[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6099882,"mediaKeyId","2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42","parentId",2815772,"title","Residents question livestream quality, bus shelter removal and online racist post during Columbia council public comment","audioSeconds",264,"startMs",114000,"endMs",378000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42&start=114&end=378","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42/thumbnail_114000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6099882/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-question-livestream-quality-bus-shelter-removal-and-online-racist-post-during-Columbia-council-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099882-04b240c85b85206214b172bae7bc05ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771723580&Signature=WVtL6VyGcZIfr4YOiok7T9qw5-fTEwv-kYCkJrYem0djntHen2r32k0RV5SeYzQ2FqOUmDM00U5lUgAG46vPvT~seGYchT9TxTjM1u12itW9flX35nnypRpnSdIdkHhSk4Rr5noiCm3wMyBd8Q5WwcJcaBi1HDC0nIZ0ggBTzvLco6pMMSwYYR9ZsHanpBvJ4-h2qH18VUaJmHoYI27JysIsoi7SQ-~VGc2lM5UpWHTEsyc-VwEJ9oZkN5dJ10z-EASjZy2HRnC45zgV-2bQ3GsYut2wYzhAdeC4o1LPI45Z74K-0u2y9GcvkYNYHuvgffOHc6yIpO48SK3vwLfNdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbia Borough, PA","date","2025-03-28T01:36:35Z","article","Several residents used public comment at the March 27 Columbia Borough Council meeting to raise local concerns about livestreaming quality, the removal of a bus-stop shelter, and a racist Facebook post that drew attention because a local party committee had “liked” the post.

Livestreaming and audio: multiple residents, including Frank Deltrick and others, criticized the live-video audio quality at recent joint meetings and urged the borough to fix the problem or require the vendor or technician to attend. Deltrick said the replay audio was “scratchy” and that he has repeatedly flagged poor sound for meetings. Borough staff and councilors discussed microphone technique as part of the problem, advising speakers to talk directly into the microphone; one councilor observed that some microphones work better than others.

Bus shelter removal: resident Sharon Littner asked what happened to a bus stop shelter; borough staff said South Central Transit Authority removed it after a 15‑year contract expired and the authority cited sanitary and maintenance concerns as a reason to take it down. Staff said South Central Transit remained responsible for the shelter’s maintenance under the expired contract but elected to remove the shelter rather than attempt remediation.

Social media and committee “likes”: Sharon Littner also told council she had seen a racist comment on Facebook that targeted newly elected Council member James Malone and that the Columbia Republican Committee had “liked” the remark. Council President and the mayor repudiated the racist post during the meeting; staff noted that committee members’ activity on private social media accounts is outside council’s official authority and that council as a body does not condone racism.

Other public concerns: residents asked whether termination of the previous market manager constituted a personnel matter that the borough could not publicly discuss; borough staff and the solicitor responded that personnel matters are subject to confidentiality and legal limits on public comment.

Ending: Council and staff promised to continue to investigate fixed problems (livestream audio and maintenance coordination with transit) and reiterated that personnel or legal matters could not be addressed in public comment beyond the general statements allowed by law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbia Borough Council Regular Meeting 03.27.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents used public comment at the March 27 Columbia Borough Council meeting to raise local concerns about livestreaming quality, the removal of a bus-stop shelter, and a racist Facebook post that drew attention because a local party committee had “liked” the post.","taxTitle","Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6099887,"Council hears proposal for a senior parking permit to ease parking transitions as meters are removed",304,1461000,1765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42&start=1461&end=1765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42/thumbnail_1461000.jpg","/articles/6099887/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Council-hears-proposal-for-a-senior-parking-permit-to-ease-parking-transitions-as-meters-are-removed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099887-dcb3fc82936cdc0c5a92b3b2cb8c40bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771723580&Signature=NGCcy0gUQxGLYTMSrMRrqubDY06GHoXyZ1LHTvwVoYKHhcUz0gnH8ppjgGj4qQttq5xiajX6ccMB01sdae0uQuptpq5URyHg2J1u7oApg8JJbRxsGk-yhT4vkN2NVbUpmi9noiN9Jq7InO3hYMJgPQVP1vEG~YyRoqTsAhl6KwMSt541XM45V8AyyILBatoGoQDCeHIKJSdATnnozN88XwqHC42LRXlmZlo5N3SBFU0YdOXO8XjSHAToyOm0LkqZaujVqAR7-DwPq6MQl0AFYMZ6AUdDN-YrOE2VF6553dvTmuG4d~BuMV8KWfjFb1cmtDegjoaOxs8Hf29~eFzZFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Romer presented a draft senior parking-permit program to Columbia Borough Council on March 27 to address concerns about eliminating coin-operated meters and residents’ ability to use ParkMobile.

