Letters of intent are due by 7 p.m. Nov. 24. Council could pick someone that same night.
COLUMBIA, Pa. — Columbia Borough Council is taking applications from residents who want to fill the open seat on council.
Council President Eric Kauffman says anyone interested should send a letter of intent. It can be emailed to him at ekauffman@columbiapa.net or dropped off at the borough office. Letters will be accepted until the regular council meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
That night, council plans to hold a question-and-answer session with the applicants and may vote on an appointment.
Who can apply
To serve on council, a person must:
- Be a registered voter in Columbia Borough and at least 18 years old
- Live in the borough
- Have lived in the borough continuously for at least one year (a sworn statement, called an affidavit, is required before being sworn in)
- Keep living in the borough the whole time they serve
Some people can’t take the seat. A school director or charter school trustee can’t serve on council, and no one can hold more than one elected borough office at a time.
What happens if council can’t agree
If the vote on Nov. 24 ends in a tie, council will vote again at its Dec. 1 workshop meeting.
If there’s still no decision after Dec. 1, the borough’s vacancy board steps in at the Dec. 8 regular council meeting. Under Pennsylvania law, the vacancy board is made up of council plus one resident who serves as the board’s chair. It exists so that a deadlocked council can’t leave a seat empty.
How long the term lasts
Whoever is appointed will serve until council’s reorganization meeting in early January 2028. Under state law, an appointee serves until the first Monday in January after the next municipal election, which is in November 2027. The seat will be on that ballot.
Why it matters
Borough council sets Columbia’s budget and tax rate and votes on the decisions that affect every street in town. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, this is a direct way to have a say.
For questions, contact Council President Eric Kauffman at ekauffman@columbiapa.net or the Columbia Borough office.
The Columbia Chronicle will cover the Nov. 24 meeting and report on who applies and who is chosen.