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Last night’s council of the whole meeting agenda filled almost two pages and when the meeting was convened at 6:02 pm with only five councillors in attendance, the gallery numbered more than three times as many people. In addition the appointed interim borough manager (though the agenda identifies Ronald L. Miller as the borough manager), the borough finance manager and the mayor were seated in the front of the room.

As the evening waned and the elected public servants and borough staff debated the agenda items and non-agenda items, most of those in the audience departed the meeting, either because their issues were covered or from fatigue because this meeting took nearly another five hours of deliberation.

Because of the length of the meeting, here are very brief “headlines” of some of the discussion items. As time and opportunity permit, Columbia news, views & reviews will provide greater detail in later postings.

Two councillors absent from meeting: President reads resignation notice from Jody Gable. (Councillor Stephanie Weisser was also absent.)

Perry Street parking squabbles continue: Resident says two street residents take up excessive number of parking spaces, but that Columbia’s highway department is the “best in the world.”

Contributions coming in for Rotary Park playground equipment: Councillor has checks for Rec Commission but earmarked for specific use at Rotary Park.

Avenue J contentions continue: Second Street residents make pitch to have the alley / avenue declared a green space.

Columbia Fire Police granted working arrangement to assist contiguous municipal areas in non-emergency events: Sounds like an MOU – Memorandum Of Understanding. (As volunteerism slides nationwide, emergency response resources recognize need to collaborate.)

Councillors question cop spending: Appears Columbia Police Department is just now spending 2014 budgeted funds for new cubicles.

QRS gets a “NO.”: Councillors decline to fund radios and enter into banking business.

“We’ll wait and see!”: Council decides to get more information before lending money to the intended savior of the Cherry Hill Guest Home.

“Collaborative Impact” may have a big impact on Columbia: Jamie Quinn announced The Columbia Life Network has advanced in United Way’s new funding model; “holding hands” may produce major capital support. (Executive Director, Quinn, has had success in acquiring grants before.)

Columbia Life Network will be moving downtown soon: Following a renovation of the former Mifflin Press building, CLN will move into new quarters, though parking will be an issue. (CEDC-ites questioned that – that contentiousness surfaces anytime a local developer does real downtown “economic improvement.”)

Real estate sales rep presses council into providing reserved on-street parking for private endeavors: Working with Museum Partners, there is an implied promise of a new tenant that will bring “25 semi-white collar” jobs to the borough … who will need 25 parking spaces … ergo the parking trial on Linden and Fourth Streets for a one year trial.

New Trail Services Building at River Park – Photo Source: Columbia Borough Website

“Here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!”: That line from a Laurel and Hardy movie was the theme of the day as the councillors and others got down to the topic of the Trail Services Building. (Seems not very many people got to see the consultant’s very expensive report – none of the councillors, it appears. Readers may want to google search “toole recreation planning” or Ann Toole to see more about this consultant; the councillors questioned her report’s worth and work last night. There’s a big “to do” slated when the building is opened on May 1; as yet, there’s no name, no use definition; no fee structure; no plan for staffing the building and no consensus.)

“People, I just want to say, can we all get along? Can we get along?”: Rodney King’s now famous utterance seems to apply with the fire company consolidation process as councillor Mary Barninger updated the initiative that had an April 1 deadline, though that term has been changed to “target date. (Seems, while there’s movement towards consolidation, there is a “sticking point” and the parties now want a 90-day extension. The new date is July 1.)