Market manager candidate offers proposal for position

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At 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon, September 26, Columbia Borough Council will hold a special meeting to interview three candidates for the position of market house manager for the Columbia Historic Market House. A proposal by Christopher Vera, a candidate for the position, is presented HERE.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Chris, very nice presentation. You mentioned about using the borough farm for growing I would get the soil tested first.If I remember that ground was used as a dump. Besides that, good ideas and good luck

September 25, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Anonymous said…
Neat ideas good job hope you will get the market house manager job hope council will agree and have not already made up there minds who the next manager will be.
September 25, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Anonymous said…
And just who will be doing all the prep work ( plot clearing,tilling,and every thing elese that needs to be done)for this to happen at the boro fram.I hope it is not the boro workers we dont need you tax dollers going fund this prodject
September 25, 2016 at 5:20 PM
Anonymous said…
I heard that there was nothing dumped there that would present hazards with regard to growing crops.
September 25, 2016 at 5:24 PM
Anonymous said…
He doesn't have a chance
September 25, 2016 at 5:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Who are the other two?
Is this a public meeting?
Coffee Club candidate better not already have this sewed up
September 25, 2016 at 8:22 PM
Anonymous said…
maybe turn the market in to a hydroponic vegetable growing house and let the kids grow and sell things right from the market house itself teaching both farming Technics as well as business skills as a one of a kind only one in the nation run by the future business leaders of America class run local interactive community market ?
September 25, 2016 at 8:27 PM
Anonymous said…
This concept has worked very well in other areas such as Lancaster and Harrisburg.
September 25, 2016 at 8:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Take your pick please: ? Mystery loans, tax dollars or the possibility of grant money to fund a business venture for the guys setting up the Aquaponic Booth or help from men already earning tax dollars.
September 25, 2016 at 8:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Not a very nice thing to say to someone that is putting forth the time and effort to apply.

Let's not forget the one other candidate jumped ship when the going got tough.
September 25, 2016 at 8:42 PM
Anonymous said…
Correct, that was said at a meeting. I would still find it wise to do testing.
September 25, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Anonymous said…
You have to test the ground because you could not build on the land it was contaminated !
September 25, 2016 at 8:53 PM
Anonymous said…
This Aquaponic idea will be a market money pit. Why wasn't this presented to the new market advisory committee? Did other vendors present ideas prior to opening their stands? Did any other vendors get to apply for grants? Is this a joint business venture with the borough?
September 25, 2016 at 8:54 PM
Anonymous said…
Oh yes, she left them abruptly.
September 25, 2016 at 9:02 PM
Anonymous said…
What do you mean he doesn't have a chance of course if you know something the rest of us don't know or are you a part of the coffee club? Also the one person who wants the job had it before why does she want it back again when she gave it up Should not have it again new person new ideas council be fair about this.

