COLUMBIA SPY

This week's photos of Columbia (Tap/click on photos to see larger, sharper images.)  Time for reflection  Photo shoot  Smooth journey  Weeds in the 300 block of Avenue G  Messages at Saint Paul Episcopal Is there homelessness in Columbia?  Are we great?  Down at Floyd's of Leadville . . .  Campaign sign  Open  Nudity on Locust Street  If you run around naked, make sure you're well-armed.  More nudity on Locust Street  Heron at sunset  Rainbow bridge  Steamy Wrightsville  Sunset  Growing higher  Coming home  More dumping, this time along 462  There he is again.  No plate? Peeking through  GEARS In Columbia, if you grease the gears with enough dough,  you can do whatever you want. It's called corruption, and it smells bad. ...

The above notice of HARB resignations appears on the September 8, 2020 Columbia Borough Council meeting agenda. Three members of the Columbia Historic Architectural Review Board have submitted letters of resignation to council, according to the September 8, 2020 borough council agenda released today. HARB Chair Glen Schaeffer, board member Elaine Rice Beckley, and architect Theodore Vedock have submitted resignation letters expressing disappointment and frustration over council's recent vote overriding HARB'S decision to deny the use of composite materials in the borough's historic district, as well as related issues. ( Columbia Spy reported on the council vote HERE .) At this time, consultant Suzanne Stallings, building inspector Paul Paulsen and board member Jeff Seibert remain on HARB. Stallings is not a voting member, which means the board will not have a quorum. The resignation letters can be found in the current council packet.

Download the 40-page council packet  HERE .

24-26 South Second Street Mayor Leo Lutz cast the deciding vote overriding a Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) recommendation concerning modern materials in the historic district. At issue was whether or not to allow an alteration to replace deteriorating balcony rails with composite material instead of the traditionally recommended wood. The vote could open the door for more of the same - to the detriment of the historic district and in opposition to HARB recommendations, which are based on U.S. Secretary of Interior Standards. On Tuesday night, Columbia Borough Council voted 3-3 on the issue, and Lutz broke the tie in favor of allowing composite. Councilwoman Pam Williams abstained, because she is a tenant in the 6-unit apartment building, located at 24-26 South Second Street. The property is owned by Cimarron Investments, whose CEO is Don Murphy. The decision allows Murphy to use composite railings on four balconies. Murphy first requested the alteration at the Au...

CBAA and The Glatfelter Foundation: All-our CBAA football and cheerleading season is about to begin on Saturday, Sept 5th. As with everything else, COVID has changed how we do business. In the past, our home games were a true community event and the kids loved seeing all of the people there to support them. Unfortunately, those large gatherings are not possible at this time. Per the state guidelines, we are only allowed 250 people inside Glatfelters at any given time. As such, the CBAA and Glatfelter Foundation are implementing the following policies: 1) On days we have home games, we will only be allowing 250 people inside the park. In order to maintain this, parents that have kids participating in cheerleading and football will be given two (2) tickets for entry. We are only allowing two (2) spectators per participant. This is more than other organizations are allowing and many have cancelled cheerleading. This allows parents/families to see their kids participate. 2) If...

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