Agenda - Columbia Borough Planning Commission Meeting - June 17, 2025

 

Will the Locust Street bus stop be relocated?

Officials are considering relocating the Locust Street bus stop.

The Locust Street bus stop is back on the borough's radar, and officials are considering relocating it, noting several concerns. 

Mayor Leo Lutz addressed the concerns at the June 10th borough council meeting. Lutz said he recently stood under the awning at the front of the municipal building with two men waiting for the bus during “pouring down rain.” He said he watched as the men boarded without difficulty when the bus arrived at the bus stop. Lutz noted there had been a concern that bus patrons waiting at the building wouldn't be able to reach the bus in time when it arrived.

"The issue of not being able to leave from here and get on the bus to me don't hold water," Lutz said, noting that passengers had adequate time to approach and board the vehicle. [Some bus patrons wait under the awning during rain, especially since the canopied bus shelter was removed due to "vagrancy, safety, and hygiene issues" on March 26, 2025 by the South Central Transit Authority, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.]

Lutz also claimed that the current bus stop location creates traffic and safety problems. When buses stop to pick up passengers, they block Market Street, impeding police vehicles that need to access the street to reach the police station for parking, according to Lutz. 

On Saturdays, pedestrians leaving the bus stop or Market House must navigate around stopped buses, sometimes stepping into traffic to check for oncoming vehicles before crossing, Lutz said. "They're going around the bus and stepping out, sticking their head out in back of the bus to see if there's any cars coming." The buses also block access to the Market House parking lot, compounding traffic issues, Lutz noted.

Problems increase when the Rabbit Transit bus queues behind the regular RRTA bus, creating more congestion. "The chief and I stood and watched that, so there is a problem there, and it's a safety problem," Lutz said.

To address these issues, borough officials are considering relocating the bus stop up at the next corner where there's an intersection with a traffic light.

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - June 16, 2025

Christina L. Reese conveyed 319 N. Fifth St. to Reese Duane M, Reese Nancy for $243,000.

Lampeter Homes LLC conveyed 247 N. Second St. to Amir George for $141,000.

About Town - June 15, 2025

 This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

Passing through 

Two more from Wednesday's arrests...

Men at work 

Down by the riverside 

Upcoming 

A lone petunia in a beauty strip

Does that work?

Only vehicles with trailers are permitted in this section. 

A little later, the WGAL van had moved over to the side parking lot.

A disconnected hydrant at 3rd & Maple

A little later, it looked like this. 

Art from a featured artist

The featured artist is Dee Zimmerman, who was at the town square on Saturday. 

Leftovers 

A visitor to River Park

Saint James Lutheran at 10th & Manor 

The Candy Man's here!

It's time for this dancer to come down off the pole.

Yep, more rain

Get a tattoo on Locust. 

Destination: DC?

Sons of Theocracy 

A common sight around town 

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Juneteenth celebration draws a crowd at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia

 

About 150 people gathered at Lancaster Distilleries on North 4th Street in Columbia on Sunday to commemorate Juneteenth.

About 150 people gathered at Lancaster Distilleries on North 4th Street on Sunday afternoon to commemorate Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Columbia's Brad Chambers organized and emceed the event.

Columbia resident Brad Chambers, who previously ran for Pennsylvania State House in the 41st district, organized Sunday's event and served as master of ceremonies. The celebration featured a series of speakers who addressed the historical significance of the black experience in America, covering topics from slavery through modern civil rights legislation.

Mekkai Williams is a 20-year-old Democratic candidate for the Hempfield School District school board.

Among the featured speakers was Mekkai Williams, a 20-year-old Democratic candidate for the Hempfield School District school board. Williams, who graduated from Hempfield High School in 2022, represents a new generation of political engagement.

Izzy Smith-Wade-El spoke off-the-cuff about the end of slavery, and civil rights during the period of 1965-75.

The event also featured remarks from Izzy Smith-Wade-El, who currently serves as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 49th district. Wade-El was elected in November 2022 and assumed office on December 1 of that year.

