109 photos of Saturday's Thunder on the River car show

3 Events will impact traffic flow this Saturday, June 15 | Columbia Borough Police Department

There are three events going on this Saturday 06-15-19 that will impact traffic flow around several areas of Columbia Borough. 

1. Thunder on the River Car Show will take place from 10am to 2pm along Locust St. from 2nd St. to 6th St. Look for road closures starting at 6am and going to 5pm. This will also impact traffic in the 1st block of north and south 3rd St. and 4th St. as well. 

2. Ashley Tabernacle Church Annual block party will take place from 11am to 4pm and will impact travel in the 100 block of S. 5th Street during the stated time. 

3. The Catholic War Vets PA Hero Walk will kick off at 7am at the Columbia River Park with bicyclist, walkers and runners using the Northwest River Trail. Traffic using Rt. 441 is urged to keep an eye out for people exiting River Park and also crossing at Front and Bridge St. 

Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/saturday-06-15-19-events-traffic-impacts

Fundraiser by Austin Miller : Support for Police Officer Daniel Castellanos

On June 6, 2019 Officer Daniel Castellanos-Mendez was in a traumatic vehicle accident on his way to work. He has been hospitalized since the accident with severe injuries. Danny has been serving with the Columbia Borough Police Department since July of 2018. Being a Police Officer has been a dream of his since he was a child. Danny truly loves his job and serving the Community of Columbia. 

Danny’s mother has been by his side since the accident. Due to this she has unfortunately lost her job. Danny has a long road to recovery ahead of him and with the love and support from his family, friends, co-workers and members of the community he serves, he will get through this.Eventually get back to doing what he loves most….. being a police officer! 

We are graciously asking for donations to help assist Danny and his family at this time. No amount is too small and would be greatly appreciated.

We also are collecting greeting cards for him. We are hoping this will help show him the love and support that is behind him to get him through this. Please feel free to drop off or mail to the Columbia Borough Police Station: 308 Locust Street Columbia, PA 17512.

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https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-police-officer-daniel-castellanos

Vietnam Vets invited to commemorative pinning ceremony at Columbia High School Saturday, June 15

Congressman Lloyd Smucker, in conjunction with the office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, will host a ceremony honoring area Vietnam-era veterans with a 50th anniversary commemorative pin. Veterans from the 11th Congressional District are invited to attend and be honored at this event.

This ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 15 at 8AM at Columbia High School, located at 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia, PA 17512.

Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, regardless of station location, and who did not receive a pin at the prior March 29th, 2019 event at Lancaster Airport, will be eligible to receive a lapel pin at this ceremony. Veterans’ family members and veterans from all periods of service are invited to attend the ceremony.

“I’m thankful to partner again with Senator Toomey to honor veterans from Lancaster and York Counties who selflessly served our nation in Vietnam. For far too long we as a nation failed to give these brave men and women the recognition they rightfully deserve,” said Rep. Smucker. “It is my honor to invite Vietnam veterans from across Lancaster and York Counties in the 11th District, to participate in this recognition event.”

“Our Commonwealth’s Vietnam veterans bravely served this country and it’s an honor for my office to recognize them for their service,” said Senator Toomey. “For over half a century, many of these veterans have been unsung heroes. I encourage all Vietnam War veterans in the 11th Congressional District to participate in this recognition event.”

Senator Toomey co-sponsored legislation to permanently designate March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of veterans who served during the Vietnam War. The bill has been signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Vietnam-era veterans who wish to attend should RSVP by contacting Congressman Smucker’s office at 717-393-0667 by Tuesday, June 11.

Following the recognition ceremony, Smucker joined by members of Sen. Toomey’s staff will participate in the unveiling of a portrait of Retired Lieutenant General David L. Mann—the 7th graduate of Columbia High School to rise to the rank of general or admiral in the United States Armed Forces. Retired Lieutenant General Mann most recently led the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.

[Source: Press release]

Candidate accuses Council of Sunshine violation, citizens express concerns about finances and lack of transparency

A council candidate accused Columbia Borough Council of violating the state's Sunshine Act, and two other citizens spoke out about finances and Council's lack of transparency.

At Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council meeting, Heather Zink, a council candidate, asked about the hiring of a candidate for Human Resources Consulting professional services, Kathy McCool. She noted that the position had not been discussed at any public meeting. Council President Kelly Murphy said the candidate was solicited through the Borough's labor attorney, Eckert Seamans. Councillors explained that the borough had lost four managers and the borough had needs to be met. Murphy said the HR person will be on board for three months to complete all the required duties at $75 an hour with an estimated total of $20,375.

Zink: “You decided behind the public’s back."

Zink said the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act had been violated, because there was action behind the scenes. "You were already warned once," Zink said, referring to a warning letter to Council from the District Attorney's office last December regarding a Sunshine violation. She also noted that the candidate for employment had no municipal government experience. (Similarly, Columbia Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger, formerly a consultant with Rising Tide Collaborative, had only six months of training under previous Borough Manager Greg Sahd.)

“You decided behind the public’s back,” Zink said, noting that the position had not been posted internally or externally. "Our taxes are paying for things. We deserve to have the best possible candidates to pick from – not just one person.” Zink added: “You’ve already been warned about Sunshine. Now you’re doing it again.”

On her Facebook campaign page, Zink explained, "If this was a personnel issue, then EOE was violated because the position was not advertised. If this was a Professional Services agreement, then Sunshine was violated because it was not publicly discussed prior to a vote."

Former Columbia Borough Manager Norm Meiskey reminded Council that the Borough had in the past made several mistakes in hiring, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars it subsequently paid for wrongful hiring. He also said the Borough had signed a consent decree promising that such a thing would never happen again.

Sharon Lintner, another council candidate, asked about a "right-to-know" request she recently submitted regarding Ordinance 897, the Borough's Revolving Loan Fund. Lintner said she had requested the terms and conditions of the loan but had run up against a 30-day delay invoked by Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger "due to various reasons, including a legal review" as stated in an email reply. Although right-to-know requests are typically expected to be answered within five days, the law allows a 30-day extension in certain circumstances. The Borough has often used the delaying tactic for requests in the past few months.

Lintner: “If the developer does not want us to know the status of the loan, then he shouldn't be borrowing from us, as taxpayers.”

Lintner had also requested the payment schedule, because the $3,671 figure that Council previously said the borrower has paid back seemed low for one year into the $250,000 loan. “I just feel, in the interest of transparency, that there should be no question that this should be made available," Lintner said. “If the developer does not want us to know the status of the loan, then he shouldn't be borrowing from us, as taxpayers.”

Meiskey: “You ought to be doing these things before the court orders you to do it."

Meiskey told Council that it should put back the $800,000 set aside for the Revolving Loan Fund. “You ought to be doing these things before the court orders you to do it,” Meiskey told Council, referring to a lawsuit currently in progress that was filed by the Columbia Concerned Citizens Association. Meiskey added that returning the funds could help "avoid a $1.28 million deficit this year.” In a victory for the CCCA, Judge Leonard G. Brown, III just ruled that taxpayers have standing in the case, thus overruling the Borough's preliminary objections and allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

Norm Meiskey's letter presented at the June 4 Council work session, outlining concerns and recommendations 

At the meeting's conclusion, Lintner recalled a meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board last year during which a crowd of citizens expressed opposition to a proposed historic district expansion that council had decided to move ahead with anyway. She also noted a rehab house on the 700 block of Walnut that citizens opposed and council went ahead with anyway. She also said citizens opposed the Revolving Loan Fund, but the borough kept it. She used the examples to show that citizens are not being heard.

CCCA scores another victory, Columbia Borough's objections are OVERRULED

Judge Leonard G. Brown, III has overruled Columbia Borough's preliminary objections in the lawsuit filed by the Columbia Concerned Citizens Association.

(Columbia News, Views & Reviews has provided the following link for those who want to read the Application of Edward G. BIESTER, Jr decision, click here.)