Emmaus Borough Council met June 16, conducting a packed agenda that included celebratory proclamations, infrastructure updates, employee transitions and key budgetary approvals.

The first resident to speak during public comment began by thanking council for installing the yellow flashing sign at Harrison and Second streets. Next, the resident addressed the new Kiwanis Club mural that was to be painted, which was originally to include a rainbow. The resident felt Council President Chad Balliet’s comment at the previous meeting, where he stated, “it’s really a shame at what the rainbow has come to represent,” was extremely disrespectful to the LGBTQ+ community. The resident felt the council president should apologize for this comment, as she stated there are members of the borough who are protesting his business, as well as other small businesses in Emmaus.

Two special presentations highlighted the evening. Council honored the Lions Club’s 80th anniversary with both a formal presentation and a proclamation recognizing the organization’s long-standing community service.

Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert issued Proclamation 2025-624, officially recognizing the Lions Club’s eight decades of service and their vital contributions to the Emmaus community. Council members offered words of appreciation for the group’s efforts in fostering civic pride and volunteerism.

Next, Borough Manager Shane Pepe gave a presentation on the software platform, See My Legacy. This is a program used by the borough for memorial programs, sponsorships, volunteer events and driving community engagement. The presentation provided an overview of the platform for borough council members.

Council unanimously approved the minutes from the May 19 meeting and moved swiftly into communications. Among the notable items discussed was the report on the 2025 Earth Day Event held April 26-27 where 62 attendees collected 37 (30-gallon bags) of trash, five (30-gallon bags) of recyclables, 9,184 pounds of electronic waste and 2,740 pounds of paper.

Council then accepted the upcoming resignation of Sarah Plaza from the Emmaus Arts Commission, effective July 1 and acknowledged the resignation of Patrolman Timothy Kline with appreciation for his service.

The borough engineer and solicitor reports were next acknowledged, after which council revisited Ordinance 1278 for a second reading in unfinished business. The ordinance, which amends Chapter 15 § 602.3 of the borough’s parking regulations, was formally adopted, signaling changes to a few reserved and disabled parking regulations on Main Street.

Under new business, Ordinance 1279 was introduced and approved in its first reading. This legislation repeals specific sections of Chapter 1 concerning civil service commission rules and replaces them with updated policies reflecting current legal standards and administrative needs. One of the biggest impacts the ordinance should have is to save the borough money through unnecessary background checks.

Gilbert spoke about the National Night Out Event being held Aug. 5. She said there will be food trucks, a petting zoo and other fun activities for everyone in the community. Invitations have been sent to all local businesses.

The general administration committee provided updates from its June 4 meeting and received council approval for the request by Cyclocross for their events Aug. 10 through Nov. 30 at a rental fee of $1,100.

The budget and finance committee followed with several significant approvals, including Resolution 2025-18, the borough’s bill list and a review of first-half June revenue and expenses. The bill list totaled $1,421,358.42, dating back to the previous meeting.

Council also approved new purchases and service agreements for the police department, including mobile data terminal warranties and onboarding for the PowerDMS policy management system. The new warranties bring potential cost savings of $22,500, and the onboarding will bring potential savings of $6,100. These savings were a collaborative effort between the police department and the community relations, planning and development commission.

Councilwoman Katherine Watts said the pool mural was still being worked on and they are taking advice from recent community feedback.

In the second round of personal appeals, a resident spoke about the meaning behind the rainbow and gave a more biblical take on its meaning. He didn’t see using the rainbow as an issue on a public building and felt it should be seen as having many meanings.

In the borough manager’s report, Luke Kannan was recognized for completing his internship and subsequently hired as a part-time firefighter. Additionally, Kathleen Brown and Lauren Cella were hired for seasonal roles at the snack stand and pool, respectively.

Council concluded with a brief executive session to discuss personnel matters related to union contract negotiations. With all items addressed, the meeting was adjourned.