It was unanimously voted by the Emmaus Borough Council at the April 2 meeting to bid out services for the borough’s refuse and recycling for the second half of 2018.

The borough’s current contract with JP Mascaro ends July 1 and council has no intention to further renew the contract after being with them for the past four years.

Besides the borough having multiple issues with Mascaro over the last several months, Councilman Jeff Shubzda said council wants to modify the bid specifications and in turn see what better opportunities come their way.

“The times have changed a little bit, is what we’re being told, as far as some offerings go, that haulers can give at more affordable prices than what they previously put out,” Borough Manager Shane Pepe said.

As of now, the health, sanitation and codes committee has come up with a 24-page bid specifications on different items and conditions they are looking for with the new hauler. The final product will be narrowed down, simplified and approved by the borough solicitor.

“Our public also wants us to do this,” Councilman Roy Anders said. As they’re going through the bid specifications, Anders said they will make note of what the public is looking for as well.

In other business, Ordinance 1173 passed its first reading, which deals with establishing regulations for portable storage containers. The borough currently does not have any regulations regarding the use of portable storage containers on public streets.

The ordinance defines a portable storage container as a “portable, weather-resistant receptacle designed and used for the storage or shipment of household goods, wares, building materials or merchandise.”

The originally proposed ordinance would require residents to submit an application and purchase a permit, which in turn, would allow them to keep the storage unit on a public street for up to 60 days. It was noted a permit was not required to purchase if the resident was keeping the unit on their own property.

Any resident who violates the ordinance will be subject to fine of up to $500 per day, plus the cost of prosecution.

Councilman Wesley Barrett suggested they change the ordinance to only allowing residents to have a container on a public street for up to 30 days with the chance of a renewal option. “The goal is to prevent the unsightliness of them sitting in our streets,” he said.

Council President Brent Labenberg said he would be voting against the suggested 30 days, as he feels residents should be allowed to have 60 days. “I think 60 days allows them to do whatever they have to do, and I just think it complicates everything way too much.”

Council voted 4-3 in favor of passing the first reading and also changing the ordinance to a 30-day time period. Labenberg, Anders and Shubzda all voted against the change.

Ordinance 1172 passed its first reading which deals with amending a zoning ordinance establishing fence height regulations for nursing homes and other types of facilities housing patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other memory impairments.

The original ordinance stated fences were to have a maximum height of six feet, while the new ordinance allows fencing of up to eight feet tall to be built in accordance to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human services industry standard.

Ordinance 1171 passed its final reading which will allow the removal of a residential handicapped parking space in front of 546 Broad St.