Gabel: “At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that the rumors of the text messages and inappropriate relationship were unfounded.” [Columbia Spy file photo]
JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
At the March 10, 2026 Columbia Borough Council meeting, the borough’s solicitor publicly addressed long‑running rumors of employee misconduct, disclosing that an internal investigation found no evidence to support the allegations.
Solicitor Evan Gabel read a prepared statement explaining that the borough had investigated claims that surfaced in July 2024, alleging that a former borough employee and an elected official had exchanged inappropriate text messages and carried on an inappropriate relationship. Gabel said he led the investigation in coordination with the Columbia Borough Police Department.
According to the statement, the borough typically does not comment on personnel matters involving employees or elected officials. Gabel said that policy is grounded in privacy protections under the law, but he added that the volume of rumors circulating in public meetings and “other forums” prompted the borough to address the issue directly.
Gabel emphasized that officials “take these matters very seriously” and conducted the inquiry “to the fullest extent of its authority.”
“At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that the rumors of the text messages and inappropriate relationship were unfounded. No similar criminal complaint was filed by either party allegedly involved and there was no further action that could be taken by the borough at that time.” — Borough Solicitor Evan Gabel, reading the borough’s official statement
Gabel said the borough chose to speak publicly because “potentially defamatory statements” had been made in public settings, and officials felt they had “no choice but to stop the spread of misinformation.”
Gabel stated that the borough considers the matter closed and will make no further comment.
A resident’s question at a January Columbia Borough Council meeting triggered a search for answers that led to the discovery of a document that was kept from the public and council members.
At the January 27, 2026 meeting, resident Sharon Lintner asked officialsabout a bid proposal submitted by the Columbia Borough Police Department to Wrightsville Borough for police coverage services in Wrightsville.
Officials either said they were unaware of such a proposal or downplayed its existence.
Council President Eric Kauffman replied that he was unaware of the proposal. Mayor Leo Lutz said that the matter was discussed with Wrightsville but there was “nothing official” and no correspondence and no monetary figures were mentioned. “We didn’t even talk money,” Lutz said.
Councilman Ethan Byers said there was no formal discussion, and Councilman Kelly Murphy said it was nothing more than a phone conversation. Lutz added that the exchange had occurred about two years ago and called it “old news.” Lutz also said that no written correspondence had ever been sent to Wrightsville Borough. However, Wrightsville officials told Lintner that a proposal existed, and a meeting had taken place with officials of both boroughs at Columbia Borough Hall.
Troubled by the inconsistent answers, Lintner submitted a records request to Wrightsville Borough. The document obtained shows that the Columbia Borough Police Department had indeed submitted a policing services proposal to Wrightsville Borough, contradicting statements by borough officials. The document, Policing Services Proposal to Wrightsville Borough, is dated April 15, 2025 and bears the official logo of the Columbia Borough Police Department.
The proposal, which was discussed at the November 3, 2025 Wrightsville Borough Council meeting, stated that full-time police services to Wrightsville would include response to calls and proactive patrol and enforcement for 2026.
From thePolicing Services Proposal to Wrightsville Borough
The proposal included a detailed cost breakdown based on a per capita formula. Using Columbia’s 2025 police budget of $3,963,732 divided by Columbia’s population of 10,222, the department arrived at a per capita cost of $387.76. Applied to Wrightsville’s population of 2,257 residents, the total annual cost of coverage came to $875,174.32.
From thePolicing Services Proposal to Wrightsville Borough
The proposal also included a 2025 Columbia Borough Police Department staffing chart, showing the department’s organizational structure under the Chief of Police. The department at that time consisted of four sergeants overseeing a total of ten patrolmen, two corporals, one part-time patrolman, one detective, one drug task force officer, eight crossing guards, three part-time enforcement officers, a Coordinator of Services, a full-time and two part-time Community Service Aides (CSA), and an administrative assistant.
At the February 24, 2026 borough council meeting, Lintner once again raised the issue, but some councilors still seemed unaware of the proposal. Police Chief Jack Brommer finally admitted sending the proposal to Wrightsville. “I submitted the numbers,” Brommer said. “When council was saying they weren’t aware, I think they weren’t aware of the actual proposal — the initial proposal that was submitted — but council was aware through discussions we had with them previously.”
