Emmaus Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert was awarded the 2020 Mayor of the Year Award by The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Mayors’ and Municipal Officials’ Reception, Sept. 9 at the Steel Club, LLC, in Hellertown.

Gilbert was nominated by Executive Vice President, Affiliated Chambers, GLVCC Jessica O’Donnell.

“I love our working relationship with Emmaus - Lee Ann is very supportive of the chamber,” O’Donnell said. “The mayor has been really great with us and has accomplished a lot.”

The annual event was scheduled to be held in April but then COVID-19 happened.

“Most everyone on Emmaus Borough Council has known since January or February that Lee Ann was chosen,” O’Donnell said. Everyone, including Gilbert’s family, had to keep the secret.

Gilbert said she had no idea she was receiving an award that evening. She and council were attending to represent Emmaus.

During her acceptance speech, Gilbert said she was honored and surprised. She said the award was for all of borough council and the community. She thanked the chamber for the event and the award and said she was following in Emmaus Borough Manager Shane Pepe’s footsteps as he won the Borough Manager of the Year award in 2016. “I thanked council for their support and Emmaus Police Chief Palmer and Emmaus Fire Department Chief John Price. It’s a team effort,” Gilbert said.

“We are stronger together.”

Gilbert has served the borough for more than 18 years. She was previously elected as the first female president of Emmaus Borough Council and was elected as the first female mayor in the history of the Borough of Emmaus in 2018.

Her job as mayor is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the police department.

As the borough website states, Gilbert is no stranger to the police department or public safety. She is married to a retired state police officer. She also spent part of her career working in a district magistrate’s office. During her tenure on Emmaus Borough Council, she served as chairwoman of council’s public safety committee for many years and had a very close working relationship with the police department.

Gilbert’s accomplishments include promoting two Emmaus police officers to the rank of sergeant and adding a second female police officer to the department. She also now issues a proclamation to every business during their ribbon-cutting ceremony to show support for the merchants when they come to town. On Sept. 13, she performed her eighth wedding ceremony since becoming mayor in 2018.

Her challenges as mayor include “the ramifications of COVID-19, flooding in the borough which created thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, three peaceful protests on the Triangle and one pro-Trump rally.”

Past recipients of this award have included: David Heintzelman, Hellertown – 2019; Gary Hovis, Coopersburg – 2018; Ed Hozza, Whitehall – 2017; Chris Olivia, Palmerton – 2016; Fi Mirabito, Bath – 2014; Kathy Palmer, Macungie – 2013; Lance Prator, Portland – 2012; John Brown, Bangor – 2011; Ed Hozza, Whitehall – 2010; Walter Niedermeyer, Slatington – 2009; John Horner, Macungie – 2008; Sherman Metzgar, Stockertown – 2007 and Richard Fluck, Hellertown – 2006.

Gilbert also walked away with a second award – the Most Entertaining Mayor of the Year.

She tied for third place in 2018 for this award.

During the reception, the mayors stand up and talk with President and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber Tony Iannelli and try to be as witty as possible. Secret judges scattered throughout the room vote for the winner.

“I spoke about getting a Wawa in Emmaus which will sell beer and alcohol and a Burger King. I said ‘How cool is it to go to Burger King for a burger and then go to Wawa to wash it down with a beer,’” Gilbert said.

She also shared about the experience of going to the Emmaus Movie Theatre. “How cool it is to go to the theater and then the train goes through. Everything starts to shake and you think the train is going to end up in your popcorn.”

Those stories and more landed her the award of Most Entertaining Mayor of the Year.

Looking forward, Gilbert hopes to “continue doing what she can for the community, making sure we keep the accreditation status and making sure residents and visitors and feel safe and welcome.”