COLUMBIA SPY

Mayor Leo Lutz swears in new councillor Fran FitzGerald at Monday's meeting. Columbia Borough Council voted Monday night to appoint John Novak and Fran FitzGerald to council to fill seats recently vacated by Barry Ford and Mary Barninger. Other candidates who applied for the position were Frank Doutrich, Jeanne M. Cooper, Joseph H. Nikolaus, and Alan Barninger. Candidate Michelle McFarland was not present. John Novak was unable to attend the meeting and was interviewed via phone after listening to the interviews. He was sworn in by Mayor Leo Lutz via phone. Ford resigned due to health issues. His resignation was effective May 31, 2016. Barninger resigned due to employment obligations. Her resignation was effective June 30, 2016.

Unanswered questions have been swirling around town since the June 16 Columbia Borough School Board meeting. Changes, resignations, and appointments are making the actions of the board look like a veritable chess game. Board President Tom Strickler resigned after announcing his intention to apply for an administrative position with ELANCO. Strickler's resignation is effective July 18 at 11:59 p.m. In a unanimous vote, the board appointed board member Cole Knighton as president, despite his less than desirable attendance record over the past four years, specifically: In 2013: Twelve regular board meetings: He attended seven. (58%) In 2014: Eleven regular board meetings with recorded attendance: He attended four. (36%) In 2015:. Twelve regular board meetings: He attended seven. (58%) In 2016: Six regular board meetings to date: He has so far attended all six. (100%) In 2015, board members Alysa Poindexter and Cole Knighton both missed the first three consecutive ...

As Columbia Spy reported HERE , former Columbia School Board member Francis Resch resigned from the board effective May 31, 2016. According to LNP , Resch resigned for health reasons. His resignation letter to the board, however, alludes to additional reasons. The letter is published here with permission of the author. Mr. Resch has requested that the following comment be published: "For the record I would like to say that health issues were not the main reason I resigned from the board.   However, I was disappointed that Iris Garrido was not chosen to fill my vacant position, since she had the 2nd highest number of votes in the Nov. election. She would have been a valuable asset to the board. Hopefully she will be considered for the current vacant position being advertised."

 Hilde Kate Lysiak Hilde Kate Lysiak, who reports from Selinsgrove, PA, recently signed a book deal with Scholastic . She reports on news in her hometown at her site  The Orange Street News . MORE  HERE

This summer's mayfly invasion isn't over.  In fact, it's barely begun.  These photos were taken this morning (July 8) at Columbia River Park (and uptown) and show the results of last night's assault. Reader-submitted photo

The link is  HERE .