I hope he remembered to plug the meter.
The borough needs all the revenue it can get.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Hempfield resident wins suit to obtain district budget information
Hempfield School District must open its books to a resident who sued for more detailed budget information from the district administration.
The state Office of Open Records on Monday ruled in favor of Stephanie Rittenhouse, of Woodlyn Farm Way, who had requested individual budgets for the district's individual schools, academic departments and operational divisions.
The district had refused the request, saying only the final budget — Form 2028, which must be filed with the state Department of Education — is public record.
In fact, Hempfield's chief financial officer, Mary Lynne Kniley, told Rittenhouse at school board meetings that those budget documents do not exist.
Radio issue complicates fire merger in Columbia
The need to order new radios has dialed up the urgency surrounding the planned consolidation of Columbia borough's three fire departments.
But it has also brought specifics about the consolidation — including whether all three departments will participate — into question.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Re: LASA - Council must do the right thing - Sell!
The time has come to consider a final decision on LASA. It's not an exaggeration to say that the future solvency of the borough may be at stake. Simply put, the ad hoc committee's final report recommends selling Columbia Borough's sewer system assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA). I hope the council will abide by the findings of the report - which it commissioned - and vote for the sale. I hope any council person voting against it will explain why, publicly. I don't understand why the council would commission a report only to ignore it (if that, in fact, proves to be the case). Doing so would be a waste of taxpayers' money.
I won't rehash all the facts and figures here. That information is contained in the final report, which I posted previously HERE.
I won't rehash all the facts and figures here. That information is contained in the final report, which I posted previously HERE.
In regard to rates, we are competing with LASA, which comprises seven other surrounding municipalities. This is a competition we cannot win and which may pull us under financially.
The borough's debt, the empty storefronts, the property taxes that continue to go up and up and up are evidence enough of the need to regionalize and share costs. Selling to LASA could be the beginning of that process. Columbia can't continue to bind itself to yesterday's ideas in the foolish and outdated belief that we are self-sufficient. Let's face it: it's not the same town it was even 50 years ago.
The borough's debt, the empty storefronts, the property taxes that continue to go up and up and up are evidence enough of the need to regionalize and share costs. Selling to LASA could be the beginning of that process. Columbia can't continue to bind itself to yesterday's ideas in the foolish and outdated belief that we are self-sufficient. Let's face it: it's not the same town it was even 50 years ago.
Regionalizing does not mean losing our identity. We're talking about selling a sewer plant. That's all. We'll still have our rich history. Nothing can take that away.
We should cherish our history but look to the future. We are now at a crossroads, and the outcome of this decision will affect generations to come. Let's affect them positively. Let this be the point where we turned things around for Columbia.
We should cherish our history but look to the future. We are now at a crossroads, and the outcome of this decision will affect generations to come. Let's affect them positively. Let this be the point where we turned things around for Columbia.
With all that in mind, I, a lifelong Columbia resident, respectfully ask council to do the right thing. Look to the future. Sell the plant.
(Citizens can make their voices heard at the Municipal Authority meeting this coming Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m., when a vote by the Authority on the LASA sale is expected to take place.
Citizens may also speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m., when a vote might take place.
Both meetings will be held at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street.)
(Citizens can make their voices heard at the Municipal Authority meeting this coming Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m., when a vote by the Authority on the LASA sale is expected to take place.
Citizens may also speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m., when a vote might take place.
Both meetings will be held at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street.)
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Columbia Cones and More now open
Columbia Cones and More at 411 Locust Street is now open. Manager Scott Creek (pictured above) offers a wide variety of Hershey's ice cream to help cool off during the hot summer days.
Store hours are Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Flag Day Commemoration
Columbia Borough celebrated Flag Day on Saturday with the help of the Elks of Lancaster County, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Troops 35, 66, and 181, and a fife and drum corps from the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Participants carried a 20- x 30-foot flag from 3rd and Locust Streets to Locust Street Park where the flag was folded. The commemoration continued at the park with several speakers as well as a display by the scouts of several historical American flags.
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