Elvis did sing it this way:

“It was a night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night”

No doubt he wasn’t singing about the Columbia Borough Council “meeting of the whole” that was held last night at the Borough Hall council chambers. He could have been though, because this was another marathon event. Council president, Michael Beury, convened the meeting at 6:03 pm; it ended over four hours later when it was adjourned at 10:14 pm.

22 persons – citizens, their representatives and others – in the gallery at the outset dwindled to two when the closing gavel was rapped. Those in the audience included: citizens with genuine interest in improving the quality of life in Columbia;  two Boy Scouts and a Scout Master; Market House Trust members with representation; and some seeking modifications to current codes

The agenda, front side (click to enlarge)

The agenda, reverse side (click to enlarge)

At this writing, Columbia news, views & reviews has not had ample time to review the more than 240 minutes of notes, but these are some of the items heard, introduced and discussed during the meeting:

• The former M&T Bank Building at Fourth and Locust Streets  will have a new tenant sometime in the late fall, “October.” Lancaster Regional Medical Center will be the first floor occupant of the Cimarron Properties-owned building. Council heard, and approved, a request to remove four parking meters from Fourth Street adjacent to the building. Signage will be developed and placed designating parking there for “short term emergency parking” only during the operating hours of the medical facility.
• The legal counsel representing the Columbia Historic Market House Trust suggested that there were certain violations to the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act . There was strident, accusatory comment about the hourly rate of the solicitor and grandstanding and crowing about the efforts of council to save the taxpayers’ money.
• There was discussion about the continued deliberation of the Borough’s parking decision.
• A representative from Susquehanna Valley EMS addressed the body to dispel “rumors” that have been circulating.
• One citizen in attendance commented on the “snide comments” and condescending demeanor exhibited by some of the councilors.
• There was discussion about the “delivery of grant funding” with respect to the installation of parking meters at the parking lot in the 100 block of Locust Street.
• There was discussion about the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).
• There was discussion, and a subsequent motion to return sections (Mill to Cherry Streets) of Second Street to one-way status. Councilor Smith pressed for information about why the one time one-way street was changed to two-way traffic. Another councilor stated “it’s not worth it.” The borough manager said the only way to check the reason is to check the ordinance. This ordinance designated the street as one-way. Columbia news, views & reviews could locate no reference in the borough code to a reverting it to two-way status.
• There was discussion about the Environmental Protection Agency’s levying fines against Manor Township and the cities of Lancaster and York.
• There was discussion about the ongoing fire department consolidation process.
• A citizen thanked the Council for its ongoing work on street-scape improvement.
• A citizen introduced discussion about a neighboring business which is impeding her efforts to sell a property. She provided a packet of photos and documents to each councilor that indicated the business was in violation of a number of borough codes and statutes.
• There was continued discussion about smoking and tobacco use; pawn shops, Airport Overlay District and the extent of “public notification.”
• There was conversation about Columbia’s parks … including the consideration of a reservation system and charges to use the pavilions at River Park and other parks.

Columbia news, view & reviews will review the meeting notes and provide more information of the topics discussed at last night’s meeting.

[NOTE: To fully appreciate and understand the nature of the meetings; the conduct of the meetings; the topics discussed and the ramifications of the actions or inactions, Columbia news, views & reviews recommends that all citizens attend these and other Council meetings. Reliance on media coverage is insufficient. The recorded minutes of the meetings are insufficient.]