About Town 11/15/2020

This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)

Pop-up cat keeping an eye on things

Tis the season . . . already?

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Mannequins at 420 Locust

T-shirt and guitars on Locust

Geltz Gotz Goodeze on Locust
Easy chair on Locust
(Some assembly required)
Wearing a mask protects you and others.
(Even a cow knows that.)
And if you don’t wear one, you might have to walk.
Bagged meters at the Avenue H municipal lot
Window issue at Columbia Presbyterian
Yep, it’s FALL.
Open door policy at the Owls?
(No, not really)
Moss in the cracks
Mondrianesque?
More leaves
Well, a rose can’t last forever.
Here’s how it looked last week.
Another vivid sunset
Turning everything orangeish
Be a river giver.
3,510 lbs of food was collected in Columbia for the food bank by the girls scouts, frontier girls, boy scout troop 35, cub scout pack 35, and other volunteers over the past two Saturday mornings.
The banks of Shawnee Run are greener since completion of the restoration project a few weeks ago.
Here’s how it looked in October.
Hold on tight – The year’s not over yet.
Wreaths Across America
The winners
Is there a steal in Wrightsville?
The last gasp?
A look around the Market House this week:
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Farm equipment passing through
Meanwhile, down at Floyd’s:

Will PennDOT toll bridges in Lancaster County? Details early next year

Lancaster County residents may face new tolls on major state-maintained bridges in 2021. 
The state Department of Transportation plans to develop and release in the first quarter of the new year its first list of bridges across the state to be tolled under the new program. Toll rates have yet to be determined and will be set on a case-by-case basis, a spokeswoman said.
The new program, approved Thursday by the Pennsylvania Public Private Transportation Partnership Board, allows PennDOT to toll large bridges that are a high priority for work. Maintenance of the bridges will be turned over to private companies that are paid from the toll fees. 
The board was created by the Legislature to foster private-public partnerships, and because of that PennDOT believes the plan does not require approval by the Legislature. 
For the purpose of this program, PennDOT defines major bridges “as structures of significance based on physical size, location and cost to replace or rehabilitate,” PennDOT spokeswoman Alexis Campbell wrote in an email responding to questions from LNP | LancasterOnline. “These structures are in a condition that warrants timely attention to enhance safety and to avoid disruptions and community impacts if closure or weight restriction were imposed,” Campbell wrote.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/will-penndot-toll-bridges-in-lancaster-county-details-early-next-year/article_eaec0e1e-2602-11eb-9d6f-6f2307e48beb.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Columbia tweaks rules for police, including limiting political action in uniform

COLUMBIA TWEAKS RULES FOR POLICE, INCLUDING LIMITING POLITICAL ACTION IN UNIFORM
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Nov. 10.
What happened: Council voted to advertise amendments to the borough civil service commission’s rules and regulations. The changes amended the grounds for disqualifying police department applicants, as well as disciplining police officers. The most substantial changes make it possible for a police officer to be suspended, removed or demoted based on “engaging or participating in the conduct of a political or election campaign while on duty or in uniform or while using borough property otherwise than to exercise the person’s own right of suffrage,” and “engaging or participating in the conduct of a political or election campaign for an incompatible office.” The change was made “on advice of counsel and had nothing to do with any incidents,” Borough Council President Heather Zink said after the meeting.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-tweaks-rules-for-police-including-limiting-political-action-in-uniform/article_50ef8b3e-26c4-11eb-b98e-efedb271848b.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Council to amend codes ordinance

Columbia Borough Council is amending a codes ordinance due to a recent loss in court, according to discussions at the November 5th and 10th council meetings. At a recent hearing, an attorney for a citizen appealing a $500 fine for a code violation and failure to pay a fine found that the language of the borough ordinance and fees as listed therein don’t pass muster. The attorney argued that due to how the ordinance was written, the borough could charge only $25, and not $500. The magistrate agreed, and the borough lost, triggering a need to amend the ordinance.

The proposed amendment includes changes in language to avoid potential conflicts and to bring the ordinance into compliance. (See the images below.) In addition, fees will be excised from the ordinance and moved to a separate fee schedule, to be adopted this coming January. The move is necessary because by law, council must amend fees by resolution, whereas an ordinance must be amended via another ordinance.

The proposed change will be advertised, and council plans to vote on it at the November 24 meeting. Councilman Howard Stevens told Columbia Spy he is in favor of the changes, since he had promised residents that codes issues would be addressed.

Items in red  indicate proposed changes to the ordinance:

New clothing boutique opens its doors in Columbia

Tatyana Woodard and Donald Carn invite everyone to Styled X Khloe Boutique at 420 Locust Street.

