About Town - April 6, 2025

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

This Tesla Cybertruck was in town the other day. These vehicles have become controversial ever since Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly flashed the Nazi salute in January and, as a key member of DOGE, axed government programs and agencies under the guise of rooting out waste and fraud. 

Here's a side view.

A little later, the car was parked briefly at 4th & Locust. 

*****************

This vehicle was out for a spin recently.

The Locust Street bus shelter was removed on March 26, 2025 by workers from the South Central Transit Authority. 

Columbia Spy took a photo of the dismantling, (shown above). At the March 27, 2025 borough council meeting, resident Sharon Lintner asked why the shelter was taken down. Mayor Leo Lutz replied that it was removed due to the expiration of a contract, as well as the cleanliness of the shelter. Some residents speculate that there's more to the story. One theory is that it was removed due to unhoused people lingering there. If that's the case, then it's a mean gesture to remove it, and doing so won't prevent people from gathering there, anyway. All it does is inconvenience bus riders in bad weather.

Three other shelters remain in the borough: this one at St. Peter Apartments...

...this one at Trinity House Apartments...

...and this one on North 3rd, near Linden. At this point, there's no word on whether or not they'll remain.

*****************

Columbia is about to get another Smoke Shop - this one at Plane & Manor.

Back in the day, the house was Jim Morton's barbershop and later, Lee Splain's barbershop. 

And here's a second new smoke shop. This one is at 236 Locust Street. 

*****************

And now there's even a massage business.

*****************

This yellow Penske truck was parked the wrong way for a few days on North 5th, just up from Locust Street. 

*****************

Blue Oyster Cult sang about HIM.

He appears on a new banner at the State Theatre Vintage Emporium. 

Here's another look.

*****************

Council has discussed possible issues with truck traffic at the planned innovation park on Manor Street, but a small army of trucks has been going to and fro at the lot at 4th & Manor. 

*****************

Some heavy clouds gathered the other day.

*****************

Norfolk Southern workers were at the crossing to the former wastewater treatment plant/borough sheds. The crossing must be stabilized so that JG Environmental, which is currently leasing the facility, can complete the purchase from the borough. At the March 27, 2025 council meeting, the mayor said it appears as though there is a resolution to this issue. He said he has been in contact with Norfolk Southern and Rep. Lloyd Smucker. According to the mayor, Norfolk Southern said the situation seems to be easily remedied and they will "put a rush on it."

Note: On February 29, 2024, Shamrock Environmental announced it had acquired JG Environmental.

*****************

The Elks Lodge

Rotary Park regulations

Raven Ridge was at Columbia Crossing on Saturday. 

Steps at the DAC were repaired/replaced. 

Another date marker on a downspout at the DAC

Watch out for that man-eating minotaur on the highway.

Eric and his mom want to buy your house.

Free Halloween costume 

Stars & stripes on a star

Coming in September 

Some bricks at the bridge plaza are lifting and/or sinking.

Just for fun, here's a look at one of the cannons.

Does anyone use chains on their tires anymore?

This is some sort of mythological creature. 

Hola

Forklift vs car: Who would win?

We may never know, because the confrontation was avoided using the time-honored tactic of an illegal left turn. 

Cleaning the camera in front of borough hall 

AEG was under the bridge last week.

This is their surveyor's camera.

A peek inside the front door of the historic society. 

Skelly on North 9th is decked out for Easter.

*****************

Todd Stahl was on the trail and sent these photos:

###

Columbia Borough seeks bids for demolition of structures at former McGinness property

700 Franklin Street 

Sealed bids for demolition and disposal of the dwelling located at 700 Franklin Street and the remaining accessory structure located at 1020 Manor Street will be received online via the PennBid Program, by Columbia Borough, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, until 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 17, 2025. The bids will be publicly opened and read electronically, via PennBid's website, at 11:00 AM (prevailing time), same date. Bid results will be available end of business day, same date. Copies of Bidding Documents for the 700 Franklin Street Demolition project are available online and at no cost at (https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com). A bid bond by acceptable surety or a certified check made payable to Columbia Borough in the amount of 5% of the maximum bid must be provided by each bidder with their bid. Notice is hereby given to bidders that this project is subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act approved August 15, 1961 (Act No. 442, P.L. 987), as amended. Columbia Borough reserves the right to accept any bid or reject any or all bids. Columbia Borough Council, Steven Kaufhold, Borough Manager

Public Notice - published 04/04/2025

LNP Media Group, Inc.

What ever happened to Mark Stivers?

Mark Stivers resigned as Columbia's borough manager in July 2024.

What ever happened to Mark Stivers? The short answer is he resigned as Columbia's borough manager last year and four months later became Hummelstown's borough manager. The backstory is this:

At the Columbia Borough Council meeting on June 11, 2024, Stivers announced his resignation, effective July 3, 2024. Council members subsequently authorized staff to begin advertising for his successor.

During the meeting, Stivers attributed his departure to personal reasons. "This is just a personal choice," he explained to council members. "It's a lot of pressure in this job. I've basically been doing this job in different places for the past 25 years. It's time to slow down and take a break."

Stivers began working for Columbia Borough on March 30, 2020, with an initial annual salary of $90,000 that increased to $101,314 by 2024.

Approximately four months after his departure from Columbia, Stivers was appointed as borough manager, secretary, and treasurer for Hummelstown Borough at their November 14, 2024 workshop, effective November 12, 2024. The council also moved to ratify the Manager's Agreement between Hummelstown Borough and Stivers, pending appropriate clearances. Stivers succeeded Theresa Eberly as borough manager. 

