Author: SPY

School Superintendent Tom Strickler announced that the Columbia Borough School District received a PA Smart Grant in the amount of $35,000 for STEM education. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Columbia’s Historical Architectural Review Board approved a proposal for new construction at 401 Locust Street at its January 16, 2019 meeting. Steven Funk of LeFevre Funk Architects Inc. presented a proposal for the construction of a three-story, seven-bay addition to the east elevation of the existing three-story corner building which is owned by CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health. The 12,000 square-foot addition will include ground-level parking.  The project was previously discussed before HARB at its November 21, 2018 meeting. The building description and the project request and review are shown below:

CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health posted the following comment about the project on Columbia Spy’s Facebook page:

“Thank you for your interest in our project at 401 Locust Street. As a point of clarification: this project is entirely funded by CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health. There is no funding provided by the Borough to expand the building, to create the St. John Neumann School for Children and Families or to operate the childcare center once it is opened. The school which will open in the spring of 2020 will provide quality and affordable childcare for children and families in Columbia Borough. CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health is happy to answer questions and provide answers about the project as we are able. Earlier articles that outlined the plans for the school and the building expansion were featured on both Columbia Spy and LNP + LancasterOnline. CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health through our Healthy Columbia Project and initiatives such as the St. John Neumann School for Children and Families is making significant investment to respond to community needs and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in Columbia Borough.”

Due to anticipated attendance at the 7:00 PM Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Borough Council Meeting being larger than normal, the meeting will take place at the Columbia Borough School District Administration Center (200 N. Fifth Street, Columbia, PA 17512).

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said it will not investigate an alleged violation of the state’s Sunshine Act by Columbia Borough Council.

Borough resident Sharon Lintner filed the complaint after she said council voted on a funding matter in executive session during a November meeting.

“That vote should have been taken in public at the Nov. 7 meeting,” Lintner told LNP on Tuesday. “I felt that was not right because we weren’t privy to where that money came from.

Several Columbia residents with concerns about a 21 percent tax hike, a controversial loan program and issues surrounding governmental transparency are hoping to gain four borough council seats up for grabs this year.

From LNP’s January 14, 2019 Government Calendar:

The Historical Architectural Review Board of the Borough of Columbia will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, in council chambers of Borough Hall, 308 Locust St., Columbia. Agenda items include:

401 Locust St., CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health, owner; LeFevre Funk Architects Inc., applicant. Construction of a three-story, seven-bay addition to the east elevation of an existing three-story corner building, to include ground-level parking.