Tatyana Woodard and Donald Carn invite everyone to their new clothing boutique at 420 Locust Street. Named Styled X Khloe Boutique, the shoppe opened its doors on Columbia’s main drag on Wednesday and offers an array of apparel, including tee shirts, jackets and other items. Business hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tatyana stands with a few clothing items reflecting in the mirror.
Donald shows some of the items available, including the jacket he’s wearing, 
which is shown below.
Here’s a shirt that makes a statement.
A varied array of items are available.

Here’s another look at the clothing line.

Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

[LNP | LancasterOnline] 70-year-old woman dies after crash in Columbia Monday morning, police continue investigation

A 70-year-old Columbia woman died after a two-vehicle crash on Monday morning, according to police. 
Columbia Borough police said that Mary Germer died of her injuries at a local hospital after the crash that happened around 6:20 a.m. in the 100 block of Lancaster Avenue. 
Germer was driving a green Dodge Caravan eastbound and was struck by a gray Honda Odyssey driven by a 28-year-old Columbia man. 
Both were taken to the hospital, police said. Details on the man's injuries were not available as of Tuesday morning.
The Columbia Borough Police, the Regional County Crash Team and the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office are investigating the crash.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/70-year-old-woman-dies-after-crash-in-columbia-monday-morning-police-continue-investigation/article_b9f204a4-2368-11eb-98d6-83a7d905823c.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Columbia Borough Council reviews 2nd 2021 budget proposal

Council reviewed the second 2021 budget proposal and discussed strategies for eventually reducing use of the borough’s savings, known as the fund balance, to zero over the next several years. Increasing property values and reducing police department spending were two of the main ideas put forth.

Ideas for reducing use of fund balance: In the latest budget proposal, the fund balance covers a $575,403 funding gap, representing 8.38% of the total budget. Borough Manager Mark Stivers suggested in the future, the best way to eliminate the need to dip into the fund balance is to increase revenue by increasing commercial and residential property values through community development. On the other hand, council President Heather Zink said the answer might be reducing police department spending, which accounts for $3.59 million — 52% of the borough's total general fund expenditures — in the latest budget proposal.

2021 budget proposal details: The 2021 budget proposal is for $6.86 million. The municipal millage rate is staying the same at 8.0, which means the tax bill for a property assessed at $100,000 would continue to be $800.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-reviews-2nd-2021-budget-proposal/article_f61e7f5c-22c3-11eb-876f-cbd59f26c72f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Council discusses pay raise for itself and the mayor

Columbia Borough Councillors might soon decide to give themselves and the mayor a pay raise that would almost triple the combined annual compensation for the eight officials, from $9,600 to $25,920.

During an informal discussion at last Thursday’s work session, council president Heather Zink floated the idea, saying “people” had asked her what the process was and if it could be brought up for discussion. She did not specify who made the request.

Council vice president Sharon Lintner rejected the idea outright: “I certainly am not in favor of that. I just want to make that really, really clear, because I ran to try to stop spending money, not to give council a raise.”

Councilman Todd Burgard also opposed the idea, at least until the borough has the funds. “I don’t think we should do anything until we have a surplus in our budget,” Burgard said.

Councilman Howard Stevens expressed a similar sentiment: “I think as long as we’re taking money out of reserve to balance the budget, I don’t think council should take any money.”

Councilman Eric Kauffman was the only member who spoke out in support of a raise: “I’m in favor of it.”

Councillors Pam Williams and Fran Fitzgerald did not offer an opinion on the issue.

Borough finance manager Kyle Watts offered a possible figure of $3,250/year for each of the seven councillors and the mayor. (Note: The figure of $25,920 is obtained by multiplying $3,250 x 8.)

Borough manager Mark Stivers said he will collect information and survey surrounding boroughs to see what their compensation is. Current councillors would not benefit from a raise, since it would not take effect until 2022 – after the next election. At that time, only three councillors (new or reelected) would reap the reward, since the four newly seated councillors will not have finished their terms by then.

Fresh Express scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at Salem UCC

 REMINDER:

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Fresh Express is scheduled one week earlier than usual and will be Friday, November 20 from 3:30-5:00pm.

Please note that location has changed and is now at Salem UCC, 324 Walnut Street. The distribution will be indoors in the Education Center at the rear of the building.

Social distancing will be practiced and please wear a mask when attending. Pre-registration is requested at 717-684-1497.

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Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has partnered with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Columbia Life Network, Community Action Partnership, Hunger-Free Lancaster County, and Salem United Church of Christ to bring Fresh Express, a mobile food pantry filled with fresh produce and healthy food options, to Columbia, Pennsylvania.