The Emmaus Borough Council Feb. 3 meeting opened with Council Member Roy Anders inviting the community to a spaghetti dinner fundraiser. East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors will host the event at the Moravian Church 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets are available at the door.

A special presentation was made by Emmaus Main Street Partners, which is a part of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Hayden Rinde and Emily Brosky introduced themselves, shared their initiatives and invited council to collaborate with them to draw more people to the businesses in the Triangle. Rinde and Brosky said Emmaus Main Street Partners is responsible for securing grants to help improve the Main Street area such as replanting each spring, providing benches for persons with physical disabilities and improving trash receptacles. They offered to council their willingness to prepare grants but are also interested in council’s ideas for future improvements and opportunities.

Upcoming events include a Soup Crawl Feb. 8. Over 200 people and 28 businesses are participating in this event. Restaurant Week in Emmaus will take place the week of Feb. 23. The Emmaus Historical Society’s Lucky Bucks Bingo takes place March 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Chestnut St. Only 125 tickets can be sold for this event. Anders volunteered to call the bingo numbers, but Rinde and Brosky had already secured Shawn McIntyre for the event. Coffee and Community sponsored by the Women’s Business Council will occur March 27. More information about Emmaus Main Street Partners or any of these events can be found on their website lehighvalleychamber.org.

In communications, council approved securing a police officer for the following events in which alcohol is available for purchase. The Knauss Homestead Peach Fest will be noon to 4 p.m. July 26. The Farewell to Summer event will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at Triangle Park. The Old-Fashioned Christmas will be 4-7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Triangle Park and will include the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Other events without alcohol include the 73rd annual egg hunt which will take place at Emmaus Community Park 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 12. The event is held rain or shine. The Easter bunny will be available at the pavilions. The Halloween parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 18.

In other communications, Brett Hamscher resigned from the auxiliary police effective Jan. 21. Manuel Feris provided a volunteer application for the Joint Environmental Advisory Council. Council approved Carl Cramer’s request for reappointment to the library board due to Janet Felegy’s departure in December 2024.

Council also acknowledged receiving a letter from Barry Schantzenbach whose wife, Cindy tripped over the curb at borough hall Dec. 9, 2024. She broke her glasses and had a cut above her eye. Schantzenbach is concerned the curb is too high and worried someone else might hurt themselves too.

Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert informed council the second Citizen Police Academy begins 6-8 p.m. Tuesday nights for the next eight weeks. Also, the National Night Out is set for Aug. 5.

Councilman Nathan Brown took time to tell council, specifically Shane Pepe, he is “valued here.” In December, 2024, a number of residents came to the meeting concerned about Pepe’s salary which is $138,980. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a borough manager in 2025 is $59,668 with a low range from $24,559 to the high range of $116,278. However, differences exist for the population, area and skills required for a specific borough. Pepe’s current salary appears to be competitive with the local municipalities of North Whitehall, Lower Macungie, Salisbury and Upper Saucon. Brown noted Pepe has advocated for council, (Emmaus) citizens, (council) president and (Emmaus) mayor. Brown said, “You are worth your value.”

Council President Chad Balliet also recognized the number of hours Pepe dedicates to his job. Balliet shared he once asked Pepe, “What makes you tick?” Pepe showed him the amount of money secured for a grant to improve the five wells in Emmaus and Pepe responded, “This is what makes me tick.” Balliet said the borough would be “hard-pressed to find a better borough manager than Shane Pepe.”

Pepe provided information regarding $11.8 million received for the per- and polyfluoroalkyl project; $9.8 million is a secured grant and the additional $2 million is a loan; however, the grant received was far more than Pepe anticipated. PFAS substances are a group of chemicals known as “forever” chemicals that have been found in the drinking water of Emmaus. They take considerable amounts of time to break down in the environment. In December 2021, the borough found that two of the five wells had the maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. The chemicals were traced to a nearby fire training facility that used a foam containing PFAS. The borough filed a lawsuit against companies making PFAS alleging they were knowledgeable about the dangers of PFAS. In April 2022, the borough received $11.8 million to clean up the contaminated wells. Pepe was a vital figure in securing this amount by advocating for the residents of Emmaus.

At noon Feb. 4, 25 local and statewide bidders will make offers to complete the project. Penn Vest is responsible for issuing the grant and providing the financing for the project. The lowest bidder will receive the job. Solicitor Jason Ulrich said the paperwork needs to be completed this week to get necessary approvals. Public notices must go out by May. Pepe noted, though, there is an issue with a clause in the document regarding acceptance of per diem. Pepe also shared the borough is still pursuing lawsuits against the companies that make PFAS. Ulrich said any additional money will be dedicated back to the borough.

In committee reports, Brown said on Feb. 5, the second round of advertising for zoning ordinances will occur. Municipalities have until Feb. 24 to respond. A public hearing will be held 5 p.m. March 1 with possible adoption occurring that evening if there are no “significant” changes pertaining to a change of content.

Brown also shared a developer expressed concern about the UGI paving taking place throughout the borough and how this could impact development in the area. Finally, an application was submitted for a tricycle ice chest to provide summer treats at the parks. The health inspector did not have concerns for it. Pepe said there is a push cart ordinance; but there have never been any applications. He also noted the ordinance is 25 years old and might need to be updated.

In the borough manager’s report, Pepe said Lucas Haas and Kayla Laudenslager were both hired as part-time EMTs. Benjamin Harrison was approved in January as a full-time public works employee. Anders took a moment to thank the public works employees for addressing the recent water main break as well as maintaining the roads efficiently during the quick storm Feb. 2.

Regarding public safety, council member Shana Baumgartner asked Ulrich about the recent mass deportations issue and wanted to make sure if individuals impacted are receiving their due process. She asked, “How can we protect our residents?” Ulrich explained there are separate guidelines from the federal government, the Pa. Attorney General and the American Civil Liberties Union and they are not the same guidelines. He said he will share these guidelines with council. He also noted “federal matters use federal agents, not necessarily local police.”

Finally, Resolution 2025-4 passed to pay the bill list. It was also noted the zoning end-of-year report included 12 hearings. Council hopes the new ordinances will take care of future concerns.

Resident Megan Brehm commented during the second round of personal appeals via Zoom. She congratulated council on the grant award and hoped money from litigation could be used for the other wells in the borough. Ulrich said the language in the documents does not state this and this is why it is still an issue the borough continues to battle.

Brehm also requested if the zoning meeting could be set possibly for 6 p.m. to allow residents the opportunity to participate. Committee meetings and times can be found on the borough website.

The next council meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 18 at Emmaus Borough Hall, 420 S. 10th St.