Emmaus Borough Council met Nov. 19 for its regular meeting hearing a personal appeal from resident Harold Griffin who asked for a status of the municipal complex and where updates and information could be found.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe told Griffin the borough has been providing updates via the newsletter once a year and progress is being made with the HVAC study about to begin.

Pepe said there were issues with UGI rethinking how to run the HVAC. The borough hired an engineer to look at a split system – oil and gas. Work has been completed on the gym but Pepe said they can’t close the walls until the HVAC is resolved.

“We will be selling the current gym by Central station once this gym is finished,” Pepe said. He also added the building is completely gutted.

Council member Wesley Barrett said it took 10 months to pursue options. “The HVAC is extremely important to council for efficiency,” Barrett said.

“We are doing this at a pace to not raise taxes,” Council President Brent Labenberg told Griffin.

With the current rentals, council said they are $30,000 to $40,000 over what the cost of the mortgage is so it is not costing the borough anything.

Pepe said the planned approach to the new municipal complex was 10 years; he said it may be 10 to 15 years now.

Council approved a Christmas Tree Pop-Up at Triangle Park proposed by Ashley Lorah with the Emmaus Main Street Partners.

Herbeins will sell trees, wreaths and other holiday decor Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. There will be one or two craft vendors as well. Donations will be solicited from the vendors to go toward cleanup and electricity. Vendors will be asked to provide insurance and 10 to 15 percent of the donation will be given back to the borough.

The parks and recreation committee suggested the site be open 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Pepe said Lorah received requests from downtown business owners to help bring shoppers to the area.

In other business, Councilman Roy Anders thanked members of the Public Works Department for their work in cleaning up after the recent snowstorm. Pepe agreed by saying, “Our crew did an awesome job.”

In committee news, Alan Hawman III was reappointed to the building board of appeals with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2024. John Stover Jr. was reappointed to the Emmaus Vacancy Board with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2020. Nigel Watt was reappointed to the board of health with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2024. John Zettlemoyer Jr. was reappointed to the Emmaus General Authority with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2024. Vince Tranguch was reappointed to the civil service commission with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2025. Jeffrey Ott was reappointed to the building board of appeals with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2024. Susan Schmidt was reappointed to the zoning hearing board with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2022.

Two longtime volunteers with the Emmaus Arts Commission offered their resignations – Linda Waddell effective Jan. 28, 2019 and Mike Waddell effective Feb. 7, 2019.

In her resignation letter, Linda Waddell said it was not an easy decision but “family circumstances require my full time and attention.” Linda Waddell also took the opportunity to thank Pepe and borough council for the opportunity to serve for over 11 years.

Mike Waddell has also served for 11 years saying, “It has truly been an honor and a privilege to be part of this very art-oriented group that works hard to promote the arts and the artists of Emmaus.” Mike Waddell said it was time to “move on to pursue different interests and to allow other good people to determine how the EAC will evolve and contribute to our art community in the coming years.”

Ziad Munson also resigned from the Emmaus Library Board effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Kris Thompson and Wendy Bartkus were appointed to the Community Garden Commission with terms expiring Jan. 1, 2022. Bernadette Goetz and Melynda Yesemia Cameron were appointed to the Emmaus Arts Commission with terms expiring in February 2021.

Council approved an amendment to the Borough of Emmaus Zoning Ordinance of 1993 to apply the modified parking requirements to craft beverage restaurants and craft beverage production facilities located in the central commercial zoning district. Pepe said this will allow them to be like a restaurant which has no parking requirements.

Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert announced Nov. 19 was the first time in the 109-year history of the Emmaus Police Department where two full-time female officers – Jayme Whipple and Melanie Sayres were patrolling Emmaus at the same time. Gilbert also said Whipple has completed her training and is now patrolling alone.