Community talk at Locust Street Park today

Market Trust gives notice, members resign

The Columbia Historic Market House Trust is being returned to the borough. Members have resigned, and a 90-day notice has been given.

Trust directors Jeanne Cooper and Kellan Kernisky made the announcement at Tuesday night's Property Committee meeting. The 90-day notice was originally stated in a May 5 letter to the borough. Several trust members have resigned, but four remain. The trust is not being dissolved, and the borough will need to decide its fate.

Council President Kelly Murphy offered three options:
1. Keep the trust, but get new members.
2. Hire a consultant.
3. Employ someone who works for borough under the guidance of a Market House Committee.

The borough will also need to evaluate an option for a Market House manager. Stephanie Weisser, property committee chair, said that everyone would need to apply for such a position, including current manager Teresa Allen. Weisser presented a proposal letter to Cooper from former Market House Manager Beth Troxell regarding the position. Weisser also mentioned the need for an advisory board to move to the next stage. Cooper and Kernisky offered their help during the transition.

At the request of the Property Committee, trust members will still hold monthly meetings and send minutes to the borough during the 90-day period. Members will also attend the June 13 full council meeting when the matter is brought forward for discussion.

Closing of river trail between Marietta and Columbia for paving delayed by weather

Weather has postponed the planned closure and paving of a section of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail between Columbia and Marietta.

The new section of trail between the Route 30 underpass in Columbia and Furnace Road in Marietta was to have been closed May 11 for up to two weeks while the trail was paved.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/closing-of-river-trail-between-marietta-and-columbia-for-paving/article_77c0e130-1d1a-11e6-a817-33ad13d40ec2.html

Columbia Borough Council opens up to public with policy changes

Columbia Borough Council has decided to be more open with the public.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/community/columbia-borough-council-opens-up-to-public-with-policy-changes/article_2f93b3a6-1bc1-11e6-8892-9b794e7b9ca5.html

Public Works Report for May 2016

 This report was presented at the Public Works meeting on May 17, 2016:

A strangely named product listed in the report actually exists. The website is HERE.

Columbia School District contracts with Eastern Lancaster County for tech support

Columbia school board on April 21 approved a $150,000 technology services contract with Elanco to provide technology personnel. The agreement will be a cost-saving measure for Columbia and a revenue source for Elanco.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/community/columbia-school-district-contracts-with-eastern-lancaster-county-for-tech/article_54fce1ce-1c31-11e6-8f31-f381d39a90ac.html

Columbia commission formally affirms property as blighted

The Columbia Borough Planning Commission formally affirmed 208-210 Locust Street as blighted on Monday night, as part of the certification process laid out by the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (LCHRA). The property, owned by Sam and Cynthia Bigler, was condemned last year when it was deemed unsafe due to loose and falling bricks and cracks in the front wall. The rear of the building was condemned in 2012 due to a bulging wall and associated roof issues.

According to Columbia Borough Code Enforcement Officer Jeffrey Helm, LCHRA gave the Biglers two opportunities to meet specific directives. When they failed to do so, LCHRA entertained a first and then a second determination of blight.  At a recent Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) meeting, the Biglers made an impassioned plea for a 60-day extension. The request was denied, and the commission voted unanimously to certify the property as blighted. 

Columbia's decision moves the process forward to the next level, which gives the owner ample opportunity to again meet demands defined by the LCHRA. On Tuesday night, the borough's property committee moved to send the issue to full council for a vote at its June 13 meeting. Columbia Spy's previous article on the process is HERE.

Under 35 P.S. § 1712.1(c), a blighted property in Pennsylvania must meet 1 of the following 11 criteria:

• Public nuisance
• Attractive nuisance to children
• Accumulation of trash and debris or haven for vermin
• Unfit for human habitation
• Fire hazard
• Lack of water, gas, or other utilities
• Tax delinquent for two years and vacant
• Vacant and not code compliant within a year of receiving notice of violations
• Abandoned property with municipal liens exceeding 150% of value
• Defective or unusual condition of title
• Environmentally hazardous conditions or contamination