Pamela Williams is sworn in at the April 11, 2016 Columbia Borough Council meeting.
At Monday night's Columbia Borough Council meeting, council selected Pamela Williams to fill the seat recently vacated by longtime councillor Michael Beury. (Beury's resignation was effective March 31, 2016.) Williams was one of three candidates vying for the seat. Her term will run until December 31, 2017.
Williams moved to Columbia from New Jersey three years ago. Born in Lancaster, she moved to Waynesboro, PA and graduated from Waynesboro High School. She later graduated from Lycoming College. She has worked as an executive assistant for a medical equipment company and more recently as a teller at the former Susquehanna Bank.
"I think that Columbia is a town where exciting things are happening," she said.
Williams helped organize “Movies Under The Stars” program last summer.
Councillors Barry Ford, Cleon Berntheizel, Mary Barninger, and Council President Kelly Murphy voted for the appointment. Councillor Steph Weisser was the lone "no" vote. Councillor Sherry Welsh was not present.
Councillors Barry Ford, Cleon Berntheizel, Mary Barninger, and Council President Kelly Murphy voted for the appointment. Councillor Steph Weisser was the lone "no" vote. Councillor Sherry Welsh was not present.
I hope she has an open mind and best wishes.
ReplyDeleteEvery council members should vote, present or not.
Can she even be on council since she is not a property owner? She is a renter.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand that "property ownership" to participate in government went out of fashion a long time ago. Here are the qualifications needed to be a borough councillor in Pennsylvania:
DeleteThere are a few basic qualifications you must meet to serve as a borough councilor:
• You must be a registered voter.
• You must be a resident of the borough.
• Councilors must have resided in the borough continuously for at least one year before their election.
• To continue serving as a councilor, an individual must retain residence within the borough.
• To qualify as a voter, a person must be eighteen years of age and a resident of the election district. A person whose name appears on the district voting register but who is no longer a resident of the borough is not a lawfully registered elector.
I saw that Joe Nikolaus was a nominee for Council. He has been an upstanding citizen for Columbia for all his life. I know he has been on Zoning for a while.
ReplyDeleteWhat does this newcomer have over a life long committed citizen? Some one who attended the meeting said that Joe had the criteria over both candidates.
Was this a back door political move to assure that the Council is stacked for the advantage of votes.
Someone needs to investigate the possibility of secret meetings without all of the Councilors being aware.
Yes to your second paragraph question.
DeleteJoe would and should have been SELECTED!
ReplyDeleteWe've seen past councilors who are lifelong Cola residents not good for the job. Having a long history may mean they are part of the clique. We need people who have forward thinking ideas which involve consolidation aka tax savings. Not stale old ones with town pride & we can do it ourselves.
ReplyDeleteStale, old, town pride and confidence???
ReplyDeleteYou hit below the belt and then insult?
LOL
Call it insult, call it truth. I'd like to call ourselves Hempfield School District, & have West Hempfield Police patrolling our town. Than I could smile a little come property tax time & be able to sell my property for a nice price when the time comes.
DeleteI hope she does well. At times, it is good to get new, outside people in. If they are willing to give their time and talents to this office, let us not be little them, but work with them. Not every decision council makes we will all like, but at least they are giving their time.
ReplyDeletethe problem with a majority of the same ole stale councilors are that many have personal agendas. take the river park and the millions and millions there. even though its beautiful, ALL that was needed were restrooms and picnic tables. now the building which is WAY TOO BIG for the space it occupies covers more green grass leaving VERY LITTLE space to throw down a blanket and fish or relax and read. BUT past mgmt will NOT listen to common sense.
ReplyDeleteThe entire riverfront, the fire companies, the market, the historic district, the business district, yes there are personal agendas
ReplyDeleteShe will do well!
DeleteGood luck PAm and thanks for taking the initiative to serve the Boro!!
ReplyDelete