There was a public hearing regarding Funk Brewing Company before the regularly scheduled Emmaus council meeting Nov. 3.

Kyle Funk is requesting to operate a craft brewery at 19 S. Sixth St. and has submitted all required paperwork.

"We currently manufacture malted beverages for wholesale," Funk said. "What I'd like to do is adopt this new zoning ordinance and be able to operate as a craft brewery as defined in the zoning amendments, which would potentially include a brew pub and a tasting unit."

When asked by Councilman Jeff Shubzda about parking, Funk said a parking lot is planned for behind the building.The lot would include spots for eight cars as well as handicap parking.There will be a gate to close the parking lot during non-operational hours.

Funk said, with the addition of the parking lot and proper signage, he hopes to alleviate any parking problems at the business.

Council unanimously approved the conditional use hearing for Funk Brewery and will allow the business to operate a craft brewery in accordance with the zoning law.

Mark Fischer spoke in front of council again regarding the miscommunication in his change of address.

At the Oct. 20 council meeting, Fischer explained to council because his address was never correctly changed, he owed thousands of dollars in tax penalty fees as well as lawyer fees.

Fischer said he wanted to make some corrections and additions to what he presented at the last meeting.

"I had thought mail forwarding and address forwarding and correction were automatic and I was made aware that was not the case," Fischer said.

Fischer explained he learned address correction will only occur if the piece of mail has the endorsement "Address Correction Requested" and a fee is sent to the sender.

Fischer stated another way the borough could have figured out where he was living was by checking the address on the payment check.

He also explained he was wrong in calculating the previous interest rate of 18 percent.

"That was incorrect. It is based on delinquent taxes plus penalties, plus attorney fees, and the tax rate 10 percent as mandated," Fischer said.

Fischer said he paid the 2013 borough tax bill for $1,690 through Dimmich and Dinkelacker, paid his 2014 borough tax to Dennis Gouldy and his 2014 Lehigh County tax. When asked if his tax lien is being taken care of, Borough Solicitor Alfred Stirba said the lien has been sent to Lehigh County Court.

In other meeting business, during the budget and finance committee report, Councilman Brian Holtzhafer said the committee recommended returning to Berkheimer as the per capita tax collector. Holtzhafer said the committee looked at a few options which included doing everything in-house or having Dennis Gouldy, the current borough tax collector, do it.

Holtzhafer said the fee is currently $1.30 per bill and the new contract would be 95 cents per bill which "is cheaper than Mr. Gouldy and less complicated than negotiating with the union and effectively pay the girls downstairs to do a job they've never done before."

Councilman Brent Labenberg said he would vote against the proposal because he feels it would be cheaper to do it in-house and would be more convenient for the residents.

"I really think our staff has time to do this, and I know it's a union issue, but I think we should approach it," Labenberg said.

Council voted 5-1 in favor of hiring Berkheimer for the 2015 per capita tax collector. As a result of voting to hire Berkheimer, four other resolutions were passed all with a 6-0 vote. The resolutions included a tax hearing appointment resolution, appointment resolution, confidentiality resolution and an imposition of costs resolution.

Council voted to hire Ray Geiger to give property appraisals with a rate of $2,000. Also contracted at $9,900 was Spillman Farmer to conduct a feasibility building analysis.

Council unanimously voted to pass Ordinance 1114, amending the rules and regulations involving the Civil Service Commissions. The first reading of an explanation of the ordinance was done at the Oct. 20 meeting.

Council also voted to hire Cara Biery as a part-time EMT for the borough.