[LNP | LancasterOnline] Columbia again OKs billboard, approves budget and salary increases for police

• When: Council meeting, Dec. 28. Council member Peter Stahl was absent.

• What happened: Council members, who unanimously approved a zoning amendment at the Dec. 12 meeting, reintroduced the topic and voted 5-1 to approve it again after Mayor Leo Lutz failed to sign the document because he disagrees with the amendment for safety reasons.

• More: Council member Sharon Lintner changed her vote to no Dec. 28 because she researched safety concerns, she said.

• Background: Oaktree Outdoor Advertising of Lancaster asked council Nov. 9 to approve an amendment that would allow the company to seek permission from the state Department of Transportation to replace an existing billboard on 0.5 acres south of Route 30 and north of Linden Street with a much-larger digital billboard. The property formerly housed the borough's visitors center and is visible from Route 30.

• More: Lutz said he failed to sign the amendment because he wanted a statement read into the minutes of the Dec. 28 meeting. Under state law, a governing body must vote again on a matter if the mayor doesn't sign off on it.

• Quotable: "I do not feel that this ordinance addresses the safety problems that may exist with the placement of the sign close to the westbound exit of Route 30," Lutz told council members, explaining that drivers who look at the billboard may become distracted. "I also believe the erection of this sign will be a nuisance to adjacent property owners."

• Details: The Lancaster County Planning Commission and the borough's planning commission previously recommended approving the amendment.

• Pay raises: The starting salary for a new police officer will jump by about $14,000 per year, under a new contract between council members and the borough's police association.

• Quotable: "We were having a hard time attracting new officers," Mark Stivers, borough manager, explained during a Dec. 29 phone call.

• More: The current contract offered a $45,929 starting salary, about $10,000 lower than some municipalities in the area, Stivers said. The new salary of $60,000 should bridge that gap. In addition, officers who stay with the borough six years will receive 5% raises during years seven and eight and 4% raises during years nine and 10.

Budget: Council members adopted a $17.17 million budget for 2024, up from $16.73 million for 2023. Major expenses include $4.1 million for the police department and $1.1 million for public works on highways.

• Details: The spending plan, which does not include a tax increase, is predicted to use about $8.5 million from the borough's general fund and roughly $8.6 million from other accounts including two capital funds, a liquid fuels account and one that contains federal pandemic relief money.

• What's next: Council will hold a reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at 308 Locust St. The meeting also will be available on the borough's YouTube channel the next day.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/@columbiaborough9899 to access the meeting.

—Gayle Johnson For LNP | LancasterOnline

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