John Hayes, representative of the East Penn Chamber of Commerce, attended the Emmaus Borough Council April 6 regarding four proposed welcome signs in different locations throughout the borough.

The four signs would be located in front of the old fire company number three, the southeast corner of Emmaus High School on the intersection of Pine Street and Cedar Crest Boulevard, by Pickles Grill and Bar in Upper Milford Township and the First Niagara branch in front of State Avenue and Harrison Street.

Hayes said the chamber is requesting permission from council as well as the property owners of the areas the signs will be potentially placed and a fee waiver for the public works employees who put up the signs.

The general administration committee had already discussed this during a prior meeting and their only complaint was the placement of the sign by the old fire company number three. The borough actually starts at Bub and Associates Family Medical Center and the committee would prefer the sign be placed there rather than in front of the old fire company.

Councilman Brent Labenberg said at the time of the meeting they were only aware of three signs and the one being proposed in Upper Milford Township does not sit well with him.

"I prefer that "welcome to the borough" starts where the borough starts, not in Upper Milford. I just think that's wrong to do that," Labenberg said. "People should know where the borough starts and ends not make assumptions that nobody knows."

Hayes said they took the approach of locating what they thought was the best location in terms of layout and not getting lost in front of strip malls and other buildings. He said they would take another look into moving the sign location.

Council approved 5-0 in favor of allowing the signs and waiving the fees.

Steve Steltz from the 200 block of North Street spoke on behalf of the residents on that street. Steltz said the owner of 225 North Street applied for a zoning variance to turn the old day care into a four unit apartment building with four parking spaces.

Steltz said residents of that street are not happy because there are existing issues with parking on the street. They feel four spaces will not be nearly enough for four apartments because more than likely there will be more than one car owned by the residents of a single unit. Steltz said a neighbor of his even dropped off a petition to council chambers signed by a large amount of residents.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe said there are several issues with the property besides the parking including the square footage of the building does not support four apartments.

Council voted 4-1 in favor to have Pepe represent council at the next zoning hearing board meeting April 15 to present these issues. Pepe told Steltz residents who disagree with this proposed building need to attend this meeting to show how serious they are about this not being approved.

Ordinance 1125 passed its first reading and deals with amending the rules relating to Triangle Park [and other parks] dealing with prohibition for carrying firearms in a public park and use of deadly force for self protection and for the protection of third persons.

This ordinance came to play after Tom Campione, director of legislative affairs for Pennsylvanians for Self Protection, came in front of council back in January and March and argued Emmaus had unlawful firearm ordinances.

Ordinance 1124 was passed and will remove a residential handicap parking sign at 638 Walnut St. as well as add a residential handicap parking sign in front of 570 Broad St. and in front of 525 Broad St.

Ordinance 1123 also passed and will regulate "door-to-door" sales, as well as establish a licensing program.

In other business, council approved a bid for a curb and concrete contract with Zgura Concrete of Emmaus.