An email from Wrightsville Borough to Lintner provided information on proposals from other departments that were requested by Wrightsville for police coverage for 2026 and are shown below:
Columbia Borough Police Department – $875,174.32
Hellam Township Police Department – $450,000.00
York County Regional Police Department – $557,000.00
Ultimately, Wrightsville contracted with the Hellam Township Police Department.
At the March 10 council meeting, Lintner said, “I want to be able to trust those people that I helped to elect and the people I turn my money over to,” Lintner said, adding that if her question had been answered promptly, she wouldn’t have had to submit a Right-to-Know request.
This article is based on statements made at the January 27, February 24, and March 10, 2026 Columbia Borough Council meetings and documents obtained through a Right-to-Know request submitted to Wrightsville Borough.
Columbia Borough Council has voted on a long-delayed resolution authorizing a $1.75 million grant application to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). RACP is a Commonwealth program that funds the construction of economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects across the state.
Resolution No. 2026-13, passed unanimously by council at Tuesday’s regular meeting, authorizes the borough to submit the application to the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget on behalf of the Columbia Economic Development Initiative. The original resolution authorizing the application was never formally approved, requiring a retroactive vote to bring the borough into compliance. The resolution designates Interim Borough Manager Jack Brommer and Council President Eric Kauffman to execute all documents and agreements related to the application.
Resolution No. 2026-13
The current resolution comes after a series of hurdles that kept the borough from collecting on the grant, including a $26,000 discrepancy and a missing Market House deed.
According to a 2019 LNP/LancasterOnline article, Columbia Borough was approved to receive a $1.75 million matching grant from the state for renovations to the Columbia Market House and the creation of additional downtown parking. Borough officials submitted information several times, but state officials repeatedly requested more details. In the meantime, council voted to spend an additional $1.75 million, required to match the grant.
The grant itself underwent a significant restructuring last year. At council’s May 27, 2025 meeting, members voted to reorganize the two-phase RACP package after state officials said that reimbursement for Phase 1 work was contingent on the borough moving forward with Phase 2. “If we do not do RACP Phase 2, we do not get paid for RACP Phase 1,” Steven Kaufhold, then borough manager, said. “This is really one big grant. It’s just in two separate sections.”
The restructuring reduced the Phase 1 request to $1 million — covering work that was already completed on the Market House — while rolling about $300,000 into Phase 2. The move was designed to speed the state’s reimbursement by simplifying the documentation.
Phase 1 was originally assembled as a collection of several smaller projects — most pertaining to the Market House — under one “umbrella,” a structure that had slowed the reimbursement process. Phase 2 is expected to center on a single capital project — possibly a new public works facility — rather than several downtown initiatives originally considered.
When: Columbia school board committee meeting, March 3.
What happened: The board unanimously approved the appointment of Jasmine Preston as a new school board member. Preston, who was the only candidate to apply and be interviewed for the position, replaces Nathan Roach, who resigned at the Feb. 19 meeting due to moving out of the district.
Background: A safety manager and human resources coordinator, Preston currently serves on Columbia Zoning Hearing Board and last year ran for mayor against longtime incumbent Leo Lutz, losing out by less than 100 votes.
Quote: “I’m passionate about assuring that all students receive a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment,” Preston said in her statement to the board. “I believe strong schools are formed through the collaboration of families, executive leaders, administrators, and the community. Serving on the school board would allow me to continue to support the community in a meaningful way while helping guide decisions that support academic excellence and long-term district success.”
What’s next: Preston will serve through Dec. 6, 2027, the remainder of Roach’s two-year term, after which she will be on the ballot for the 2027 school board elections, should she choose to run.
Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 244 S. Fifth St. to Rosado Santiago Luis Francisco, Santiago Luis Francisco Rosado, Mercado Muniz Yamilet Milagros, Muniz Yamilet Milagros Mercado for $222,000.
JDW Property Solutions Inc. conveyed 552 Union St. to Hopkins Benjamin Thomas for $244,000.
Deptula Michael A, Deptula Michael, Deptula Amy conveyed 20 S. Fifth St. to Jessica James for $189,900.
