By ColumbiaPa.online The Columbia Borough Council met for a packed and wide‑ranging meeting on March 24, 2026, with a full house and two hours of resident comments, project updates, public safety discussions, and key votes on issues shaping the borough’s next year. Below is your full community roundup. Opening of Meeting Council opened with roll…
Tonight’s town meeting was one of those rare gatherings where Columbia showed its full potential — a packed room, active voices, and three solid hours of neighbor‑to‑neighbor engagement. And honestly? It was refreshing. Starting With Accountability and an Honest Question Early in the evening, I, took a moment to offer a sincere public apology to…
Columbia Planning Commission Pushes Zoning Overhaul Forward with New State Support March 17 may have been St. Patrick’s Day, but Columbia’s luck came in the form of momentum.At 7 p.m. sharp, the Columbia Borough Planning Commission opened its meeting with tradition—a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance—before getting straight to work on decisions…
🧹 Trash, Dogs, Cats… and Witch Hazel Blooms The night’s most passionate speaker was long‑time resident Mary W, who walked to the podium armed with four concerns: trash, cats, dogs, and alley conditions. Trash & Streets Mary didn’t mince words. “It is totally disgusting,” she said.After a major “Fourth Saturday” weekend, she described areas of…
EDITORIAL: It’s Time for Columbia to Turn the Page — Together The past several weeks in Columbia has been dominated by one thing: the email saga. The questions, the confusion, the accusations, and the borough’s response have divided neighbors and strained trust across our community. Regardless of where anyone stands, we are now at the…
Should Voters Consider a Candidate’s Past Bankruptcy? The Case of Columbia Borough’s Vice President, Heather Zink COLUMBIA, Pa. — As Columbia continues to grow and reshape its identity, residents regularly assess the people who guide that process. Among them is Heather M. Zink, sitting Vice President of Columbia Borough Council, whose role places her at…
Borough Cites Non‑Criminal Investigation Exemption in Denying Email Request: What That Means for Columbia Residents By ColumbiaPA.online StaffPublished: February 26, 2026 COLUMBIA, Pa. — ColumbiaPa.online requested a narrow set of Borough emails from the week surrounding August 18, 2025 in order to clarify a series of events of clear public interest. On February 26, 2026,…
📢 Statement Regarding Recently Circulated Email Published by ColumbiaPA.online February 26, 2026 — Columbia, Pennsylvania ColumbiaPA.online is issuing this statement regarding a recently circulated email that has drawn community attention. The owner of the email has granted full permission for it to be published. However, it is important for readers to understand the following: Shortly…
📰 Columbia Borough Opens Bidding for 41‑Acre McGinness Innovation Park Development COLUMBIA, PA — February 25, 2026 Columbia Borough has officially announced the opening of bids for the redevelopment of McGinness Innovation Park, a 41‑acre property located at 1020 Manor Street, with the release of both a press statement and a detailed Request for Proposals…
Columbia Deserves Clarity: Why One Person Shouldn’t Be Both Borough Manager and Police Chief By ColumbiaPA.Online Editorial Board Columbia is a community that shows up—at parades, fundraisers, school events, and public meetings. We look one another in the eye. We care about how our town is run. That’s why an important governance question deserves thorough,…
🚨 Email Raises Questions About Conduct and Transparency Inside Columbia Borough Government COLUMBIA, PA —A newly surfaced email sent to local law‑enforcement leadership is raising concerns about potential misconduct, internal disputes, and transparency issues within Columbia Borough, Pennsylvania. The communication outlines a range of allegations that, if substantiated, could point to deeper administrative and ethical…
Columbia Borough Planning Commission Prioritizes Zoning Overhaul; Considers State’s 400‑Hour Assistance Pilot February 17, 2026 – Columbia, PA The Columbia Borough Planning Commission held its February meeting Tuesday evening, addressing routine business before turning its focus to major planning initiatives that could shape the Borough for years to come—chief among them, a potential partnership with…
Columbia Borough HARB Reviews Signage Proposal for New Hampton Hotel at February 11 Meeting The Columbia Borough Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) convened its monthly meeting on February 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Chairperson Lutz called the session to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call that confirmed a quorum. Approval…
Audit Reveals Persistent Failures in Columbia Borough’s Non‑Uniformed Pension Plan A Conservative Review on Fiscal Accountability and the Need for Stronger Governance Published by ColumbiaPA.Online Introduction A newly released compliance audit of the Columbia Borough Non‑Uniformed Pension Plan, covering the period ending December 31, 2024, highlights ongoing issues in the borough’s financial oversight—problems that should…
Columbia Borough Police Pension Overpayment Raises Accountability Concerns Taxpayers Deserve Transparency as Audit Finds $17,449 Pension Overpayment A recent audit has revealed that a retired Columbia Borough police officer was overpaid by $17,449 from the borough’s police pension plan—an error that Pennsylvania’s Auditor General says reflects repeat issues within Columbia Borough’s financial oversight systems. [columbiaspy.com]…
Columbia Borough Council Advances Key Projects Amid Financial Concerns — February 10, 2026 COLUMBIA, PA — Columbia Borough Council convened Tuesday evening, February 10, 2026, addressing a wide range of municipal issues including the long‑awaited McGuinness property RFP, significant public works equipment repairs, upcoming community events, and escalating financial pressures that may require a short‑term…
BREAKING: Dispute Erupts Over Funds Raised for Columbia Market House Jail Cell Restoration Columbia, PA — February 3, 2026 A public dispute has erupted in Columbia following a series of Facebook posts by local historian and event organizer Rick Fisher, who alleges that thousands of dollars raised for the restoration of the historic jail cells…