Ahmed, who has served on the Lancaster City Council since December 2022, spoke of his experiences as a former refugee from Chad, Africa. 

Lancaster City Councilman Ahmed Ahmed also addressed the crowd. Ahmed has served on the Lancaster City Council since December 2022, with his current term extending through January 2026.

Music was provided by "Mama Tried."

The gathering at Lancaster Distilleries represents part of a broader national observance of Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021 and commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Texas.

COLUMBIA JUNETEENTH BBQ - SUNDAY, JUNE 15, AT LANCASTER DISTILLERIES IN COLUMBIA

 

Columbia Borough's employee ban policy: Officials attempt to set the record straight

Zink: "Disclosing more information could open the borough or the individual to litigation, and preventing that is paramount."  [Columbia Spy file photo]

At Tuesday's meeting, Borough Council President Heather Zink attempted to clarify the borough's policy on issuing no-trespassing letters to former employees, in response to ongoing questions from the public.

The questions stem from the termination of Columbia Market Manager Chris Vera, who was issued a letter banning him from borough property following his dismissal earlier this year.

Letter of No Trespass sent to Chris Vera 

Zink acknowledged that there had been "conflicting messages" regarding no-trespassing letters which made it sound as if all separated employees received those letters. She read a statement explaining that it is standard procedure to issue a "no-trespass" when there are unresolved issues that warrant further investigation.

"In this case, it was done to protect the borough and the separated employee," Zink said. "We cannot speak to what the unresolved issues are, as it is an employment matter. Disclosing more information could open the borough or the individual to litigation, and preventing that is paramount."

Zink said that, going forward, the borough will not answer questions from citizens about employment matters or no-trespassing orders.

Resident Frank Doutrich pressed officials on who authorized the no-trespassing letter to Vera and whether a formal policy exists. He also noted officials' contradictory statements on what the policy is and whether a policy exists. 

Doutrich: "We're just trying to get to the bottom of it. When you say something, you're supposed to mean what you say and say what you mean."  [Columbia Spy file photo]

"Who authorized that letter to be sent? Who authorized the solicitor to send the letter to begin with?" Doutrich asked. He said that during his years on council, he had never heard of such a policy, and neither did other former council members he spoke with.

"We're just trying to get to the bottom of it," Doutrich said. "When you say something, you're supposed to mean what you say and say what you mean."

Councilman Kelly Murphy said that each termination must be evaluated individually. "Each case has to be looked at on its own merit and individually what makes the most sense," Murphy said. "You have to look at each case by its own merit."

Murphy: "Each case has to be looked at on its own merit and individually what makes the most sense. You have to look at each case by its own merit."

When Doutrich asked when the no-trespassing order on Vera might be rescinded, council members declined to provide specifics.

"I'm not gonna answer it. Pure and simple," Murphy responded. "When that time comes, I'm sure the explanation will be given."

Also at the meeting, Mayor Leo Lutz attempted to walk back his March 27th statement in which he said such bans are "standard procedure" that had occurred "quite a few times in the past." When asked by a resident about who had been banned, Lutz responded: "Probably everybody that left, including officers. It's a standard management decision."

However, at Tuesday's meeting, Lutz appeared to trip over his explanation: "I didn't say it was Columbia Borough's standard procedure. I didn't say it was anyone's standard procedure. I said it is a standard procedure." A few minutes later, Lutz said, “Standard procedure in Columbia Borough police department is what I said.” 

Lutz: "I didn't say it was Columbia Borough's standard procedure. I didn't say it was anyone's standard procedure. I said it is a standard procedure."  [Columbia Spy file photo]

Lutz's explanation was in response to Councilman Eric Kauffman's statement at a previous meeting that banning is not a standard policy, as Columbia Spy reported HERE. Kauffman had said, “I don't believe that is the policy. That's not a standard policy.”

Lutz also defended Borough Manager Steve Kaufhold's handling of Vera's termination. "I like to err on the side of being safe than sorry," Lutz said. "The borough must protect any evidence or testimony. If not, it could become contaminated and not work in the borough's favor. Our job is to protect the borough. I feel at some time that issue will be lifted."