'Norfolk Southern doesn’t like trails': Railroad company concerns could halt trail extension

A $50,000 study continues to examine whether a five-mile trail can be built between Columbia and Washington Boro to connect two existing recreation paths in western Lancaster County.

But officials at railroad company Norfolk Southern said they already have the answer, and it's time to put on the brakes.

"Norfolk Southern has advised that this project is not feasible due to safety and liability reasons," railroad spokeswoman Rachel McDonnell Bradshaw said.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/norfolk-southern-doesn-t-like-trails-railroad-company-concerns-could/article_2d72e892-5a62-11ea-894d-47e404eab9f5.html?utm_medium 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Work Session - March 3, 2020

The council packet is HERE.

Columbia council makes interim borough manager changes official, hires new permanent manager amid more concerns

On Tuesday, the board ratified its decision to terminate former interim manager Candice L. Johnson's contract effective Feb. 19. It also voted to appoint borough police Chief Jack Brommer to replace Johnson.

The board also unanimously approved hiring Mark Stivers as borough manager at salary of $90,000. His tentative first day is March 30.

The personnel moves involving Johnson and Brommer were decided at an executive session held on Feb. 18. The meeting was attended by all seven council members and labor attorney Michael McAuliffe Miller.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-council-makes-interim-borough-manager-changes-official-hires-new/article_7c241b68-59aa-11ea-bafb-abde00d494ba.html?utm_medium 

Rachael Kedney resigns from Columbia Borough School Board

Rachael Smith Kedney, who has resigned, was sworn in as Columbia Borough School Board director by District Magistrate Miles Bixler at the April 6, 2017 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Rachael Smith Kedney resigned from the Columbia Borough School Board, effective February 21, 2020, it was announced at this evening's school board meeting. Kedney was not present at the meeting.

She was sworn in as school board director on April 6, 2017, when she filled the seat vacated by former director Iris Garrido, who resigned in March 2017. Interviews for a replacement will be held March 19, 2020. No other details are available at this time.

Linking trails makes dollars and sense for Lancaster County

The 14-mile Northwest Lancaster County River Trail (which includes Marietta and Columbia) and the 5-mile Enola Low Grade Rail Trail in lower Manor Township have drawn praise over the past half-decade

But they are isolated from each other, and linking the two river trails will not be easy.

Two options, each with pros and cons, are under consideration in Manor Township.

— A mostly level route from Columbia to Turkey Point would closely follow the Susquehanna River between Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and Route 441 for 5 miles. It would require permission from the railroad, the likely construction of a fence and the OK of private landowners along the route.

— The second route is 2 miles longer and “would mostly follow an existing PPL power line through Columbia and up-and-down hills through farmland,” Crable wrote. It would feature an elevation gain of 1,260 feet, perhaps limiting its appeal to casual walkers and bikers.

MORE HERE.

Theft at Burning Bridge Antiques - Can you identify the man in the photos?

Police are investigating a theft that occurred on 1/10/20 at approximately 2:40 pm at the Burning Bridge Antiques, 304 Walnut St., Columbia, PA. The pictured suspect stole an item from one of the stands. 

If you can identify the male please contact the Columbia Borough Police at (717)684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411.  

Date:  Friday, January 10, 2020 

Reference ID:  CB-20-00204 

Case Status: Current 

Case Type: Criminal 

Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/theft-8

Pa. lawmakers black out details of why they spent tax dollars, claiming ‘legislative privilege’

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania legislature is attempting to shield records showing why it spends some of the roughly $360 million in taxpayer money it receives each year, citing an obscure protection it claims gives lawmakers immunity from total transparency.

The House and Senate have turned over thousands of pages of financial records in response to recent public records requests from The Caucus and Spotlight PA. But many contained vague descriptions of expenses or had redactions that made it impossible to see their purpose.

The redactions primarily concealed who legislators were meeting with, and why.

In defending their decision to keep the information secret, legislative officials cited an obscure clause in the state Constitution that they claim protects lawmakers' ability to speak and debate without retribution — a right they call the "legislative privilege."

But good-government advocates countered that such an interpretation warped the intent of the speech and debate clause, which, they said, was meant to allow lawmakers to speak freely in official proceedings.

MORE:

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/pa-lawmakers-black-out-details-of-why-they-spent-tax-dollars-claiming-legislative-privilege.html