Saturday, February 27, 2021
Columbia council still mulling new member, decides it's time to upgrade Borough Hall clock
Gayle Johnson | For LNP. Meeting, Feb. 23.
What happened: Council members failed to choose a replacement for a vacant council seat, rescinded their previous decision on a public relations firm, and decided to upgrade the inner workings of the clock at Borough Hall.
Vacant seat: Council members interviewed three applicants and, after more than an hour of discussion, no candidate received a majority vote. Ryan Sexton, a truck driver and veteran, and mechanic Peter Stahl each received three yes votes from the six-member council. Chris Misciagna, a nurse, received two yes votes.
Discussion: Council President Heather Zink noted that Sexton, who lives in the first ward, would bring additional voices into council. Currently, three council members live in the sixth ward, two live in the fourth ward and one lives in the seventh ward. Council member Todd Burgard recommended Stahl because the applicant expressed enthusiasm for the proposed purchase of the McGinness airport property.
What's next: Council members voted to postpone a decision until the March 2 work session. If voting then results in a tie, private citizen William Kloidt, the only noncouncil member on the vacancy board, will cast the deciding vote. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on the borough's Facebook page.
Quotable: "None of us had talked about (the candidates) beforehand," Zink said after the meeting. "We all need to think about the direction we want to go with the council."
New logo: Council voted to rescind a contract with Gavin Marketing, an advertising and PR firm, to design a single brand and logo to represent the borough. Instead, council member Burgard, a graphic designer who owns a business consulting firm, will work for free to design a unifying message and image for Columbia. Zink said council is exploring whether it has to pay a $2,500 termination fee for breaking its contract with Gavin.
Borough Hall clock tower: The borough will seek proposals for updating the handmade timepiece inside the clock at the top of the borough hall tower. Borough Manager Mark Stivers said the antique clock will look the same from the outside but will have an electronic timepiece. The clock's current mechanism will be donated to the National Watch & Clock Museum. The 1,000-pound bell first rang May 30, 1949, during a Memorial Day remembrance of those lost in all wars. A town hall fire in 1947 damaged the original bell, built in 1874. Clockmakers melted down the original bell and used the material to create the new device, according to a souvenir program describing the event.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
After several tries, council fails to fill vacant seat
After the six councillors flung questions at the three, several motioned to choose applicants for a vote, as follows:
Sharon Lintner made a motion to consider Chris Misciagna, but didn't receive a second.
Todd Burgard made a motion for Peter Stahl, but also did not receive a second.
Howard Stevens motioned to choose Ryan Sexton. Again, no second.
After all motions failed, borough solicitor Evan Gabel told council that it has 30 days to make an appointment and suggested making a decision at its March 2 work session. Gabel noted that council could not accept more applications in the interim, because the deadline had already been set.
[The meeting then went slightly askew with minor speechifying and feel-good chatter among councillors, as well as citizen comments:
Burgard said he wants a smaller police force, just not at this time. He said it could be achieved through economic development. He also said that residents could grow their own "socioeconomic status." Burgard said he liked that his neighbor Peter Stahl favored development at the McGinness airport property on Manor Street. (Stahl's comment was in response to councilman Eric Kauffman's interview question about the property.)
In a comment, resident Robert Misciagna told council that the question about the McGinness property should be disregarded, but two councillors disagreed with him, especially Burgard, who said he found the question to be relevant, because it shows the applicants' visions for Columbia. (Note: Misciagna's comment is valid, however, because borough officials have not been totally transparent about details of a possible purchase of the property; therefore, applicants could not possibly be informed enough to render a valid opinion.)
Hoping for a better result, council tried once again to choose an applicant. Burgard again motioned to appoint Stahl. This time, the motion was seconded by Kauffman. Fran FitzGerald, Kauffman, and Burgard voted yes, for a 3-3 tie, meaning the motion failed. (Normally, the mayor breaks a tie vote, except when council chooses an applicant.)
Stevens made a motion to choose Sexton, and Zink seconded. Fitzgerald, Stevens, and Zink voted yes, once again leading to a tie. Lintner subsequently made a motion for Misciagna, with a second by Kauffman. Lintner and Kaufman were the only yes votes.
Due to lack of a decision, council tabled the issue until its March 2 meeting. The term of the open position expires on January 4, 2022.
Monday, February 22, 2021
One man's quest to remove trash from the Susquehanna River one canoe-full at a time
DEEDS RECORDED - COLUMBIA BOROUGH - FEB. 22, 2021
Frederick E. Elslager and Alice M. Best conveyed property on a public road to James C. Horn Jr. for $130,000.
Joann M. Fritz conveyed 450 Avenue I to Samuel E. Esh for $73,000.
Robert K. Emel conveyed property on a public road to Robert K. Emel and Michelle B. Emel for $1.
Jonette R. Hall and Jonette Rose Russo conveyed property on South Sixth Street to Jonette Rose Russo for $1.
Katelin J. Droege and Katelin J. Hess conveyed 59 S. Sixth St. to Cody Gray and Jenna Behrens for $210,000.
Sunday, February 21, 2021
About Town - February 21, 2021
