Officers Robert Alburger and Vincent Murante III were promoted to police sergeants at the Emmaus Borough Council Aug. 20.

These promotions are contingent upon a successful completion of a one year term of probation.

“I think the residents of this town are genuinely proud of their police department,” Councilman Wesley Barrett said. “Hearing the general chatter, the department is very happy and the residents are very happy with the performance of those two individuals and department as a whole.”

Council also voted to give a conditional offer of employment to a new police officer, Jaymie Whipple, contingent upon the following: must successfully pass physical exam and a psychological exam, must successfully complete all requirements in accordance with Municipal Police Officers’ Education & Training Commission standards and must complete one year of probation.

In other business, the bids for the refuse and recycling contract are in. The health, sanitation and codes committee will review the bids and give a half hour interview to each hauler at the Aug. 29 meeting, before it comes to a final decision at the Sept. 4 council meeting.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe said they received four bids from haulers, which include Republic Services, Whitetail Disposal, Advanced Disposal and the borough’s current hauler J.P. Mascaro & Sons. Out of those four bidders, Pepe said three were the lowest bidders in different major sections of the bid.

It was noted in the committee meeting notes that the price for all four haulers have gone up “dramatically, as the recycling market has completely sunk, thus making it more expensive for haulers to collect recycling, with no profit for most.”

Resident Mitchell Fry briefly addressed his traffic concerns regarding Third Street. Fry says he feels like he lives on “a motor speedway” with the way vehicles fly down that road and he was wondering if anything could be done to address the issue. Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert, who is responsible for the police department, will be looking further into the issue.

Council unanimously voted to purchase a new police car. The purchase has to be made by Sept. 21, otherwise council will not see the vehicle until very late 2019, early 2020. However, they will not be able to receive the car until Jan. 1, 2019.

The rough estimate of the cost of the car is around $30,000, but Pepe said they are not going to include the price in the motion only because they don’t have all of the add-on prices confirmed. The final price will be listed in the budget.

Resolution 1179 passed its final reading which will remove a residential handicapped parking sign at 570 Broad St. and add a residential handicapped parking sign at 228 Furnace St.

Julian Familia was appointed to the recreation and entertainment committee with a term expiring May 1, 2021.

Both Stephen Baier and Craig Smith were appointed to the Community Garden Commission with terms expiring Jan. 1, 2021.