COLUMBIA SPY

Council continues to dissect the 2019 budget, which Council President Kelly Murphy describes as already having been "ground up like hamburger." For a while there, it seemed like Columbia had a new property inspector - and that still might be the case - but we won't know for sure until this coming Wednesday. As Columbia Spy previously reported , Jay Frerichs was promised the job at the October borough council meeting, and for all intents and purposes had it in the bag until Thursday's budget meeting when things went a little . . . haywire. At the meeting, the purpose of which was to plan the 2019 budget, council realized it might not have the funds to pay Frerichs a promised $50,000 salary plus benefits. The item is not in the 2019 budget. In the weeks preceding, Frerichs had been given the runaround over whether or not he even had the job. According to Frerichs, he was elated and ready to go after he was unanimously voted in at the October council meeting....

It's fall 2018, the leaves are falling, and it's time for Columbians to choose a candidate who will best represent them in Pennsylvania's 98th legislative district, of which we are a part. Right at the outset, we at Columbia Spy are announcing our support for candidate Mary Auker-Endres, and here’s why: The 98th is currently represented by 8-term Republican Dave Hickernell. Or at least that's the rumor. Hickernell has been keeping a notoriously low profile. Very low. Virtually non-existent, in fact. If he is trying to be conspicuous by his absence he has succeeded. He has all but abandoned his Locust Street office and has not maintained a public presence in Columbia for quite some time. In addition, Hickernell has routinely refused to inform voters of his positions on the issues. According to the non-partisan site VoteSmart.org , he has failed the Political Courage Test. The site states: “David Hickernell has refused to provide voters with positions on key is...

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