Takeaways from the October Columbia Borough Council Meeting

Council unanimously disapproved a request for the inter-municipal transfer of a catering club license for the 717 Social Club at 401 South 2nd Street. The license would have allowed the club to charge for alcoholic beverages. Currently, drinks are paid for by donation. The borough solicitor will present “findings of fact and conclusions of law” in support of the decision at the November 12 council meeting. 

Council voted to “de-prioritize” the purchase of the McGinness property on Manor Street from its economic development plan. Specs on the property can be found HERE.

Council voted to release $100,000 to the Columbia Borough Fire Department from the department’s capital improvement escrow fund for the purchase of new fire equipment. 

Council voted to consent to the acquisition by the Lancaster County Land Bank Authority of the following borough properties: 

• 32 South 9th Street (vacant for over two years) 
• 838 Houston Street (vacant for one year, condemned January 2016) 
• 318 South 3rd Street (vacant for three years) 
• 332 Locust Street (condemned May 2017) 

Council passed a resolution (shown above) to oppose PA House Bill 2564, the "Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act." According to solicitor Barry Handwerger, the bill would significantly limit local legislative rights over rights of way and could allow proliferation of antennas, poles, etc. without permit requests or approval from the municipality and would strip the right to regulate zoning. State Rep. Frank A. Farry introduced the bill, the text of which is HERE.  His memorandum on the bill is HERE.

Council voted to adopt an amendment to the borough code to revise the definition of “Alteration” for properties in the historic district. The text of the amendment is shown above.