Thursday, March 7, 2019
Cheaper by the Dozen? How many people live there anyway?
117-119 North 5th Street
Gerald Hawn, as he has done on several previous occasions, once again brought the issue forth, this time at Tuesday's work session. Hawn owns 501 Walnut Street, right next to the parcel in question. In earlier meetings, he had asked Borough Council about the status of 119 North 5th, since so many young women entered and left during the day and vehicles were being illegally parked in his lot. Council seemed dumbfounded at the revelation and offered no definitive answers. Hawn finally took matters into his own hands and asked the owner of one of the parked vehicles what was going on in the house. The man replied that it was a "rehab house" that had space for 12 women, although only 11 were staying there at the time. The man said his girlfriend was one of women.
Hawn presented this information at a recent council meeting. According to Hawn, Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger subsequently contacted him just before the February 26 meeting to tell him a zoning enforcement action is pending.
At this past Tuesday's work session, Hawn asked for an update and was told by Zoning Enforcement officer Jeff Helm he will be meeting with the property manager/lessee of the building on Friday morning, March 8, to discuss elements of the zoning enforcement notice. According to Helm, the person will be given an opportunity to address issues discovered during an inspection done on Monday of last week. Helm said if an agreement is not reached this Friday, the lessee will have 30 days to "fix" the issues. If this is not done by the deadline, the lessee will have the right to appeal the issue to the Zoning Hearing Board. Hawn asked what the zoning issue is, and Helm replied, "The zoning issue is the number of people."
At this past Tuesday's work session, Hawn asked for an update and was told by Zoning Enforcement officer Jeff Helm he will be meeting with the property manager/lessee of the building on Friday morning, March 8, to discuss elements of the zoning enforcement notice. According to Helm, the person will be given an opportunity to address issues discovered during an inspection done on Monday of last week. Helm said if an agreement is not reached this Friday, the lessee will have 30 days to "fix" the issues. If this is not done by the deadline, the lessee will have the right to appeal the issue to the Zoning Hearing Board. Hawn asked what the zoning issue is, and Helm replied, "The zoning issue is the number of people."
The parcel includes two structures, one of which, at 117 North 5th, is currently unoccupied. The other structure, at 119 North 5th, has three bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths as well as the other accommodations listed below. (The Lancaster County Tax Assessment Office lists the parcel simply as "117 N FIFTH ST".)
According to public records, the property was acquired by ACEMAC LLC on February 28, 2018 at a cost of $210,000. Interestingly, the company was created only 12 days before, on February 16, 2018. Additional information is shown below.
Columbia Borough Council looks into social media options for better communication
Borough Council took a few more tentative steps into the world of social media at Tuesday night's work session. As was the case at the previous meeting, Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger recorded the meeting via cell phone as another practice run towards the eventual livestreaming of meetings.
Council also continued hammering out a policy for its planned Facebook page. Cleon Berntheizel, chair of Community Development, presented an update draft of the policy. Denlinger said the update was the third draft and was reviewed by the borough solicitor, who made changes to the policy. Also discussed were options to connect to Twitter and Instagram, both of which were considered premature at this point. The Facebook issue will be placed on the agenda for the March 12 council meeting.
The draft presented at Tuesday's meeting is shown below.
Council also continued hammering out a policy for its planned Facebook page. Cleon Berntheizel, chair of Community Development, presented an update draft of the policy. Denlinger said the update was the third draft and was reviewed by the borough solicitor, who made changes to the policy. Also discussed were options to connect to Twitter and Instagram, both of which were considered premature at this point. The Facebook issue will be placed on the agenda for the March 12 council meeting.
The draft presented at Tuesday's meeting is shown below.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
DA spokesman says forfeiture-funded lease is A-OK
The following information is posted at the Facebook page for the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office HERE.
We aim to provide all the details – and full context – regarding the authorized forfeiture-funded lease of a Toyota SUV, so here are a few things of critical import:
We aim to provide all the details – and full context – regarding the authorized forfeiture-funded lease of a Toyota SUV, so here are a few things of critical import:
1. The document below is an approval form, from the county controller.
2. This situation is NOT unique; other Pa. DAs do this or drive seized vehicles. Some use taxpayer funds instead. Forfeiture funds are NOT taxpayer dollars.
3. All use of forfeiture funds are audited annually by the controller and Attorney General; we have been in full compliance every year for every expense.
4. This is a work vehicle and all expenses (to include mileage and fuel reimbursements) were appropriate, per the controller. The taxpayer/county is owed nothing regarding this vehicle.
DA spent $21,000, intended for drug enforcement, to lease SUV, records show | Local News | lancasteronline.com
"Lancaster County's top prosecutor hopped into a 2016 Toyota Highlander leased with money that had been designated by state law for use fighting drug crimes..."
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Monday, March 4, 2019
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