The Mystery of the Market House Trust
In response to citizens' questions submitted to this website, as well as the veil of mystery shrouding the workings of the Columbia Historic Market House Trust, I've uncovered the following information.
Board members are as follows:
Chairman Cleon Berntheizel
Vice-Chairman Don Haines
Secretary Rebecca Murphy
Treasurer Elaine Beckley
Member (nonvoting) Ed Schopf
Member Jodie Eck (nonvoting)
Member (nonvoting) as of yet unnamed
Historically, the Trust has met at the Mount Bethel Cemetery Superintendent's House, but reportedly now meets at Cafe Garth, or the residence of its owner, Cleon Bertheizel, on Second Street.
The following "Rules of the Columbia Historic Market House" document (from 5/10/2012) has been distributed to all vendors.
(Click on the image for a larger view.)
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A contact address for the Trust can be seen on the above document:
CHMHT, P.O. Box 688, Columbia, PA 17512
Recently, Vice-Chairman Don Haines posed for the photograph shown above with the Market House's new bistro-style furniture. The removal of the previous furniture was discussed at last Monday night's Columbia Borough Council meeting and was thought to have been removed without authorization. The furniture is considered borough property, and the matter is under investigation.
An article about the Trust appeared in Lancaster Newspapers last year.
Recently a "Notice of Violation" was presented by the Trust to vendors who signed a petition to abolish the entity. Vendors had presented the petition to borough council amid accusations of mismanagement by the Trust.
Recently, one vendor had been closed down by the Trust for two days due to operating an allegedly unclean stand.
Recently, one vendor had been closed down by the Trust for two days due to operating an allegedly unclean stand.
Currently, most of the vendor stands available sit empty. One estimate puts vendor occupancy at less than one quarter of the Market House.
Comments
--fmb
or gr dragon on friday.columbia is a one day mkt.if other stands want more days,i see no problem as long as its no cost to boro.why is boro making up difference to pay bills because trust runs the market into the ground?
Putting more junk (and I include most antiques in that category) in that building is doing more of the same. And If you want to open it up as an antique/junk space, that's fine. Just don't pretend it is a market house anymore. Nor complain about other proposed uses for said building.
This isn't the last century anymore. People downtown apparently have little interest in a market, and most people have zero reason to go downtown anymore. Online banking and direct deposit made sure of that. Plus most of the grocery stores have local produce, and there's plenty of stands within a 5 minute drive that offer convenience the market house just can't compete with anymore.
--FMB
--FMB
A transplant that call Columbia home
I find it troubling to see that the "Trust" can close down a stand holder for uncleanliness- are they now Code Enforcement Officers as well?
Has anyone located the picnic tables? If they were property of the Borough of Columbia- maybe they can relocate them to a park- or better yet, put them back in the Market House!
The whole issue is sad- for the vendors, for their customers, and for Columbia citizens. A few are ruining the income for the vendors, creating a bad experience for their small customer base, and meanwhile, another entity of what could be a steady draw of people to the Borough slides downhill and will "fade to black" if it closes.
Another topic to visit- is the food safety inspections for the stand holders in the Market House - how do we know it is safe? This is not public information - or actually- it is public information, but it is all but impossible to access.
Can anyone shed light on these issues?