violation notices, reviewing subdivision plans and representing the borough before the Zoning Hearing Board.
The borough’s own rental fees should roughly cover the cost. “The fee schedule offsets their fee,” Kauffman said. “So it’s really a wash for us.” He added that the borough will check whether its fee schedule needs updating.
The borough is also adding in-house staff. Asked whether two part-time code officers could cover everything else, Kauffman said no: “We increased it to two full-time for next year’s budget. I don’t know if that’s enough, but that’s what we can afford right now.” Council discussed hiring two full-time code compliance officers at the Nov. 5 workshop, according to the minutes. Office staff will update records on rentals that were never registered, a council member said.
Whether taxpayers come out ahead will depend on hours billed and fees collected, and the borough’s 2027 budget, still in progress, will be the first test. Council’s next budget meeting is Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. The next regular meeting is Nov. 24.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11 to honor all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
History and Meaning • Origin: The holiday started as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, marking the first anniversary of the end of World War I (hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918). • National Holiday: Congress made it a legal holiday in 1938. • Renamed Veterans Day: In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans—both living and dead—who served in war or peacetime. • Memorial Day Distinction: Veterans Day honors all American veterans, whereas Memorial Day (in May) specifically remembers those who died while serving in the military.
Observances and Closures • Official Events: Key traditions include wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, parades, and flags displayed at half-mast. • What’s Closed: Federal offices, banks, and the U.S. Postal Service are closed. • What’s Open: Most major retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants remain open, with many chains providing special discounts and complimentary meals for veterans and active-duty military personnel (such as Chili’s, Red Lobster, and Red Robin).
Contract pays $120 an hour for up to 30 hours a week; council says outside help will stabilize operations as it searches for a permanent manager
Columbia Borough Council voted Tuesday night to hire Keystone Municipal Solutions LLC to serve as interim borough manager, handing day-to-day management of the borough to the firm at $120 an hour for up to 30 hours a week.
Keystone will provide Chad Saylor, its executive director, as interim manager. Council chose Keystone over a competing proposal from Stonehill Ratliff LLC of Chambersburg after interviewing both in executive session.
What the agreement says Under the agreement, Keystone’s interim manager will perform the duties of borough manager under borough policies and report directly to council. Those duties include supervising departments, overseeing purchasing and contracts, handling complaints, administering the adopted budget and grants, and attending meetings as directed. The manager must also give council a weekly summary of “accomplishments, issues, failures, problems, staffing issues, etc.”
Terms: • Rate and hours: $120 an hour, billed monthly, for up to 30 hours a week. The borough sets the hours, and mileage for in-person work is reimbursed. • Advance payment: The borough must pay a $5,000 advance, applied to the final invoice. Any unused portion is refunded. • Exit: Either side can end the arrangement with five business days’ written notice. Council members described the contract as one year with an early out. • No benefits: Keystone is an independent contractor, so the borough pays no health, pension or other benefits. • Open records: The interim manager will not serve as the borough’s open records officer. Council separately appointed Ron Youtz to that role Tuesday.
Council members praised Saylor, who most recently served as interim manager of Steelton Borough in Dauphin County. Heather Zink, vice president, said she watched him present at the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs conference in June. “He was extremely knowledgeable and I was very impressed by him,” Zink said.
Saylor is a former township supervisor and has about 15 years of county administration experience. His firm’s client list includes Swarthmore, Bellefonte and Honesdale boroughs and West Brandywine Township.
Stonehill Ratliff’s proposal would have made the firm itself the interim manager, with about 24 hours a week on site, at $24,000 a month.
“We get someone in here without an emotional connection to this borough, to the citizens, to actually look at what we’re doing, tell us where we’re going wrong and get us on the right track,” Zink said. Councilman Ethan Byers later added,”Ideally, he’s here for as little time as possible, because he fixes everything immediately.”
The vote follows a turbulent stretch at Borough Hall. Council on November 5 approved a resignation and settlement agreement with former manager Paula Diffenderfer and accepted the resignation of Councilman Thomas Ziegler. “It’s a hectic turnover,” President Eric Kauffman said, “and it’s budget season.”
Tuesday’s meeting also approved outside contractors for finance (Brown Plus) and for rental, fire and zoning inspections (Commonwealth Code Inspection Service), as part of a broader shift toward contracted services.
What it means for taxpayers The contract is not cheap. It costs somewhat more than the current manager’s pay, but avoids paying benefits. The borough’s 2026 budget includes $104,000 for the manager’s salary, with about $77,100 spent through early November, according to budget figures in the packet. That figure excludes benefits.
By comparison, Keystone’s maximum cost is $3,600 a week, or about $15,600 a month. If the borough used all 30 hours every week for a full year, the total would be about $187,200.