September 25, 2016 at 9:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Fair is not in their vocabulary.
Examples: Joe Nicklaus, Frank Doutrich, Jennifer Davis, to name a few recent ones.
September 26, 2016 at 8:24 AM
Anonymous said…
In most cases, the work is done by the growers. About the only fee to the tax payers is soil testing,which is not much. Penn State extension service will do it.If the borough would ever sell the ground, it would have to be tested anyhow.
September 26, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Anonymous said…
Amen you hit it right on the head they don't know what the word fair means maybe someone should explain it to them.
September 26, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Anonymous said…
If the person is who I am thinking, she had the market house filled, along with the building beside the market. I do not know why she left, but maybe she is worth an interview.
September 26, 2016 at 1:41 PM
Anonymous said…
She wants it back because her "friends" on council will give her what she wants. The trust did not.
September 26, 2016 at 2:36 PM
Anonymous said…
She does, get a clue.
September 26, 2016 at 2:37 PM
Anonymous said…
They didn't have $20,000/year to give her. The borough will give her that AND more. However, it will be YOUR tax dollars they give her.
September 26, 2016 at 2:39 PM
Anonymous said…
Cole, please publish the results if possible tonight.
September 26, 2016 at 3:26 PM
Joe Lintner said…
No vote taken at meeting.
September 26, 2016 at 6:12 PM
Anonymous said…
they need to advertise harder for a manager there are not enough candidates it is not fair to the townsfolk to not have more candidates to choose from it is not that the ones that applied are not good but it there should have been more so they are not advertising properly lots of good people are looking for jobs these days and there should have been more candidates they can still make another run at advertising and see who applies please
September 26, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Hiring a market manager right now is premature. The borough is not ready nor do they have a vision for the building.
September 27, 2016 at 1:39 PM
Anonymous said…
You are right, they do need to re-advertise for the position. Only interviewing 3 candidates doesn't speak to well of the choices that have been made by council. In addition; all members of council and management should participate in the interviewing process since there are many facets to being Market Manager. We are talking about working with the stand holders, Public Works for maintenance, Finance for accounts receivables and banking, along with marketing and social media. I would also suggest Rebecca - the "Professional Services" consultant work with you in interviewing additional candidates. Definitely disappointed council not did a poor job at asking questions for people looking to take over managing a hidden "gem" in Columbia Borough. A place that has so much to offer and sadly not revered by many in the community.
September 27, 2016 at 4:06 PM
Sharon said…
One vendor remarked about Burning Bridge and Kettle Works bring in lots of people. It really is this simple: They offer a product people want. The market does not. We need one really good permanent stand in market to serve as a base or foundation that smaller stands can feed off of. Aquaponics is not going to do that for the market. It would be better to pay one proven large standholder to set up under contract then to pay so much for the manager. That one standholder is the key to holding this market together.
This is every bit as important as the manager position.
September 28, 2016 at 6:07 AM
Anonymous said…
Sharon you are absolutely right. In the original study done years ago, this concept was born. It was referred to as the "anchor stand".
September 28, 2016 at 11:04 AM
Anonymous said…
Excellent point, actually, the right the anchor tenant could probably manage the market along with a part time paid assistant. There are also Amish groups that come in and run markets and bring all of their own vendors. Shrewsberry Market in Southern York county was originally anchored by an Amish group, and maybe still is. One or two of the Council members should pay that market a visit and talk to the Amish.
September 28, 2016 at 11:49 AM
Anonymous said…
There is an "Anchor Stand" in the market and this stand needs to be introduced to Lancaster County, Susquehanna Blue Smoke. Could he be the next anchor stand success story? I say yes.

Over the last ten years there were some good anchor stands such as Taste of Style, Keagy's Produce, Pot Belly Soups, Rap's, Taco to Go, Sadie's Pretzels, Jill's, Sunnyside Bakery, Abram's Meats, Flour Child, etc. (Oh, that's right. These great stands were in the market from 2005-2010 when business was vibrant).

TidePride!
September 28, 2016 at 10:49 PM
Anonymous said…
I think Whistlestop Deli will be the next anchor at market. Their signature sandwiches have received rave reviews from customers and posts online. Even when market is slow they seem to be busy. Besides they are open more than anyone. Wed-Fri 10-2 and the regular hours. Check them out.
September 29, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Sharon said…
You are correct, Susquehanna Blue Smoke is a great stand with excellent food. Maybe that specific vendor should be advertised more heavily. Signs at THE and RiverPark "Get barbeque at the market today!"
Everyone loves barbecue. Catch people coming off of the trail. They are hungry and looking for places to eat. Maybe a barbecue cook-off at RiverPark on a Sunday afternoon could attract attention. Let people know the stand is normally at market.
September 29, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Anonymous said…
if "Business was Vibrant" - why did they leave ?? Business was not Vibrant ! Susquehanna Blue Smoke , smoked them all !! .., and whoever suggested that they be the designated Anchor, that's a great idea !!, make them Anchor, give them free rent, and give them 10% of all income from any and all new tenants that they bring in and manage ! Forget this $50,000. a year crap !, of tax payers money ???, come on Council , cut us a break !!!
September 30, 2016 at 12:47 AM
Anonymous said…
$50,000. a year or more for a manager - the rents alone do not begin to add up to that much let along the utilities and expenses ! Economics 101
September 30, 2016 at 12:58 AM
Anonymous said…
The reason they all left because people cannot keep their noses out of the manager(s) business and try to control. Renae Sears had a good thing going until a few stands were complaining they were loosing money, but the majority were making money. When Sears got fired the market lost 40-50% of the consumer flow in the market.

The only "Anchor" in the market was having the Trust operate it for over five years with an estimated five plus managers. This is why no one wants to apply for this position.

It is amazing how many market experts we have on this blog. Stop the drama, get to work and make this market viable for the community. Council needs to open their eyes not only for the market, but the four business currently closing or contemplating closing: Fabshop, Geltz Gotz Goodeze, Keeping Room and Lady Bug Keepers in the next few months.

Wake up people and start working together and make this town we live in a winner.

Paul W.
September 30, 2016 at 8:01 AM
Anonymous said…
Locals must support Locals
October 1, 2016 at 1:27 PM
Anonymous said…
Yeah, it's only tax money
October 2, 2016 at 6:17 PM
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