The summer parks program was briefly brought up at the Emmaus Borough Council meeting April 18.

It was announced in the latest borough newsletter the summer parks program was to be eliminated. After an online petition and several responses from community members, council decided to revisit the situation.

“The committee [Parks and Recreation] felt we do want to continue looking at it,” Councilman Roy Anders said. “We asked for some numbers so we can make a decision for 2017 and for the future. It is being discussed and being looked at and how we might be able to make it work.”

“I’m not sure how much we want to really kind of let that out, but there are a few organizations that are looking at perhaps running the program this year,” Borough Manager Shane Pepe said. “We’re working with them, and I have a meeting later this week to see if there’s a possibility of a program this year.”

Pepe said they are at a time period now where a decision is going to have to be made quickly.

“We’ll do our very best to work with them and educate them and if that’s something they decide to do we’ll sit down with them and try to help them.”

In other business, Dustan Raines made a brief presentation on behalf of State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, with regard to recognizing Pepe for the 2016 Borough Manager of the Year award.

“He’s doing a great job here in Emmaus,” Raines said.

Council voted 7-0 in favor of allowing Lower Macungie Middle School to hold their end-of-the-year seventh grade picnic at Emmaus Community Park. There are 400 kids in the class.

Mayor Winfield Iobst declared April 29 as Arbor Day in Emmaus.

Ordinance 1139 passed its final reading 7-0, which will add a residential handicapped parking sign in front of 224 Adrian St.

Ordinance 1140 passed its first reading, which will remove a residential handicapped parking sign in front of 28 S. Fifth St.

Michael Wilson was appointed as the alternate member to the Civil Service Commission with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2020.