Dozens turn out for Saturday's "Back the Blue" March

Over 60 people turned out for Columbia's "Back the Blue" march on Saturday afternoon to show support for local police. Starting at 2 p.m., the group - carrying flags and signs - marched from Rotary Park to the Columbia Borough Police station via Chestnut, Fifth, and Locust Streets. Upon arriving at the destination, about a dozen more people - police officers, residents, and bikers - joined the group. The 40-minute event included speeches by Mayor Leo Lutz, Council President Heather Zink and others. Resident Angie Brock Floyd organized the event.

(Tap/click on each photo to see a larger, clearer image.)

"Back the Blue" march scheduled for Saturday, September 12

A "Back the Blue" march to show support for police will be held in Columbia on Saturday, September 12. The event, organized by resident Angie Brock Floyd, will begin at 2 p.m. at Rotary Park, located at South 2nd and Walnut. Marchers will proceed up Chestnut Street to North 5th, then to Locust Street and down to the police station near the intersection of Locust and Market. Participants are asked to remain on sidewalks and not block vehicle traffic. The event is free and open to the public.

4 members of Columbia historic review board resign after council overrides recommendation

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Sept. 8.

What happened: Council president Heather Zink said she would postpone accepting the resignations of four Historic Architecture Review Board members until the Sept. 22 meeting in hopes they can be convinced to stay. The board members submitted resignations following council's recent decision to override their recommendation for buildings at 24-26 South Second St. Their exit would leave the HARB without a quorum.

Background: At the Sept. 1 meeting, Mayor Leo S. Lutz cast the tie-breaking vote allowing real estate developer Cimarron Investments, led by CEO Don Murphy, to use composite material rather than wood on the historic building's dilapidated balconies. Council members Zink, Sharon Lintner and Howard Stevens voted in favor of the HARB's recommendation to deny the developer's request, while Eric Kauffman, Fran FitzGerald and Todd Burgard voted to allow the composite material. Councilperson Pamela Williams abstained. A previous vote at the Aug. 25 meeting had resulted in a deadlock.

Resigning HARB members: Chair Glen Schaeffer, Vice Chair Theodore Vedock, Elaine Beckley and Jeff Siebert submitted their resignations. Their resignation letters cited a lack of respect for historic preservation, bad precedent for future decisions and special treatment given to certain applicants.

Quotable: Referencing a controversial comment councilperson Todd Burgard made at the Sept. 1 meeting that Murphy's application should be approved because he had "invested so much in the downtown district," Schaeffer wrote, "I ... can't believe a councilman declared that a landlord should get a free pass, because they have more invested." Schaeffer offered to resign immediately "out of respect for every previous HARB applicant" who didn't have the benefit of a friend on council.

Resulting problems: Borough Manager Mark Stivers said the effective dismantling of the HARB would impact the borough's ability to get historic grants. Zink further said it would be difficult to replace the resigning members due to ordinance requirements that an architect, real estate broker and building inspector sit on the board. Vedock and Siebert represented the architect and real estate broker positions.

What's next: Without a functioning HARB, Zink said there are three options: pass an ordinance suspending the historic ordinance, have council hear all historic architecture requests or leave decisions with Suzanne Stallings, the HARB's historic consultant. However, Zink said she had reason to believe Stallings may also resign.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/4-members-of-columbia-historic-review-board-resign-after-council-overrides-recommendation/article_d46453f6-f3ba-11ea-8b8a-9f9d5c10ea66.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Man pleads to manslaughter for shooting, killing "friend" at Columbia apartment

Antonio Acosta

An 18-year-old Columbia man admitted Wednesday to shooting and killing his friend last year in Columbia. Antonio Acosta pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two related charges regarding the July 29, 2019, shooting of 19-year-old Nicholas J. Mills.

Acosta, Mills, and other individuals were at Mills’ North Third Street apartment when Acosta pulled a pistol, removed the magazine, and pointed the gun at Mills. Mills was fatally wounded in the base of the throat. 

Acosta will serve 3 to 6 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, in accordance with a plea agreement arranged by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa. Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker, while accepting the plea terms, said the involuntary manslaughter charge regarded “careless, negligent use of a pistol” that resulted in Mills’ death. Acosta was 17 at the time of the shooting. He was originally charged as an adult with third-degree murder, before that charge was withdrawn and he was charged in juvenile court with the present offenses. ADA Ponessa then petitioned for the case to be transferred to the Court of Common Pleas, which it was. 

In court Wednesday, Mills’ sister said she does not accept the shooting was an accident and she does not forgive Acosta. “How could you look into my brother’s eyes and kill him?” Kelsey Mills asked Acosta, who appeared via video conference. Shannon Cole, Nicholas’ mother, said planning a funeral for her son was the “worst pain I’ve ever felt.” “To you, Antonio, he was… a friend,” Cole said. “And you betrayed him.” 

On the night of the shooting, witnesses saw Acosta pull a pistol from a couch cushion and remove the magazine from the weapon. An adult in the apartment told Acosta not to play with the gun. The shot was fired shortly after. Acosta told police who arrived at the scene that he was the shooter, and he showed an officer where the gun was stashed. Police determined the 9 mm pistol was reported stolen two weeks before the shooting. 

Acosta apologized at the sentencing hearing Wednesday. “Nick was like a brother to me, and I loved him,” he said. “I never thought anything like this would happen.” 

Columbia police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges. 

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/man-pleads-manslaughter-shooting-killing-%E2%80%98friend%E2%80%99-columbia-apartment

Mid-Week Update: Market House, Borough Hall, Black Lives Matter

New features at the Market House:

New exterior light fixtures

 New doors

More lights

L. Weber began a $40,000 painting project at borough hall:

Black Lives Matter at Park Elementary:

Signs of racial inclusiveness appeared recently in the windows of Park Elementary School.

 Letters promoting the same message have also been posted.

 Letter following the death of George Floyd

School board resolution on racism

HARB members' resignations are acknowledged - but not accepted - at council meeting

At Tuesday night's Columbia Borough Council meeting, council vice president Sharon Lintner read aloud resignation letters (shown below) from four former members of the Historic Architectural Review Board, who resigned in protest last week. Council president Heather Zink acknowledged receipt of the letters but chose not accept the resignations until the September 22 council meeting.

Theodore L. Vedock, architect and HARB vice chair

Elaine M. Beckley, board member

Glen Schaeffer, HARB chair

[Letter not available]

Jeff Seibert, realtor

Happy Labor Day 2020!