The monthly Borough of Columbia council meeting was held last night in the meeting room at the Borough offices. Eight interested people, in addition to the entire complement of councilors, the mayor, Borough manager, Borough treasurer, solicitor and scribe, attended the meeting. Two media representatives were present as well.

Agenda

Notes taken on agenda items:

• DCNR Grant application for St. John’s Herr Estate Trail. Mayor Leo Lutz asked the council to submit a letter of support for the project or to submit the grant to pay for the project. Norm Meiskey, borough manager, clarified the grant stipulations for project by reinforcing that the grant has a “matching funds” clause and that St. John’s Herr must provide the initial funding. He stated that the Borough of Columbia would have no financial responsibility for the project.
• Resolution 2011-06. Councilor Mary Barninger recommended a “tabling” of the resolution until the May meeting allowing the legislative committee to review the issue of ancillary activities.
• Replacement police vehicle. Council approved the procurement of a police vehicle with the funding sources listed in the agenda, though the grant has not yet been received. The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program (Byrne Formula Grant Program) is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. BJA is authorized to award grants to states for use by states and units of local government to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system—with emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders—and enforce state and local laws that establish offenses similar to those in the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6) et seq.). Grants may be used to provide personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for more widespread apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of offenders who violate such state and local laws. Grants also may be used to provide assistance (other than compensation) to victims of these offenders. Twenty-nine legislatively authorized purpose areas were established to define the nature and scope of programs and projects that may be funded under the Byrne Formula Grant Program.
• The topic of the riverfront property donated to the Borough by Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation was introduced by Councilor Jim Smith, property committee chair. The Borough Manager said the property will be turned over to the Columbia Economic Development Corporation which, in turn, will determine the final outcome of the property. This will be issued at a to-be-determined council meeting later in April. The date will be announced.
• Contract ratification. The Council applauded the just agreed upon labor contract with the non-uniformed employees; the contract runs through December 31, 2016.
• Market House Trust. The Council endorsed the people listed on the agenda as the initial board for the new Columbia Market House Trust.
• Wi-Fi. Market committee chair, Kelly Murphy, conveyed a “thank you” to Jesse Sweigart for providing no-charge wireless Internet capability for Market House patrons.
• Prevailing wage discussion. The borough manager asked council to authorize a letter to be sent from the Borough to state legislators asking them to eliminate the “prevailing wage” stipulation on future public projects. Meiskey stated that the prevailing wage mandate adds 30-35% to labor charges. “Organizations that perform work on public works projects in Pennsylvania must pay the prevailing wage for various semiskilled positions, as determined by the Prevailing Wage Board. Prevailing wages are determined for each job and locality. Employers are required to maintain detailed pay records showing exactly what wage was paid to each worker, the specific work performed and in what locality. Employers who willfully violate the law may face penalties and risk losing their ability to bid on other state contracts. Unintentional violations are corrected by paying the worker the disputed fund.”
• Water problems. There was discussion about the issues of water pressure and reduced flow from some of the hydrants fire fighters used at the recent fire at the West Hempfield Township business, Columbia Bowl. Several councilors commented that the Columbia Water Company has made promises that were not kept. This issue, one said, needs to be “addressed by the Water Company.” Another said, “Something bad is going to happen.” [Editor’s NOTE:] In the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era article about the incident, the West Hempfield fire chief said firefighters were not able to access a hydrant when they arrived, but it did not affect the water supply at the scene. “We had other hydrants and plenty of tankers at the scene,” he said. “And, truthfully, it really made no difference by that time. It was already gone.” 
• Citizen comments. Two citizens addressed the meeting during the citizens comments portion of the meeting. One stated that the lighting at the lower end of Locust Street is “nice and not too bright.” Another made observations and asked questions about the degrading concrete sidewalk top surface. The borough manager promised that the highway department would look into the issue.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.