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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Background check may include polygraph

Emmaus Borough Council is working on amending the rules and regulations regarding the Civil Service Commission.

Borough Manager Shane Pepe said there are four basic changes being made.

"First of all, we're moving the polygraph examination process to the background for the applicants," Pepe said.

Pepe said council hired two people last year both of which failed the polygraph test and it dragged the hiring process out for several months. He said by the time the top three candidates get to council, they should have passed everything and be ready to go except for the psychological and physical test.

"It only makes sense to put the polygraph as part of the background. That way if someone fails the polygraph exam, we disqualify them, we move the next person up and give them the polygraph exam," Pepe explained.

The second change being made includes the clarification of what the meaning of the eligibility list versus the certified list of candidates meant.

The third change details the qualifications needed to be on the Civil Service Commission. In the revised ordinance, candidates will only be required to have a GED or high school diploma.

"One of our issues was we had three or four veterans who did not have their college degrees or did not have enough credits, but went to Iraq, went to Afghanistan, went across the seas and fought for us, but weren't eligible to be police officers because they didn't have college credits," Pepe said.

Pepe said he does not see what they will really lose if they broaden the base for applicants.

"If someone applies who has a high school diploma and is smarter than someone who has a master's degree in criminal justice then so be it."

The final change being made involves how the borough conducts the background checks.

In the past it has been done in blocks of five which Pepe explained is a waste of resources. In the revised ordinance, background checks will be done for the top three candidates, and if one fails, it will move right to the next person.

Council unanimously voted to pass the first reading of Ordinance 1114.

In other news, both council and the mayor expressed thanks to the community regarding the Emmaus Halloween Parade and the 5K run. Councilman Wesley Barrett expressed his thanks to everyone "who helped out in making the National Penn Bank Halloween in Emmaus 5K run possible, which obviously includes our great committee, borough police, fire and ambulance corps and then all of our sponsors."

Wesley sent a special thanks to National Penn Bank, Emmaus Run Inn and Emmaussports.com who helped sponsor the race.

Barrett also gave a special thanks to Mitzy Cullen who is the owner of the soon to be 187 Rue Principale French cuisine restaurant. Cullen handed out cards to runners stating if they took the card to her new restaurant, she will donate $1 toward the 2015 Emmaus Halloween parade.

"I thought that was a nice little twist of someone who clearly wants to be part of the community," Barrett said.

Mayor Winfield Iobst gave thanks to everyone who helped with the Emmaus Halloween parade.

"I want to really thank Kathy Mincer for working hard; she sure gets the people to donate."

Council voted to reschedule the Emmaus Lioness Lions Club Chase the Chill Event to Nov. 1 with a rain date of Nov. 2. The original dates of Oct. 4 and 11 were both rained out.

Council appointed two new members to the library board: Tina Ralls with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2017, and David Cole with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2016. Craig Neely was appointed to General Authority with a term expiring Jan. 1, 2018.