Columbia Borough Council on Jan. 27 authorized contract payments tied to Maco Park Phase 1 construction and approved a request to seek DCED approval to reallocate remaining riverfront grant funds to an outfall repair at 4th and Mill.
Council moved to authorize Payment #4 to H and P Construction for $65,927.27 and a final Payment #5 of $3,445 for the Maco Park Phase 1 project; both motions carried by voice vote. The council also authorized a $58,000 payment to Delaware Environmental Construction Services for contract #2 (electrical work) and heard from staff that a six‑month extension request was submitted to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to complete remaining lighting and related items.
Separately, council approved a motion allowing staff to send a reallocation request to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) seeking permission to use leftover riverfront project funds for a different local repair. The transcript contains two similar figures for the remaining balance—one speaker read '$85,328' while another speaker later summarized it as about '$80,000.' Council said staff will seek DCED approval before any work or budget transfer moves forward and that Derek (project lead) will return with detailed project scope and cost estimates if DCED approves the reallocation.
All motions were approved by voice vote with results recorded as "Ayes have it." Council did not vote on the underlying outfall repair scope or contractor selection at the Jan. 27 meeting; those steps will follow DCED approval.
Council members said they expect further project details from staff in coming weeks if the reallocation is permitted.