Sunday, December 4, 2016

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Christmas tree lighting Sunday, December 11!


Municipal Authority vs "Professional Services" - What's the bottom line?

Shown below is a September 8, 2016 letter from the Columbia Municipal Authority to Columbia Borough Council urging council not to dissolve the authority. The unanimous vote for dissolution subsequently took place at the regular council meeting on September 12. At the time, Council President Kelly Murphy said there was no animosity between the authority and the borough over the decision. According to an LNP article ("Municipal Briefs" 9/21/16), Borough Manager Greg Sahd said the entity was no longer needed because its chief responsibility was to manage the borough's sewer system. [The wastewater operation was sold to LASA in 2015.] The authority's letter, however, specifies numerous benefits to the borough in keeping the authority.

At a special meeting on Monday, November 28, 2016, council voted to fund a $75,800 study on the feasibility of converting the borough's wastewater plant to a facility that would produce natural gas. The authority's letter appears to assert the authority's expertise in advising council on just such a venture - at no cost to the borough. 






Shown below is the authority's October 20, 2016 meeting agenda that includes recent balances. All assets of the authority are to be turned over to the borough.



Columbia Library December Events Calendar