Columbia evaluates options after much of historical board quits

When: Columbia Council work session, Oct. 6.

What happened: Council discussed the future of the borough's designated national historic district following the recent resignation of most Historic Architecture Review Board members. Council members agreed they want the historic district to remain, but that going forward, enforcement of the historic district ordinance needs to be more consistent from case to case.

Background: On Sept. 1, council overrode the historic board's recommendation to deny real estate developer Cimarron Investments' request to use composite material rather than wood on a dilapidated balcony at 24-26 S. Second St. Four board members subsequently resigned, citing a lack of respect for historic preservation, bad precedent for future decisions and special treatment given to certain applicants. The resignations left the board without a quorum, impacting the borough's ability to get historic grants.

Historic ordinance review: Council is currently hearing cases relating to the historic district ordinance until the board is reconstituted. Borough Manager Mark Stivers said following the council meeting, a meeting would take place with former historic board members in hopes of getting them to reconsider their resignations.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-evaluates-options-after-much-of-historical-board-quits/article_f2f860f0-08f0-11eb-97aa-e306bf3ffa4b.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Columbia school board plans to limit tax increase to 4.5%

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Oct. 6.

What happened: Keith Ramsey, chief of finance and operations, announced the district can raise real estate taxes up to 4.5% for the 2021-22 school year. That amount represents the state tax cap, or adjusted Act 1 index, assigned to the district.

Why it matters: The district's tax rate is currently 26.46 mills. For taxpayers who own a property assessed at $93,350, the district average, a 4.5% increase translates to an additional $111 per year. However, the district does not have to raise taxes by the full allowable amount.

What's next: The board expects to pass an opt-out resolution that limits the district from raising taxes above 4.5% next school year. If an opt-out resolution is approved, a preliminary budget will not be released for public inspection. The board will vote on a proposed final budget in May and adopt a final budget in June.

Expenses: The school district has spent over $50,000 on additional training, staff and technology. This includes $25,000 in diversity training, $18,000 for two technology interns, and $16,000 in new software. The majority of these expenses were covered by federal grant funds, Ramsey said.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-school-board-plans-to-limit-tax-increase-to-4-5/article_a3b3fc14-0960-11eb-9372-13921b824a5f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Columbia Market House to partially reopen this fall ahead of full rollout with vendors in 2021

A reimagined Columbia Market House featuring a full-size restaurant, an event space and vendors selling various items will be fully operational by spring following a multimillion-dollar makeover.

The public could get its first look inside the updated 151-year-old market house before the end of fall during a partial opening that will feature the market house's new anchor restaurant.

Construction at the historic building at 15 S. Third St. is scheduled to be completed by Halloween, according to borough manager Mark Stivers. It would open soon after with restaurant Gypsy Kitchen as its lone tenant, pending a lease agreement.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-market-house-to-partially-reopen-this-fall-ahead-of-full-rollout-with-vendors-in/article_37e04512-08fa-11eb-93cf-47f7a2953362.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Vandals spray paint historic structures and streets in Columbia

This historic block wall along Bank Avenue was one of the areas spray painted with graffiti 

on Sunday night.

Vandals spray painted several buildings and streets in the southwest section of town sometime Sunday night. Elite Energy on Mill Street and the historic Reading and Columbia Railroad building on Bank Avenue - and areas on those streets - were hit. A historic block wall along Bank Avenue was also painted. According to social media posts, the perpetrators were several teenage girls (unconfirmed at this point). The incident was reported to the Columbia Borough Police, who are investigating. On Tuesday, the borough highway department painted over most of the the graffiti. More information on this incident will be posted as it becomes available.

[Photos by Frank Frederick unless otherwise noted]

The historic Reading and Columbia Railroad building on Bank Avenue was also spray painted.

(Some areas on the two photos shown above have been obscured due to profanity.)

 

The borough's highway department painted over the graffiti on Tuesday.

Dozens of charges dropped for arrested protesters following fatal police shooting last month as cases move to county court

Dozens of charges were dropped, and others forwarded to Lancaster County Court, during preliminary hearings Monday for most of the protesters arrested following the police shooting death of 27-year-old Ricardo Muñoz last month.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/dozens-of-charges-dropped-for-arrested-protesters-following-fatal-police-shooting-last-month-as-cases/article_e7eb1482-0738-11eb-859b-6fc328d3fcc7.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

RETIRED COLUMBIA BOROUGH POLICE CHIEF JOSEPH GREENYA PASSES AWAY | Columbia Borough Police Department

It is with deep sadness that the Columbia Borough Police Department must announce the passing of Retired Chief of Police Joseph F. Greenya.  Chief Greenya served the community of Columbia from 1973 to 2011 as a Police Officer.  Chief Greenya graduated from Columbia High School and was hired as a part time Officer in 1973.  He was then hired full time in June of 1974 and attended the PA State Police Academy in Hershey.  He was promoted to Sergeant in 1983 and attended the FBI National Academy  in 1985.  He was then promoted to Det. Sgt. in 1995 and then to Police Chief in 1996 until his retirement in 2011.  During and after his Law Enforcement Career, Chief Greenya was an active member of the Red Rose Lodge #16 Fraternal Order of Police and the FBI National Academy. The Columbia Borough Police Department would like to express sincere condolences to his wife Sharon, Family and Friends.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/retired-columbia-borough-police-chief-joseph-greenya-passes-away

Essential Oils Made Easy at the Library - Tuesdays at 7 pm. via Zoom