The program proposed issuing a hanging permit or sticker to borough residents aged 70 or older (Council suggested changing the age to 65), verified by borough staff. The permit would grant one hour of free parking at metered locations and in borough lots; after the first hour, drivers would be required to pay via ParkMobile or the physical meter if available. “What this would afford our seniors is 1 hour of free parking,” the chief said, adding that enforcement procedures similar to handicap parking are planned.

Why it matters: staff said some seniors have difficulty using mobile payment apps; council members expressed interest in protecting older residents’ access to downtown businesses and the public market while the borough phases out aging meters. Council asked that the item be drafted as an ordinance so it can be enforced; the borough solicitor and manager noted an ordinance must be advertised prior to adoption.

Next steps and timing: managers and staff said they could draft an ordinance and ask council to authorize advertisement at the April 8 meeting, which would allow adoption as early as April 22 (the borough noted this requires a seven-day advertisement period for a non-zoning ordinance). Staff also discussed administering one permit per household and using the borough’s codes database to track participants so the borough can report take-up annually.

Ending: Council supported moving the idea forward; staff will draft ordinance language, incorporate council direction on age and one-vehicle-per-household limits, and return with advertisement authorization for a future meeting.","Columbia Borough police and staff presented a draft senior parking permit to ease the transition from failing coin meters to ParkMobile and to provide residents aged 65–70 a one-hour free parking allowance. Council asked staff to prepare an ordinance for advertisement and possible adoption in April.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6099892,"Columbia borough manager says he terminated market manager; council ratifies action amid public questions about security notice",52,6501000,6553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42&start=6501&end=6553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42/thumbnail_6501000.jpg","/articles/6099892/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Columbia-borough-manager-says-he-terminated-market-manager-council-ratifies-action-amid-public-questions-about-security-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099892-1386e7298cea25e2ec5661431942776c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771723580&Signature=Y~3iIfu4foj7StiqR~uSx3JcjFlxqHDBPJnlxH-InLEcIBcMzLzeqiGfJzYrubX8Wu0LdSbnhLgKjA-rq7TYUK0dxSJ0-BeLWx32Gz-tdgClUJK6ECOHh0trxeuS~-VdkaHHtqbiaoGqRACgpaei3kVrH2vKi7XvyEj6KLOlhJyT02LuWCQ37EWSqMKrI8sPB86lvQDqNA15c~36lWhNp2d4a7gd5BASBKxLgzrS9A0HvU3AUvjNwn69hl3VAivQhvQyeIrt6k6ygsgZnZG6ko7~fpqAvutwG8ia-f0JKjbfZcIeg74mA4DbjP1SjI030WicG8Xh7a43HtPPW6dCdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Borough Manager Steve Kauffold told Columbia Borough Council on March 27 that he made the decision to terminate the market manager and asked council to ratify that action.

“Although I can’t talk about the reasons that I had to terminate Chris, I want to make it known that it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was my decision as borough manager,” Kauffold told the council. The council subsequently voted to ratify the termination.

Public questions and legal limits: during public comment and later in the meeting, residents asked about a borough-issued no-trespass letter that reportedly prevents the former market manager from being on borough property. An audience member asked whether the letter was legal and whether the borough could comment. Solicitor and staff responses in the meeting emphasized personnel and legal confidentiality.

A resident who identified himself as Ethan Byers asked why a “letter of no trespass” had been issued to the former market manager and whether the borough would explain the reason. The borough’s solicitor and borough manager said they could not discuss personnel matters in public and declined to provide details. Separately, a citizen, Frank, questioned how the borough could bar a former employee from borough-owned property and whether that would prevent the former employee from paying a parking ticket or handling other routine business; borough staff explained that the letter was intended to keep a former employee off borough property, particularly because the person is not a borough resident.

Why it matters: the action affects market operations and prompted public concern about transparency and procedural authority. At the meeting a council member noted that, under the borough code, council is the ultimate appointing body and that the manager’s decision comes to council for ratification. Kauffold stated the termination decision was his, and council ratified it by voice vote.

