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Council approves demolition permit, grant resolutions and multiple construction payments; denies vinyl railing at 216 Cherry St.

Columbia Borough Council · October 29, 2025

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Summary

The Columbia Borough Council on Oct. 28 approved a demolition permit for a condemned house at 20 North Second Street, authorized several contractor payments and adopted two resolutions supporting LSA grant applications while denying a Certificate of Appropriateness that proposed vinyl railings at 216 Cherry Street.

The Columbia Borough Council on Oct. 28 voted on a series of permits, contract payments and grant‑support resolutions arising from the borough's capital and historic‑preservation work.

Key outcomes at a glance: all motions below were approved unless otherwise noted.

• Reorganized agenda: Motion to approve a reordering of agenda items (move items 12a, 12e and 12h earlier) — motion by Councilperson Giese, second by Councilperson Kaufman; outcome: approved (voice vote). Transcript evidence: "Motion by council person Giese, second by council person Kaufman to approve the reorganized agenda." (00:02:52).

• Piano at Columbia Crossings (12a): Motion to allow placement of a public piano at Columbia Crossings with conditions for anchoring and maintenance — motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Giese; outcome: approved. Evidence: "Motion by counsel Percy Kaufman, second by counsel Percy Geezy to allow placement of piano at Columbia Crossings. All in favor. Aye." (00:50:37).

• Certificate of Appropriateness, 216 Cherry St. (12e): Motion to deny the submitted COA application that proposed substituting vinyl for wood railings; council directed the applicant to submit an application replacing like‑for‑like (wood/in‑kind) materials — motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Stahl; outcome: denied as filed. Evidence: "Motion by councilperson Kaufman, second by councilperson Stahl to deny the certificate of appropriateness for 216 Cherry Street." (01:05:23).

• Certificate of Appropriateness & demolition permit, 20 North Second St. (12h): Motion to approve COA and demolition permit for a condemned, fire‑damaged structure and to proceed with demolition and interim pocket‑park plan — motion by Councilperson Brigard, second by Councilperson Giese; outcome: approved. Evidence: "Motion by councilperson Brigard, second by councilperson Giese to approve the certificate of appropriateness and demolition permit for 20 North Second Street. All in favor? Aye." (01:11:12).

• Construction payments and change orders: Council approved multiple contractor payments and change orders, including: - Final payment of $20,537 to Doug Lamb Construction Inc. for the 900–1000 blocks of Walnut Street (motion by Councilperson Stahl, second by Kaufman). Evidence: packet discussion and vote (01:12:54). - Applications for payment to Iron Eagle Excavating for the McGinnis Innovation Park (payments of $270,329.13 and $259,254.56; change order no. 1 $0) (motion by Councilperson Murphy, second by Councilperson Stahl). Evidence: "Motion by councilperson Murphy and a second by councilperson Stahl to approve the change order and the payments." (01:12:54). - Change orders and payments to SM Johns & Son Construction for the 800 block of Chestnut Street (applications for payment $113,169.42 and $116,985.61; change orders +$16,984.97 and −$4,373.17). Evidence: motion by Councilperson Stahl, second by Councilperson Murphy (01:12:54; 01:12:54). - Application for payment No. 1 to H & P Construction Inc. for Maple Park in the amount of $55,021.09 (motion by Councilperson Stahl, second by Councilperson Giese). Evidence: "motion by council person Stahl, second by council person Giese to approve the payment for Maple Park." (01:21:45).

• Resolutions supporting LSA grant applications: - Resolution 2025‑24 supporting the LSA grant application for the Columbia Borough Fire Department (motion by Councilperson Kaufman, second by Councilperson Giese); outcome: adopted. Evidence: "Motion by councilperson Kaufman and second by councilperson Giese ... to adopt resolution 20 25 dash 24." (01:13:32). - Resolution 2025‑25 supporting an LSA grant application for the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (motion by Councilperson Stahl, second by Councilperson Kaufman); outcome: adopted. Evidence: "Motion by councilperson Stahl ... to adopt resolution 20 25 dash 25." (01:25:40).

• Personnel and event approvals: Council approved hiring Jennifer Reed Kirchner as a part‑time crossing guard (contingent on background check, medical exam and drug screen); approved free Saturday parking from Nov. 29 to Jan. 3; approved a Merchants Association pirate parade event (03/28/2026) contingent on insurance and fee; and approved a Cumulus Media Santa Drive toy collection event contingent on insurance. Evidence: motions and votes in the meeting transcript (01:21:45–01:27:16).

What the votes do not show: several items were discussed at length (notably the Market House accounts receivable and vendor enforcement), and council directed staff to develop or refine policies; those are discussion/direction items, not formal ordinances.

Sources: Council motions, roll calls and staff presentations in the Oct. 28, 2025 Columbia Borough Council meeting transcript. Provenance (sample): piano placement discussion (00:45:45–00:50:37); COA 216 Cherry hearing and denial (00:50:59–01:05:23); demolition 20 N Second (01:05:54–01:11:12); contractor payment motions (01:12:54 onward).