Emmaus Borough Council dove straight into their Jan. 20 meeting consisting of personal appeals, requests and reports.

Anne Zayaitz, board member of East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors, attended the meeting to thank council for their support. Zayaitz also invited council on behalf of the East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbor’s board to their second spaghetti dinner.

“We support families in the East Penn School District who have children and are home insecure,” Zayaitz said. “Hearing a lot about that today in the news in light of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day service, I just really am here on behalf of the board to thank you for your support in allowing us to rent property from you and for your ongoing support of our program.”

In other requests to address the board, Emmaus resident Lynn Donches asked council to make any necessary changes to the borough website to make the meeting agendas more easily accessible and visible to the public. She recommended council look into software provided by BoardDocs, explaining “it’s used at the school district now, it’s used at the county” and the provider offers various programs that could sufficiently serve council.

Council then approved the Jan. 6 council meeting minutes.

With no bids for discussion, President Brent Labenberg moved forward on the agenda, discussing communications.

Richard Krauss, vice commander of the Emmaus Veterans Committee, Inc. requested to hold a Memorial Day parade May 25 from Emmaus High School to the memorial triangle.

Jessi O’Donald also requested reappointment to the Joint Environmental Advisory Council. The request details this term will last three years. Council carried a motion to reappoint O’Donald.

In her mayor’s report, Lee Ann Gilbert read a letter from the Allentown Police Department thanking the Emmaus borough council and staff for participating in the “Lights on for Officer Anthony Scocca” Dec. 23, 2019.

Council then moved on to discuss committee reports.

Roy Anders, chairman of the public works committee explained the group has many goals this year. The committee wishes to convert streetlights to LED, solve manpower issues, finalize details regarding future projects and planning behind those projects, ordinances and waste issues. The next meeting for the public works committee will be held 4 p.m. Feb. 12.

Chad Balliet, chairman of the health, sanitation and codes committee announced the next committee meeting will be held 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29.

Chairperson for Parks and Recreation Committee, Shana Baumgartner informed council “[the committee] has nothing for official action,” and the next committee meeting is 4:45 p.m. Feb. 4.

Next, John W. Hart, chairman of the public safety committee explained the 2020 Assistance for Strays Contract between the Emmaus borough and the Sanctuary at Haafsville. The contract details fees in which the borough should cover for the 2020 calendar year for each stray. It also lists contact information, hours in which the Sanctuary at Haafsville will accept stray dogs from the public and police, and procedures when they receive found dogs. Hart recommended council approve this contract. Council carried a motion to approve the contract.

Hart also brought attention to the proposal to accept donations from the Emmaus Halloween parade and utilize those donations for funding solar-powered speed signs throughout the borough. Council proceeded with seven ayes to accept the donations.

The public safety committee’s next meeting is 9:15 a.m. Feb. 10.

Labenberg, chairman of the general administration committee discussed Resolution 2020-3, which reaffirms volunteers previously appointed for 2020. Council carried a motion to approve the resolution.

Labenberg then informed council the Emmaus Police Officers Association voted and agreed to disperse the 56 remaining days out of the 300 days donated to Gill’s Sick Pool Agreement. Labenberg sought approval for the Police Sick Pool Agreement. Council approved the agreement.

Labenberg closed the discussion with warm remarks toward the police department.

“Personally, I’m proud of our police department willing to step up for one of their coworkers,” Labenberg said. “I mean, that just tells you they’re family.”

Labenberg then explained the turnpike agreement, which the general administration committee recommends council approve.

“[The agreement] allows us to respond to accidents or whatever emergency that we’re required to respond to,” Labenberg said. “It protects our crews from lawsuits. This agreement, which we didn’t get in the past I believe, we actually get a fee from the turnpike commission, which we never had before.”

Council carried a motion to approve the agreement.

Labenberg said the general administration committee’s next meeting will be held 9 a.m. Jan. 30.

Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, Chris DeFrain asked council to carry a motion to authorize the bill payment list in Resolution 2020-4, which totaled $337,339.24. Council carried a motion to approve this request.

Next, DeFrain sought a motion for Resolution 2020-5 authorizing the sale of 33 E. Minor St. and 10 E. Minor St. Council carried a motion with seven ayes.

DeFrain also asked council to carry a motion for an architect to help redesign and remodel current building designs. Seven ayes carried a motion to approve DeFrain’s request. The budget and finance Committee will meet 11 a.m. Jan. 30.

Closing the reports, Teri Sorg-McManamon, chairman of the community relations, planning and development committee delivered her report.

McManamon informed council Naomi Milnes, board member of the parent teacher community at Jefferson Elementary School in Emmaus, inquired if the borough would close nearby streets for four hours on the day of the annual Race for Education fundraiser. Since the elementary school cannot hold the race at the Emmaus High School track this year, the board hopes to receive approval from council to close off streets along the perimeter of the elementary school to hold the race there.

Labenberg voted no due to the possible issues that the street closings could cause and proposed the school look into holding the race at a community park. McManamon explained the school evaluated that route; however, they determined it would not be possible due to busing issues.

Labenberg still felt that given enough time the school could possibly find a better location and worried of what inconveniences the lengthy street closure could cause for the community. The proposal was met with six ayes and one no.

McManamon also wanted to inform the council of the Emmaus Farmers Market changing their hours in the summer.

She then concluded that the committee is working on various tasks, including improving the website, as Donches expressed concern for. The next community relations and development committee meeting will be held 4:30 p.m. Feb. 10.

Phillips Armstrong, Lehigh County Executive, finished the personal appeals section of the agenda by promoting the census.

“We’re meeting with just about any group that we can,” Armstrong said. “In 2010 we missed about 30 percent of the population. For two years we missed about $2,000 per person … We really want all municipalities to make a tremendous effort to get out. We’re counting on you to encourage every single person. It’s important. I really want to emphasize that.”

He also explained the new methods of early voting the Lehigh County will adopt this year.

Council then adjourned and moved into an executive session.