Sunday, February 23, 2020

Columbia Borough Meetings - Week of February 24, 2020


Therapy animals helping first responders deal with stress

Kylie and Daisy are just two of KPets nearly 500 service animals, helping people in various circumstances across our area.

"This type of thing, they're experiencing all sorts of stress and trauma and they just need something for their minds to relax and calm down. So, the dogs have a therapeutic effect on them and I think it's becoming more and more aware that they need self care for themselves," KPets founder Karen Gerth said.

MORE:

http://local21news.com/news/local/therapy-animals-helping-first-responders-deal-with-stress 

Columbia board approves Lancaster County Career

  • When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Feb. 20.
  • What happened: The board approved the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center's proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year. The district will contribute $488,700, up 14% from the current school year.
  • Overview: Under its proposed budget, the career center projects revenues of $21.82 million, up 4.0% from this year and predicts $21.82 million in expenses, up 9.0% from the current year. A vast majority of the center's revenue — roughly 66.41% — comes from direct contributions from school districts that utilize its various educational services. A total of 16 districts will contribute more than $14 million to fund the center's daily operations.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-board-approves-lancaster-county-career-technology-center-s-proposed/article_b904ffea-55c5-11ea-9860-4ba7e644d607.html?utm_medium 

Columbia community comes together Saturday to support family after fatal fire

On Saturday, night, people came to the Columbia Veterans of Foreign Wars facilities for a fundraiser for the family that has lost so much.

The night included a dinner and a 50-50 raffle.

Organizers say they raised a total of approximately $10,000.

MORE:

https://www.wgal.com/article/columbia-community-comes-together-saturday-to-support-family-after-fatal-fire/31062366 

Friday, February 21, 2020

Pilot program will train Pennsylvania inmates to be firefighters

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is working on a pilot program that will train inmates to be firefighters.

Supporters said the program could help volunteer fire companies that are struggling to recruit members as well as provide inmates with skills that can help them reintegrate into society.

York Fire Chief Chad Deardorff, who is also the president of the Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association of York County, said some communities may not accept the idea of hiring people with a criminal history.


MORE:

https://www.wgal.com/article/pilot-program-will-train-pennsylvania-inmates-to-be-firefighters/31028671 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - February 25, 2020


Download the council packet HERE.

Millersville police chief hired in 'permanent' role to also manage borough

[This article is from August 14, 2019.]

Millersville Police Chief John Rochat has been a familiar face in the borough for more than two decades, and that won't change anytime soon.
Rochat, who picked up another hat as interim borough manager in November, will remain in both roles indefinitely after council voted to make the arrangement "permanent" at its regular meeting on July 23.
"I was honored that they asked me to stay on and do it," Rochat, 64, told LNP in an interview Tuesday.
The arrangement is rare in Lancaster County, but not unprecedented.
Rochat will continue to receive his salary as chief of police at $101,316 along with a $1,200 weekly stipend for his borough duties. A year's combined pay would total approximately $163,716.
The pay may seem eye-popping, but Millersville Borough Council President Daniel P. Ostrowski said a separate, full-time role would have cost the borough more with benefits included. The previous borough manager, Bradley Gotshall, had an annual salary of $88,000, according to LNP archives.
He added the cost savings "wasn't a driving factor" for keeping Rochat as manager but "was a side benefit."
Rochat will report to the borough council in his role as borough manager, while Millersville Borough Mayor Richard M. Moriarty will supervise Rochat in his role as police chief, the mayor said.
The borough considered 63 applicants and interviewed eight candidates following Gotshall's resignation.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/millersville-police-chief-hired-in-permanent-role-to-also-manage/article_8a8b9bdc-be09-11e9-984d-0b143e601570.html?utm_medium