Ending: Council ratified the termination and instructed staff to proceed with human-resources follow-up. The transcript notes the ratification vote but does not record a roll-call tally. The meeting included subsequent personnel and market-house hiring actions on the same agenda.","Borough Manager Steve Kauffold told council he made the decision to terminate the market manager; council ratified the termination. Members of the public asked about a no-trespass letter and whether the borough can bar a former employee from borough property.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6099897,"Votes at a glance: Columbia Borough Council actions, March 27, 2025",8675,81000,8756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42&start=81&end=8756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42/thumbnail_81000.jpg","/articles/6099897/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Columbia-Borough-Council-actions-March-27-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099897-f26fbac604622f648215c01567f162c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771723580&Signature=R1JDDGTrhhmPU6f43c13~TtP7qoRXl8HJtf7krSjX64~BoMKIG-pb8S6~y8mjxIgD6dhZN-kJMpey~iheOnmGvc8E7U1zJw2LW-QqquWejwoMHZnXCkIv8zPRtk74ezpv2hFMYJskEKB4OWneTq93REdAraFKjhBNSu1N5KHG3B1UhXPDYMo4zELKaspR51wfkn-Nm6qB9VCh1i5lFer-NA1DrnhMiJGni4SDj3HZ9QNFh667FMAVok~ql0jpdTxJB7iLLSnJEZfm67TOoHimnPGUmA23U9rPkU80-9F-~dn3osehar2uxd8F14R91EfbzQDiv0SUqhJqf6nbMSq8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 27 meeting Columbia Borough Council recorded and approved the following formal motions and outcomes.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda as published — Motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Stahl; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approve borough council meeting minutes for March 11, 2025 (with correction adding a last name in item 6f) — Motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Stahl; outcome: approved.

- Approve bill payments — Motion by Councilperson Murphy, second by Councilperson Giese; outcome: approved.

- Authorize staff to extend an offer of employment to Kathy Ritchie for the janitor position at $20.25 per hour for 20 hours per week — Motion by Councilperson Murphy, second by Councilperson Bergard (transcript: Vergard); outcome: approved.

- Ratify termination of the market manager (Chris Vera) — Motion by Councilperson Murphy, second by Councilperson Kaufman; outcome: approved. Borough Manager Steve Kauffold stated he made the termination decision.

- Authorize staff to advertise the position of Highway Worker 2 (to replace a resigned employee) — Motion by Councilperson Stahl, second by Councilperson Kaufman; outcome: approved.

- Approve Mount Bethel Cemetery’s request to hold a car show, crafts and food trucks in the 600 block of Locust Street on June 21, 2025, contingent on required food-truck documentation — Motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Murphy; outcome: approved.

- Approve special-event request for a wedding ceremony for Grace Sauer and Nathan Boyer on the Columbia Crossing lawn on May 4, 2025 — Motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Giese; outcome: approved.

- Authorize staff to extend an offer of employment to Bonnie Link for market house manager at an annual starting salary of $56,822, contingent on background check and drug screening, and approve back pay to March 5 — Motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Giese; outcome: approved.

Procedural notes: For motions where the minutes record only “All in favor? Aye,” the transcript does not list individual roll-call tallies. Where a mover or seconder was named in the transcript, that person is recorded above. If a motion’s recorded mover, seconder or wording in the council packet differed from the live transcript, this summary follows the transcript’s spoken record.

Ending: Council scheduled an April 22 meeting that will include several follow-ups, including demolition bid awards and consideration of closing on a BIOS grant/loan for the McGuinness redevelopment project.","Columbia Borough Council approved routine minutes and payments, authorized hires and advertising for positions, ratified a market-manager termination, and approved several special-event and hiring actions at its March 27 meeting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6099902,"Lancaster EDC updates Columbia council on McGuinness Airport redevelopment, recommends stabilizing site first",1445,2396000,3841000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42&start=2396&end=3841","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2815772-1c277e6d43f2fa41cafdd189d64d2d42/thumbnail_2396000.jpg","/articles/6099902/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Lancaster-EDC-updates-Columbia-council-on-McGuinness-Airport-redevelopment-recommends-stabilizing-site-first","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099902-0e3fd677d9905047c3f9b3e73500b315/orig.mp4?Expires=1771723580&Signature=IVqkEM2rzl86P0w~YNV2NTIBpU-lpnCMMgzt~dCdJJrRIJbs0pSdNx0WCb~L79Ncelh-7ilOy7pMYOlO1tYjebc9VNreiIj1mHF1zuS~H6hXkTfAC~pgX7jnRp5EuqcJIMhHrkm7Zf6V2Pv~Ecx97a5UH6rQKtaTq2WedwR-FNVQgZcUp4bjLHeqo0FOlcSy~6bvzntOtb~lPUsIRGzVStxWSvaywwGuWv9Nq1HmnKCDFihQAgwVGsoOb3YGGwbpcn222t005DPD8dNHNDYIldNwIIvns9tPgQwFQS~gnTNK35lSStKuRH2fQ8SQplja7nIEByXT49N8oietRcQedA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John B. Miller, vice president of business retention and expansion at EDC Lancaster County, told Columbia Borough Council on March 27 that the borough now controls land needed to redevelop the former McGuinness Airport site and that the project has cleared many predevelopment hurdles.

