The discussion of trick-or-treat night was one of the topics at the Emmaus Borough Council meeting Nov. 2.

Council received four letters from concerned residents expressing how “terrible” trick-or-treat night was this year.

“Apparently the town ran amok with trick-or-treaters,” Council President Lee Ann Gilbert said.

One letter from Michelle Sweazy said how “terrible” trick-or-treating was. Sweazy wrote there were too many kids and teenagers lining up to get candy. She said this problem was due to having trick-or-treat night on a different day then the surrounding areas.

Sara Roba’s letter indicated “a friend of hers works in the Allentown School District and she recognized a handful of her students causing problems,” Gilbert read.

Kate Watt’s letter stated children were pushed and shoved in her neighborhood and a pair of parents almost got into a fist fight.

The final letter from Beth Roba talked about how trick-or-treating was becoming a huge safety issue.

Councilman Roy Anders asked Chief of Police David Faust, who attended the meeting, if police received any calls the evening of trick-or-treating.

“We were pretty busy,” Faust said.

Resident Nigel Watt was in attendance and detailed the events.

“There was a shouting match in front of our house that involved racial slurs shouted over the heads of the probably 20 children assembled in front of the house,” Watt said. “I hope that we can keep on being welcoming as a community, but also hopefully discourage some double dipping, so to speak, by scheduling at an intelligent date.”

Watt went on to say this really is a safety concern and he could understand why a bulk of his neighbors did not participate this year. He said he would like to take his daughter out trick-or-treating for the first time next year, but he does not think it will be possible if it was anything like this year.

Gilbert said council will have to discuss the issue with Mayor Winfield Iobst. Iobst, who was not in attendance at the meeting, is in charge of deciding what day Emmaus trick-or-treat night will be.

Eli Bracken spoke before council as a representative of the Emmaus and Upper Milford Joint Environmental Advisory Council.

Bracken said a couple of months ago the borough had approached him on some areas of concern regarding tributaries in the borough.

“These tributaries are experiencing some erosion which is affecting downstream areas, but also encroaching on some structures and certain parts of the borough,” Bracken said.

He said the EAC would like to take on the project. They would start by covering one of the smaller areas, see how that goes and then possibly move forward to other areas in the borough. The first project would involve the tributaries on the Little Lehigh behind the library.

They would add a 15 to 20 foot buffer starting from the stream bank and ending at the edge of the library property. The buffer would be comprised of native plant species, small trees and a potential split-rail fence to include educational signage. The split- rail fence would create a “no mow zone” so the public works department would not disrupt the area.

“Once we analyze the success or not success of this project, then we can move forward with a second phase,” Bracken said. The second phase would be to repair the heavy erosion behind the bleachers on Williams Street.

Bracken said they are applying for a grant through the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. The grant, if received, will reimburse all of the funds committed by the borough.

The $1,500 proposal was referred to the budget and finance committee.

Council approved to enter into contract with USA Architects, subject to the borough solicitors approval. USA Architects was hired for the work to be done on 33 East Minor Street. Ten different architectural firms applied for the job and it was ultimately narrowed down to five.

“Cost was a big factor, overall confidence that they could do the project and that they had experience needed based on history of projects,” Councilman Wesley Barrett said.

Council voted 6-0 in favor of allowing Matthew Spangenberg to open up the road on Broad Street in order for him to establish a UGI gas connection. Spangenberg had attended the previous council meeting to propose his request.