Snyder Robert W, Snyder Gale L. conveyed 1040 Hilmar Circle to Nabilco Management LLC for $171,000.
The estate of Dennis L. Kemmick Jr. conveyed 804 Plane St. to G. Fisher Properties LLC for $165,000.
Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 238 S. Second St. to Christ S. Smucker for $155,000.
Neuman Michael W, Hostetter Kevin, Montano Demetrius conveyed property on South Third Street to One Stop Properties LLC for $1.
Valley View Capital LLC conveyed property on South Second Street to Smucker Christ Stoltzfus for $155,000.
Elizabeth R. Smedley conveyed 258 N. Third St. to Julie Sprenkle for $234,536.
Mount Joy Holdings LP conveyed property on Locust Street to Mount Joy Holdings LP for $1.
West Hempfield Township Police responded to a report of a gunfight in the vicinity of Oak Hollow Drive and Oswego Drive. At least two people involved in a gunfight there fled the scene. Police cordoned off the area.
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Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park for two days to check for contamination from a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.
According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.
An oil containment boom (along with two buoys) was placed near the water intake at the Columbia Water Company.
The boom and buoys were tethered to a nearby tree.
Debris collected over the next few days.
On Sunday morning, the boom was no longer visible.
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Authentic driftwood
This is all that was left of the river ice the other day.
Life jacket zone
A bench for watching the fog
Witch hazel blooming at Columbia River Park
The bushes were an Arbor Day planting dedicated to the late Fred Abendschein.
Keep your hands off government property.
Especially this stream gaging station
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Board (and shovel) leaning against the siding
Sideways, it’s an accurate representation of the current world situation, cracks and all.
On the way back home
This is all that’s left of the McGinness remediation project.
Onward to Middle Creek!
“Sticker shock”
For want of a nail
Window cleaning on Locust
Wood you look at that: lumber for sale at Tollbooth
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Still life with cart and bridge
Detail
Looking kind of like an amusement park, the Von Hess project continues.
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Frogs on the march at Clover Tattoo
The snowdrops are blooming.
High water levels lifted this boat off the shore, where it’s been tethered for three weeks. PA Fish & Game said they’re working with the owner to resolve the situation.
A fast-moving train about to surge past the COLA building
Once again, Columbia Borough Council showed support for transitioning to a single trash hauler for the borough, with one member calling it a priority for the coming year.
A discussion led by councilman Kelly Murphy during Tuesday’s workshop focused on whether council will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and draft a new ordinance to allow the change.
Murphy told council he already located a draft ordinance used by another local borough — one he said would therefore be legal in Pennsylvania — but he wanted to gauge council’s interest before investing more time. “If council thinks this is a waste of time, I’m not going to pursue it any further,” Murphy said. “If it’s something we need to do, then let’s get it on the table.”
Eric Kauffman, council president, said he previously opposed the idea but that it now makes sense.
The four-minute discussion included specifics that would need to be addressed in the RFP, such as whether the borough would collect fees and pay the hauler directly or require the hauler to bill individual property owners, and whether commercial and residential properties would be served under the same contract.
Council decided to place the single-hauler discussion at the top of the agenda for the April work session.
“It’s time for us to get with the rest of the world…Everybody around us, and probably most of Lancaster County, is going to the single-hauler system,” Lutz said earlier this year.
Mayor Leo Lutz has been a driving force behind the single hauler idea. In January, he urged council to consider the idea. “It’s time for us to get with the rest of the world,” Lutz said. “Everybody around us, and probably most of Lancaster County is going to the single-hauler system.”
In 2024, council explored the idea of contracting with a single hauler. At that time, Heather Zink, then borough president, said residents and businesses could save money with a single hauler. Lutz, noting the retirements of two of the borough’s longtime haulers said, “The time is right.”
Lutz opposed using a single hauler a few years earlier, however. In 2019, he said that doing so would put local haulers — some of whom are residents — out of business, adding that in many cases, those companies also employ borough residents. Lutz noted that a single hauler would not be available for special jobs like picking up mattresses or TVs, etc. “You’re not going to get a big hauler to do that kind of work, that kind of assistance, for you,” Lutz said.
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Columbia Spy 