At Hummelstown's December 12, 2024 workshop, Stivers was additionally appointed as the Assistant Zoning Officer for the borough.

Hummelstown's meeting minutes do not state Stivers' salary, but it is likely less than what he was making in Columbia, since Hummelstown's population of 4,535 is less than half of Columbia's.

Meanwhile, Alex Tinsley, who served as code compliance/zoning officer for Columbia Borough from April 2024 to January 2025, became Hummelstown's zoning/code compliance officer in January 2025.

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Workshop - April 1, 2025

 

The 57-page meeting packet is HERE.

Who really fired Chris Vera (and why isn't he allowed on borough property)?

 

Frank Doutrich addresses council at the March 27 meeting.

At the March 27, 2025 Columbia Borough Council meeting, the dismissal of former market manager Chris Vera was a key topic of discussion. Vera was fired for "performance concerns," according to a March 5 letter of termination. 

Columbia Borough Manager Steven Kaufhold stated the firing "wasn't an easy decision" and noted that council was criticized on social media about the termination. Kaufhold explained that, as borough manager, difficult decisions sometimes need to be made, but he emphasized: "The sole decision to terminate Chris was mine."

Kaufhold: "The sole decision to terminate Chris was mine." [Columbia Spy file photo]

Resident Frank Doutrich addressed council with concerns: "I don't know what he's done, but council didn't make it great or easy by saying he's not allowed on the borough property. I don't know where you people are coming from when you bring that out." (Doutrich was referring to a March 12 letter of no trespass informing Vera that he is not allowed on borough property. Vera provided that letter to Columbia Spy, which is published HERE.)

Doutrich, who said he has attended council meetings for over 50 years, questioned how council could implement such a policy, asking: "What if he's got to come in here and pay a bill? What if he gets a ticket, and he's got to go pay the ticket? He's not allowed on borough property?" 

Councilwoman Barb Fisher said she didn't know of the letter until that night: "This is news to me. So to say that council did that, I had no idea that was done until tonight and I heard it from you guys." Doutrich replied: "You didn't know that he had a letter, but I thought council makes those decisions." He added: "I didn't think the borough manager made that without council." Council President Heather Zink explained: "That's a legal decision, and that is done by our solicitor." 

To cut through the confusion, Doutrich asked directly who actually fired Vera. Kaufhold responded: "I did."

Zink: "That's a legal decision, and that is done by our solicitor." [Columbia Spy file photo]

Borough Solicitor Evan Gabel clarified, apparently addressing Zink: "He [Kaufhold] recommended to you to fire Chris. It needed to happen immediately, but council immediately pursuant to your borough code is the one who's the decision maker on this." Zink acknowledged this with "Yes," adding that council was now ratifying the termination. 

Doutrich emphasized: "I know council hires and fires. That's the way I was always taught." He also noted that Zink had said at a previous meeting that termination does not require a council vote. Zink acknowledged her error: "That was my misunderstanding. I'm sorry. And that's why I put it on [the agenda] for tonight."

Doutrich: "To say that you're not allowed on borough property, I'm sorry I can't buy that. That's just not right." [Columbia Spy file photo]

Regarding the property ban, Doutrich said: "To say that you're not allowed on borough property, I'm sorry I can't buy that. That's just not right." 

Mayor Leo Lutz characterized the property ban as "standard procedure" that had occurred "quite a few times in the past." When Doutrich asked for examples, Lutz replied: "Probably everybody that left, including officers. It's a standard management decision."

Lutz: "It's a standard management decision." [Columbia Spy file photo]

 

When Doutrich asked if Vera would be arrested for coming to pay a bill, Gabel confirmed: "That is correct." Gabel explained: "Part of that letter is that he is not a resident of the borough, so there's far less reason for him to ever come onto borough property, if he's not an employee of the borough, which he no longer is. The intent of that letter was that he not come back on borough property."

Following discussion, council voted unanimously to ratify the termination of Vera as market manager.

Council then voted to hire Bonnie Link, who had been serving as interim manager since Vera’s departure. She will receive a starting annual salary of $56,822, and Kaufhold recommended she receive back pay to March 5th. Link will need to give up her market stand to avoid conflicts of interest.

When Doutrich questioned why the position wasn't advertised, Kaufhold explained it was because it is a management position. Gabel clarified: "It does not have to be advertised. No non-union position ever has to be advertised."

A letter from Chris Vera to friends and supporters of the Columbia Market House is posted HERE.

 

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - March 31, 2025

Capriotti Jane M, Hinkle Joseph L. Jr. conveyed 160 S. Eighth St. to Scritchfield Aaron G, Buckwalter Angelina for $276,000.

Cimarron Investments LLC, Whitestone Partners LLC, Leonard R. James, Leonard Diane L, Goodman Heather M, Montgomery Sarah N, Kostoff Amy S, Route 322 Keystone Courts Mobile Home Park LLC, Wayne Thomas LLC, Thomas Wayne LLC conveyed property on a public road to Cimarron Investments LLC for $1.

Cimarron Investments LLC conveyed 20 N. Second St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.

Cimarron Investments LLC conveyed 28 N. Second St. to CFH oldings LLC for $1.

Whitestone Partners LLC conveyed 30 N. Second St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.

Wayne Thomas Llc, Thomas Wayne LLC conveyed 156 Walnut St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.

Proverb Realty LLC conveyed 152 Walnut St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.

Proverb Realty LLC conveyed 150 Walnut St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.

Cimarron Investments LLC conveyed 161 Locust St. to CFH Holdings LLC for $1.