Editor’s Note: The dates for the 1803 House Passport to History event have been changed.

July 19 marked the first meeting in July for the Emmaus Borough Council with a full agenda.

A festival request was sent in by Knauss Homestead Preservation Society for the Knauss Homestead Peach Festival scheduled for Aug. 21. They estimate 250 people will be in attendance. There was also a request to host a Passport to History event by the Friends of the 1803 House. The purpose is to present the history of Emmaus and the 1803 House. This will be held at the 1803 House, 55 S. Keystone Ave., Emmaus. The event will take place noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 15.

Additionally, a Friends of the 1803 House representative spoke during public comment about a Founders Day Celebration event taking place 5:30 p.m. July 31. The event will take place at the Emmaus Moravian Church Pavilion and will commemorate the founding of Emmaus on July 30, 1747. Tickets can be found online at Eventbrite.com. Search for Emmaus Founders Day Dinner to find the tickets.

The 100th annual Emmaus Halloween Parade request came in from the Emmaus Halloween Committee. The parade date is scheduled for Oct. 16, with a rain date scheduled for Oct. 17.

The grand opening of Holistic Solutions, 1245 Chestnut St. (East Penn Plaza) will be held 10 a.m. Aug. 1. There will be a band and a dunk tank. This event is dedicated to Dan Allen by the owner Caitlin Allen.

The last big item in communications was a proposal from Long Tail Creative’s FSX Producers for the use of the Emmaus Compost Center field areas Aug. 26 to Nov. 31. FSX stands for Fifth Street Cross, which is a weekly bike and run series in and around the Emmaus Compost Center.

In other business, Ordinance 1212 was reintroduced. This ordinance addresses the “use of streets by processions and assemblages requiring permits for gatherings in Emmaus and providing for penalties and enforcement.” Council President Brent Labenberg did not agree the ordinance was needed, though all other council members showed support for the ordinance. The ordinance essentially gives the borough protection from spontaneous large events planned in advance. Protests were used as an example.

The ordinance was approved in a 6-1 vote. This ordinance will be reread at the next borough meeting.

The borough engineer went over the revised, preliminary final lot consolidation and development plans of the Phoebe Richland Health Care Center located at Chestnut Ridge at Rodale. After a lengthy presentation, the plans were reassigned to the general administration committee for discussion.

A construction manager as agent was decided on for the Emmaus municipal buildings renovation project. There were three applicants. Council decided upon D’Huy Engineering, Inc. on the recommendation of the hiring committee.

Next up, was an update on the search for a new borough solicitor, as current solicitor Jeffrey Dimmick will be retiring. After narrowing it down to four law firms, the committee decided the front-runner was Gross-McKinley.

Gross-McKinley has its own municipal team and will be able to handle all the borough’s needs. Their rate is $150 an hour. Dimmick was named the alternate solicitor.

Councilman John Hart presented on behalf of the public safety committee on an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for traffic signal approval for a flashing warning device permit. The pedestrian crossing at Main Street and Short Street will add rectangular rapid flashing beacons and a push button. This application was approved for submission by council.

In the borough manager’s report, Matthew Bachert received a promotion to Class 3. Sean Laird was hired as a lifeguard for the 2021 season. Tyler Schmeltzle resigned from the fire department. Amanda Achenbach was hired as a part-time EMT.

The next borough council meeting will be held 6-7 p.m. Aug. 9 at borough hall, 28 S. Fourth St., Emmaus. The following week will be the regular council meeting 7 p.m. Aug. 16.