Emmaus Borough Council passed an ordinance prohibiting large trucks from parking on borough streets at the Jan. 7 meeting.

The ordinance makes it unlawful to park commercial motor vehicles, truck tractors, trailers, busses, motor homes or trucks with a truck-camper on borough owned streets, alleys, right-of-ways or any borough owned property.

The ordinance cites hazardous and unsafe traffic conditions and line of sight concerns as primary reasons for implementing the parking restrictions.

The ordinance says the Emmaus Police Department conducted a tractor trailer parking study and found numerous safety concerns including narrow streets impeding two lanes of traffic where commercial vehicles are parked, safety concerns for individuals entering and exiting vehicles, potential environmental concerns and reductions in available parking for other residents.

The truck parking ordinance passed 5-1 with Councilman Jeff Shubzda opposed and Councilman Mike Waddell absent from the meeting.

"This council has tried different things over the years and I don't think anyone took this decision lightly," Councilman Brent Labenberg said.

Several truck drivers asked council to reconsider passing the parking regulation at both previous meetings and Monday's meeting but council members said safety concerns raised by residents over the years prompted them to vote in favor of the new borough ordinance.

The fine for parking a vehicle with a gross weight over 26,001 pounds, designed to carry 16 or more passengers or carrying hazardous materials while required by the state to show a placard will be a warning for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, $75 for the third offense and $300 for each subsequent ticket.

Emmaus Borough Council also passed their first resolution of 2013 appointing several borough officials to various posts through Jan. 6, 2014.

Michael Nonnemacher is the borough's Ambulance Corps chief.

Richard Hontz is the Animal Control officer.

Shane Pepe is the borough manager and secretary.

Dimmich & Dinkelacker is the borough solicitor.

Christine Snyder is the borough treasurer.

France, Anderson, Basile & Co. is the certified public accountant.

Fonzone and Ashley is the Civil Service Commission solicitor.

Kevin Farnish is the emergency management coordinator and fire inspector.

Hanover Engineering is the engineer for general, water and sewer projects.

James Reiss is the fire chief.

Garry Ritter is the health officer.

Conrad Siegel is the pension consultant for police and non-uniform employees.

David Faust is the police chief.

Jeffry Clapper is the public works director.

John Dychala is the assistant public works director.

James Farnsworth is the public works inspector and code enforcement officer.

Jacob A. Schray and Jeffrey T. Huff are the sewage enforcement officers.

Ronald Corkery, Esq. is the Zoning Hearing Board solicitor.

In a separate motion, Denise Shenk and Kyle Gibbons were hired as part-time EMTs and Bryan Nelson was hired as a part-time paramedic.

Council also filled vacancies and accepted reappointments to several boards and commissions at the meeting.