Way back when, this explanation was offered by a President of the United States in an obfuscated explanation to a grand jury.

“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If the–if he–if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not–that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement….Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true.” – Slate.com

We bring this up because it looks as the borough intends to re-start the battle of nude dancing and where nude dancing may operate in Columbia. At Monday’s meeting, agenda item I, 4, b wants redefine Glatfelter Field as a school rather than a park. That redefinition, evidently, halves the distance that a nude dancing establishment may operate from the defined space.

It is owned by Columbia Borough School District. 

If the the borough is successful in racking up more legal services charges and Glatfelter Field is redefined as a school, wonder if we’ll see “school zone” signs appear? Wonder whether PPL, Comcast and other companies who volunteer their staffs to clean up parks once or twice a year will be eager to continue to do that … on school property.

On another issue from Monday’s meeting, the conversation about the Market House building has reignited comments as this one at Cole Umber’s Columbia Spy:

” … use it as storage and maintenance shops or sell it of to some to develop it into something like a restaurant with wine cellar or a artist group so they can open a gallery or a antique co-op or even a Fire Museum.”

Someone asked what happens to the grant funding that were secured to furbish the Market House. Reckon that determination rests with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development‘s interpretation of the grant’s terms and conditions.  Here’s what DCED said in the approval packet back then.

Would the State ask for a return of funds? Maybe.

While dated, it may be worth everyone’s time to re-read the borough-commissioned 2005 Columbia Market House Revitalization Strategy to revisit why the borough decided to seek outside funding assistance.