The borough council December meeting was convened at 7:01 pm; the entire council, the mayor, the counselor and the borough’s financial officer were in attendance as well as perhaps eight or so observers.

Soon enough, those in attendance learned that public works director, Ron Miller, was approved as the interim borough manager replacing the former manager, Sam Sulkosky. Sulkosky’s hiring was introduced as the borough manager at the May 13, 2013 council meeting.

Miller resigned as Columbia’s public works director at the end of 2010 to accept a position in York County. In July, 2011, it was announced he’d been rehired by Columbia Borough. Miller, it was announced by the borough’s finance manager, is not a Columbia resident. Miller will perform his interim borough manager responsibilities while maintaining his public works role; his compensation will remain unchanged.

Personnel committee chair, Mary Barninger, responded to a citizen’s question about the borough manager’s whereabouts. She said Sulkosky had “resigned” and the borough had come to terms with the former borough manager with a separation agreement that provided for approximately two months pay before taxes and medical benefits through the end of the year. She stated that the agreement was essentially “boiler plate” verbiage.

Finance committee chair, Kelly Murphy, announced there was no tax increase in the proposed 2015 budget. And, he said, there will be no staffing reductions of borough staff.

Agenda page one

Agenda page two

The council president asked at the meeting’s onset whether “anyone was recording the meeting.” Columbia news, views & reviews has been audio recording borough meetings in accordance with state law for years; Columbia news, views & reviews also provides copies of the recordings for persons who may have hearing disabilities or if requested.

In Pennsylvania, The Sunshine Law specifically states that public meetings may be recorded, “The Sunshine Act allows persons attending public meetings to record the proceedings with recording devices.” Click on the picture below and go to page 10 to read the portion of the Law that addresses recording devices. It also states “Persons who attend and verbally participate in public meetings must expect to have their statements recorded.”

The meeting, on the whole a “ho-hum” one, lasted until 7:54 pm.