Several terms limit the cost, and one could raise it: • Hours are flexible. Because the borough sets the hours and the contract says “up to” 30, spending depends on how many hours council asks for. • Short exit. A five-business-day notice period limits the borough’s exposure if the arrangement does not work out. • Hiring penalty. The agreement bars the borough from hiring or contracting directly with any Keystone employee for three years without Keystone’s consent. If it does, the borough owes the greater of 20 percent of the person’s annual salary or three times what it has paid Keystone. As an example, three months at full hours would cost about $46,800, which would make the fee about $140,400. Council did not discuss that clause Tuesday. • Mutual non-disparagement. Both parties agree not to make statements that reflect negatively on the other, during and after the engagement. • No legal protection. Although Keystone is a subsidiary of the law firm McNees Wallace & Nurick, the agreement states the borough is not a client of the firm and has no attorney-client privilege.
The next budget meeting is Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m., and the next regular meeting is November 24.
The Columbia Borough School Board has approved a policy banning students under age 16 from bringing or using motorized and electric transportation devices on school property, district officials announced to families. Registration is required for older students.
The update to Board Policy 223, which governs bicycles and motorized or electric transportation devices, was approved at the board’s November 5, 2026 meeting and took effect Monday, November 9. In a notice titled “Important Student & Community Safety Update,” the district asked families to make sure prohibited devices stay at home.
“Keeping our students and community safe is a shared responsibility,” the notice said.
Under-16 ban Under the policy, students younger than 16 may not bring, ride, park, store or charge e-bikes, electric scooters, e-motos, minibikes, hoverboards or other motorized or electric transportation devices on school property.
Older students Students 16 and older must follow state laws and district rules governing motorized bikes and other electric devices on school grounds. Any such device must meet all legal and district requirements before it can be brought onto school property. High school students must receive district authorization and register an approved device with the school office. Bicycle rules by school
The notice also outlined rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles at each level: Park (grades K-4): Bicycles are not permitted.
Taylor (grades 5-6): Non-motorized bicycles are permitted with parent or guardian and principal permission, and must be secured in a designated area.
Hill (grades 7-12): Non-motorized bicycles are permitted under school procedures and must be secured in a designated bicycle rack.
Handbooks updated The district said its Student and Family Handbooks have been updated to reflect the new expectations. The most current versions are available on the CBSD website.
Families were urged to review the rules with their children before the November start date.
Anyone interested in serving the vacated council seat should submit their intent to council president Eric Kauffman at ekauffman@columbiapa.net or by dropping it off at the borough office. Letters of intent will be received until the start of the November 24,, 2026 regular council meeting at 7:00 p.m. During the regular council meeting we will have a Q&A session and possible vote for an individual. If votes are at a deadlock, a vote will again be held at the December 1, 2026 workshop meeting.
– Must be a registered elector of the borough. 18 years or older.
– Must reside in the borough.
– Must have resided continuously in the borough for at least one year immediately prior to the election (affidavit required before being sworn in).
– Must maintain residency in the borough while serving.
– Incompatible offices: A school director or charter school trustee cannot serve; no person may hold more than one elective borough office at the same time.
If a vote can not be reached by the December 1, 2026 meeting, a vote including the vacancy board will be held December 8, 2026 at the regular council meeting.
This term will expire Monday, January 2, 2028 at the start of the reorganization meeting.
The Columbia School District ended the 2025-26 school year with an overall surplus of about $1.1 million, according to preliminary figures presented to the school board last week.
Business Manager Keith Ramsey shared the pre-audit financial balances at the board’s November 5 meeting. The numbers are subject to change once the district’s audit is complete.
Ramsey recommended that the board transfer the surplus cash to the district’s capital improvement fund, which would set the money aside for future projects.
Board members are expected to vote on the proposed transfer at their next meeting.
The Columbia Borough School Board appointed April Conroy on November 5, filling the opening left by Thomas G. Ziegler, who resigned last month.
Conroy, owner of the Prospect Diner, was interviewed by the board and was sworn in immediately after her appointment. She will serve for the remainder of the vacated term.
Conroy was the only candidate to submit a letter of interest to the board,
An offer you can’t refuse… Columbia Cat Action Team member Frank Doutrich has announced that he will donate $10 to the CCAT organization for each person who attends the meeting this Wednesday, November 11, 2026. For example: If 20 people show up that’s a $200 donation to the Columbia Cat Action Team!
Not only will your presence generate a donation, you will learn about the Columbia Cat Action Team.
The meeting will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the second floor of Columbia’s Watch and Clock Museum at North Fifth and Poplar.
![Stu Huggens was the keynote speaker at this year’s event. He’s shown here performing downtown last year. [Columbia Spy file photo]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOa2EuUhRUctO0iNrKBQuzGByQiutBUOq0BLEfnGx-Sm5zdwjvfTjt7E6pEWldeWntA218y0PeSv9nmabQOPZbWAI6DuVPE1ZWXanhdcqQ4jzho3dK8F3Bwgf9BEHWrOCZ_p1pVlg2EfZhV8AqtdC70VZ7q1u8WWMpY85yLHiLyOMdLYtgBqI6hJi3TM/s640/1000069482.jpg){kind=link}
