Emmaus Borough Council met July 15 for its regular meeting hearing two requests for community events.

First, a charity fishing tournament was proposed for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 at Furnace Dam Park. However, since the organization is not restocking the fish and will not conduct “catch and release,” council was averse to allowing a fishing tournament at that location. Taxpayer money was used to stock that pond and they felt more provisions needed to be met before allowing a fishing tournament. The event request was ultimately denied.

The American Legion Baseball Region 2 Tournament was next up for discussion. The request was approved to use Emmaus Community Park July 20-24. Of note, The Large Flowerheads will be playing July 21 and it will be a warm day so the pool should be packed. A very large crowd is expected.

To kick off unfinished business, council members unanimously passed Ordinance No. 1265, which removes a residential disabled parking sign on Ridge Street.

Next, council approved Ordinance No. 1266, restricting left turns from Klines Lane to Main Street during specific school hours, 8-9 a.m., as well as 3-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This measure is expected to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety during peak times. The second reading and vote will take place at the next council meeting.

In new business, Ordinance No. 1267 was tabled for a future meeting, as more details and provisions need to be written into the ordinance. This ordinance would establish a local economic revitalization tax assistance program, providing real estate tax exemptions for new construction and improvements to deteriorated properties. The council hopes this will stimulate local economic growth and urban renewal.

Traffic management was further addressed with the approval of Ordinance No. 1268, which restricts traffic from turning onto Howard Street from Long Street and establishes a no-thruway on Howard Street. This decision aims to alleviate issues with large vehicles as the thruway is narrow. The second reading and vote will take place at the next meeting.

Ordinance No. 1269 was approved by council, revoking a residential permitted disabled parking space in front of 38 N. Sixth St. This concluded all items in new business.

Next up was Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert’s report. She issued Proclamation 2024-599 for Emmaus Police Department’s National Night Out. The community-building event will be held 6-8 p.m. Aug. 6. There will be hot dogs provided by borough council, numerous events and things to see, plus much to learn about what’s going on within Emmaus.

Council then heard reports from various committees.

In public works, a street opening permit for a gas line for Camp Street was requested; however, due to current ordinances, the request was denied.

The parks and recreation report approved the 2024 Fifth Street Cross (Cyclocross) event schedule. More information about the event is available on social media.

Council discussed the proposed Emmaus Youth Association building construction at the South Fourth Street fields, which will be owned by the borough. This would be a training facility for EYA and will be paid for by the association. This was also approved by the council.

The hiring of Dalphyne Gibbs as a group exercise instructor was the last item approved in parks and recreation. This will provide the community an instructor to teach various fitness classes. She will instruct Zumba, family Zumba and other classes such as country line dancing during the fall and summer months.

A restructure of the emergency services management structure was approved, as the borough decided to remove a management position in the emergency services department and establish new positions within the department.

Next, council members approved the police hiring process as a supervisor position will soon be needed in the department. The police promotion process was the last item highlighted and approved in the public safety report.

All these approvals allow the Civil Service Commission to begin the hiring and promotion process.

In general administration, the Gannett Fleming PennVest Application Proposal for additional services related to the final design, permitting and bid phase of the PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] treatment for Wells 1 and 2 was approved.

The bill list was then read in the budget and finance report. Dating back to the previous meeting, the bill list totaled $2,150,499.88.

Conrad Siegel was appointed as a pension actuary for the police and nonuniform plans. Siegel works with 300 Pennsylvania municipal pension plans.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe had several items in his report. This included Ryan Crawford being assigned as an AEMT and the hiring of Tyler McCulloch as a part-time auxiliary officer.

The only action item was the approval of Tyler Llewellyn’s promotion to Class 3 in the public works department.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 19.