A lawyer has offered free advice to help settle an ongoing dispute that has stymied the Historic Columbia Market House.

Kevin French, a partner in the firm of Hartman Underhill & Brubaker, has decided to do pro bono legal work for the Historic Columbia Market House Trust.

His offer alleviates the need to pay fees to his firm for future meetings as the trust and borough attempt to work out differences. The borough already has paid more than $7,750 in legal fees to trust lawyers this year.

The decision to work without compensation stems from the trust's nonprofit status, French said, and also because the market "is something we really want to support … . It's worthwhile not just for Columbia but for Lancaster County."

French said on Tuesday the principal issue is to facilitate the parties' ability to have a constructive dialogue.

Problems between council and the trust — ranging from financial to communication and personnel — have dominated borough council meetings since February.

The matter came to a head on Oct. 22 when council dissolved the trust, a decision the members then reversed on Nov. 7.

At the Nov. 7 meeting, council appointed two members, Mary Barninger and Jim Smith, to represent the borough in meetings with the trust. Borough solicitor Barry Handwerger also will represent council in this matter.

French gave a brief statement at the Nov. 7 meeting, stating that the trust supports meeting with council.

At the borough meeting on Monday, Barninger said no meeting had yet been scheduled.

During a phone interview on Tuesday, French said he was in conversation with Handwereger, and they were "trying to schedule something next week."

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