Miller said the borough’s ownership and site-control work are the project’s most important near-term accomplishments and that consultants have completed design, permitting and studies required to reach the next stage. “The most important thing that has happened over the years ... is the borough bought the site and got site control,” Miller said.

Why it matters: the site is large and technically complex, and the borough has already applied for and received preliminary state funding commitments. Miller said the borough’s Business-in-Our-Sites (BIOS) application was approved, with the Commonwealth awarding a $3,300,000 grant and a $5,000,000 loan for the redevelopment. Council and staff discussed multiple options for using those funds to move the project toward tax-generating development.

What officials described: the original property purchase totaled about $1.6 million; the McGuinness parcel itself was priced at $1.495 million, with $539,000 of the purchase attributed to the recreation/park land that the borough intends to keep. Miller and borough staff presented a draft redevelopment plan that would reverse-subdivide the property so about 42 acres would be available for business development after carving out roughly 17 acres of recreation/park space.

Miller outlined four possible paths after predevelopment work: (1) sell the property now “as is,” (2) stabilize the site and then sell the whole parcel, (3) stabilize and complete full infrastructure (roads, utilities) and then sell, or (4) stabilize, develop the infrastructure and sell individual parcels. He and borough staff recommended completing demolition and then bidding phase 1 stabilization, because “stabilization ... addresses the biggest challenge that a private developer is gonna have” and makes the site marketable, Miller said.

Costs and funding: Miller and EDC staff presented earlier 2022 pro forma numbers showing total purchase and development cost estimates near $10.5 million, which were later adjusted by the state in the BIOS application. The team said roughly $9.0 million of the eligible costs were considered for BIOS funding and that the state’s decision produced an award of $3.3 million in grant funds plus a $5.0 million loan. The borough has also received a separate $1.2 million grant secured by state legislators that helped cover predevelopment expenses.

Timing and next steps: borough staff said demolition bid awards for a small portion of the site were planned for the April 22 council meeting and that, if council closes on the BIOS loan, staff would advertise and bid the stabilization work with a target to begin in July and finish by September. Derek (borough staff) summarized the schedule: “We’re shooting for July. Get started and then finish up September.”

Council members stressed two priorities: protect the borough’s financial position and make the property attractive enough to get development started quickly. Several councilors said they preferred stabilizing the site and then marketing it through an economic development corporation rather than taking the borough deeper into full-scale development. Miller and staff said the borough can transfer its MPDES/NPDES erosion-and-stormwater permitting to a buyer once agreements are in place, which would shorten a buyer’s time to build.

The borough manager and EDC said BIOS reimbursements are processed quickly once documentation is submitted, and that some previously incurred predevelopment costs could be reimbursed after BIOS closing. Miller also said the state granted a one-year extension to the BIOS contract so the borough can begin drawing down the funds through June 30 of next year.

Ending: Council members did not decide on a final sales strategy at the meeting; they directed staff to proceed with demolition bid awards and to prepare the stabilization bid package and updated cost estimates for council consideration at the April 22 meeting.","Lancaster County economic development officials updated Columbia Borough Council on the long-running McGuinness Airport / Innovation Park project, outlined funding already secured, and recommended bidding site stabilization (phase 1) before deciding whether to fully develop or sell parcels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents question livestream quality, bus shelter removal and online racist post during Columbia council public comment

Council hears proposal for a senior parking permit to ease parking transitions as meters are removed

Columbia borough manager says he terminated market manager; council ratifies action amid public questions about security notice

Votes at a glance: Columbia Borough Council actions, March 27, 2025

Lancaster EDC updates Columbia council on McGuinness Airport redevelopment, recommends stabilizing site first