17512 Columbia

Have you heard the one about the citizen who walked into the council “meeting of the whole” … armed …

with documents and pictures and a request for the elected “public servants” to follow the statutes and ordinances!

On Monday evening, citizen and local business owner, Bonnie (nee Veronica) Martin, finally got her opportunity to share packets of information she’d prepared for each of the councilors, the mayor and the borough manager. She gave each of them photographs, and she referenced copies of the ordinances and statutes she’d obtained from the Columbia Borough Website.

You see, Bonnie, is a citizen who expects that municipal statutes, ordinances, laws and standards are written to be applied to everyone equally and that they should be enforced equitably.

Bonnie’s has been having difficulties with a Columbia business operating near a house she’s trying to sell. She says she tried to reason with the owner of the business, but that proved futile. She then took her case to the Columbia Borough Council Meeting of the Whole last Monday night.

Here is Bonnie’s presentation at that meeting; the audio clips also include commentary from several councilors, the borough manager, the mayor and several other citizens. Due to the size of the audio clips, they’re linked here in small parts to facilitate downloading.

Bonnie’s personal packet included these documents:

Here are the pictures Bonnie presented to each councilor, the mayor and the borough manager.

5 comments

  1. I think it’s time for ALL elected council members, the Mayor, and the paid employees of this Borough to start doing their jobs, and enforcing the codes and ordinances of this Borough..Seems like it all depends on who you are in this town. I think the people of Columbia should Demand that All council members and the mayor, since they are elected to represent us citizens, stand behind the rules they create and enforce them, no matter who you are. If they (council and the Mayor) feel that what they were elected to do and enforce for the good of the people who placed them in their seats, is too much of a burden on them, then maybe it is time for them all to step down and we put all new council members in their place, I’m sure there are plenty of taxpaying citizens who would not be afraid to step in their places and do the right thing.

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  2. Do as I say not as I do. The good old boy network is alive and well in Columbia. It would appear that Mr Cramer would like to buy the property in question but dosen’t like the price. So what does he do? You guess, make it as misserable as possible for the people involved at all cost. YOU SURE KNOW HOW to show your class.

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    • Excuse me, but don’t comment on something you don’t know anything about. Yes, a legal street-that yours & my tax paying dollars( and lets not forget how much state money Columbia received for this street) did not touch in plowing, street sweeping or fixing until last year year! We have taken care of the street & the “private alley” for years. Do you do that??? As far as the property for sale, its called “greedy” relatives. As far as “class”, who hides in a car across the street & takes sneaky pic…just waiting for the “right” moment. As bad as Poplar Street ( and its a “dead end “) was….the town of Columbia (not Becky & Ken’s) was liable for any injuries or lawsuits. These property sellers are “mean”,”vindictive” people, who have nothing better to do . They have harassed us personally, our employees, & even used the police to do their harassing. We worked with the former property owner and when he had a problem he came to us and we resolved it! Not by bullying, or messing with our mail or threats of damage to our vehicles. If you want more info stop by our business. We own the building & pay taxes to Columbia. We aren’t a KOZ zone. PS…that pile of debris behind our dumpster ( which is dumped weekly) is not ours. The street is a dead end. The green truck was not blocking the garage (as the photo appears). If they want “us” to legal park, fine we will, but it will create a “safety” issue………….also that means “they” have to legal park too? Correct??? Becky Kramer

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    • What do you do for this town??? Please tell me where there is a town where everything is perfect??? I’d like to move there. THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THIS TOWN THEN ENFORCE PARKING ON A DEAD END STREET. LOOK around, Columbia is dying from poverty, drugs, & slum lords. Real problems!

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