Emmaus Borough Council met Dec. 15 at borough hall for its final regular meeting of the year. Council President Chad Balliet called the meeting to order 6 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. No residents addressed council during the first personal appeals period.

The evening opened with a community minute. Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert and Borough Manager Shane Pepe announced Emmaus won the Lehigh Valley Community of Distinction Award in recognition of the borough’s work on the 2030 planning. Pepe was proud of the work the borough was doing and thanked all the employees helping to execute the plans set forth.

During special presentations, Christani Arellano was formally sworn in as an EMS lieutenant, drawing applause from council members and attendees. Council then approved the minutes from the Dec. 1 meeting and moved to communications.

First, council accepted and sent Kristy Morris’ volunteer applications to the committee level. She is applying to serve on both the arts commission and the board of health.

Council also reviewed and approved the proposed band lineup for the 2026 Summer Concert Series and Tunes in the Triangle, reaffirming its support for the popular community events.

Members closed communications by acknowledging the resignation of Megan Brehm from the recreation and entertainment commission, effective Jan. 1, 2026 and thanked her for her service.

Council then turned to unfinished business, conducting second readings and voting to adopt a series of ordinances regarding disabled parking, parking regulations and borough taxes.

Ordinance 1283 amended the borough code to establish a new residential disabled parking space on Broad Street while removing a previously designated space on North Fourth Street.

Ordinance 1284 updated several sections of the borough’s parking regulations to reflect current enforcement practices and community needs.

Council approved Ordinance 1285, which formally set the 2026 real estate tax rate at 10.6456 mills. The revenue-neutral levy, based on the county’s 2013 reassessment, allocates funding among the general fund, fire services, special roads, street lighting and newly established library and debt service taxes.

Ordinance 1286 amended sewer and sewage disposal rates for the upcoming fiscal year and Ordinance 1287 updated the borough’s water rate schedule, along with billing and collection procedures.

All measures were unanimously approved.

Gilbert presented a year-end summary report, highlighting municipal accomplishments and proclamations. She also thanked borough staff, volunteers and council members for their work throughout 2025.

Committee reports followed, beginning with public works, which provided operational updates and noted its next meeting date has yet to be scheduled. The health, sanitation and codes committee approved requests for security reductions related to several development projects, including the Iron Works development, the Franklin Street subdivision and Phase 3 of Fields at Indian Creek.

Parks and recreation confirmed its next meeting for Dec. 18, while the public safety committee reviewed recent meeting notes and reiterated support for the parking ordinances adopted earlier in the evening.

During the budget and finance report, Councilman Chris DeFrain led council through final budget actions, culminating in the adoption of the borough’s 2026 budget through Resolution 2025-37.

Council also approved Resolution 2025-38 establishing refuse collection and compost site fees, Resolution 2025-39 adopting the 2026 fee schedule and Resolution 2025-40 approving the current bill list.

To wrap up the meeting, Pepe delivered his report announcing there are some additional departures by borough employees starting in 2026.

Councilwoman Shana Baumgartner announced it would be her final council meeting and wanted to thank all on the council.

She thanked the mayor for her leadership, the borough manager for his tireless work and all on council for their time and dedication to the borough.

Baumgartner in turn was thanked for her eight years on council highlighting the work she did leading various committees, especially the work she did with parks and recreation.

Following this, the meeting was adjourned.

The next Emmaus Borough Council meeting will be held 6 p.m. Jan. 5, 2026.