The Emmaus Main Street Partners, with another critical procedural error in its development grant, discovered the group is ineligible to be the primary sponsor because the organization is nonprofit.

Emmaus Borough Council unanimously voted to take over as the primary sponsor.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe and Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich will oversee the remainder of the process with the developer.

"I really believe there is no viable difference between us stepping in before and where we are now," Dimmich said while telling council there is no additional risk to being the primary sponsor.

Pepe will now be responsible for making sure the developer follows the proper steps to receive the grant. The former Main Street Gallery furniture store property, 187-191 Main Street, Emmaus, is scheduled to be completed next month.

This is the third time council has had to vote on this issue and several council members appeared frustrated with the process.

Councilman Brent Labenberg said he will look at future Main Street Partners' requests with a more critical eye and Councilman Mike Waddell said it is "embarrassing" for everyone involved to experience this type of blunder.

Councilmen Wesley Barrett and Nathan Brown explained an award the borough received from the Delaware Valley Green Building Council at the meeting. The "Sustainability Award" was presented to the borough for several cost saving and environmentally friendly projects in recent years. Some examples cited were LED traffic lights, a riparian buffer, the South Mountain Gateway Trail and efficient lights at the Emmaus Public Library.

The Emmaus Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Triangle Park. Mayor Winfield Iobst will throw the switch on the lights with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving 6:15 p.m.