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The council president convened last night’s council meeting at 7:01 pm. Six of the seven councillors were in attendance; councillor Mary Barninger was absent. The mayor, interim borough manager, borough financial officer, solicitor, scribe and a small gallery, consisting of a half-dozen citizens, parents and five students, were in attendance as Pastor Clair Good administered the invocation.

The mayor read and presented a proclamation Celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Representing Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School in Columbia to receive the proclamation was teacher, Michelle Detz, and two eighth grade students. The students, Natalie (left) and Megan (right) are vice president and president of the shcool’s student council.

 Also in the gallery were three Lancaster Catholic High School students who were observing for a government study project.

“National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2015 is January 25 – 31. Schools typically observe National Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open house and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.”

Council reappointed Robert L. Pfannebecker to represent the borough as solicitor for 2015. Phannebecker is the managing partner of the law firm of Zimmerman, Pfannebecker, Nuffort & Albert, LLP.  Pfannebecker’s more than three decades of service to Columbia was recognized by councillor Jim Smith.

During the citizens’ comments, a property owner commented on the upcoming county property reassessment and asked the council to consider being among the first in the county to speak up for police consolidation into a single regionalized entity. The mayor said he’s been in several conversations with the District Attorney on precisely that topic.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 pm.