Borough Council Meetings

January 3, 2023 1 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL The Emmaus Borough Council met in Regular Session on January 3, 2023 in temporary Council Chambers, located at 420 S. 10th Street, Emmaus, PA 18049 and via Zoom. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Labenberg called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Brent Labenberg, President Present Chris DeFrain, Vice President Present Roy Anders Present Chad Balliet Present Shana Baumgartner Present John W. Hart Present Teri Sorg-McManamon Present LeeAnn Gilbert, Mayor Present Jason Ulrich, Solicitor Present – via Zoom Shane Pepe, Borough Manager Present Sara Jarrett-Eaton, Asst. Borough Manager Present PERSONAL APPEALS, PART I - None. COMMUNITY MINUTE – None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS – None. READING OF MINUTES Motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Mr. Anders to adopt the December 19, 2022 Council Minutes as drafted. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. DECISION ON BIDS – None. COMMUNICATIONS a. Rebecca Straus, 733 W. Greenleaf Street – Request for Reappointment to the Shade Tree Commission. b. Dr. Aaron Ratner, 3775 Leah Drive, Emmaus – Request for Reappointment to the Board of Health. c. Sarah Charette, 365 Spruce Street, Emmaus – Resignation from the Library Board, effective January 20, 2023. d. John Stover – Request for Reappointment to the Vacancy Board. e. Craig Neely, 209 Main Street, Emmaus – Request for Reappointment to the General Authority.  January 3, 2023 2 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Mr. Labenberg stated that all reappointments will occur during the President’s Business section of the agenda. BOROUGH ENGINEER’S REPORT – None. SOLICITOR’S REPORT Progress. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, PART I – None. NEW BUSINESS – None. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, PART II – None. ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA, subject to Rule 9 Mr. Hart read a letter stating that he will not seek re-election to Borough Council because he will be pursing another interest. MAYOR’S REPORT Progress. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Public Works Committee Mr. Anders reported that the Committee did not meet in December and the next Committee meeting is Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom. Progress. b. Health, Sanitation, and Codes Committee Motion by Mr. Balliet, seconded by Mr. Hart to grant the Fields at Indian Creek, LLC request for a reduction of financial security in the amount of $230,523.92. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. Balliet reported that the next Committee meeting is Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. Progress.  January 3, 2023 3 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL c. Parks and Recreation Committee Ms. Baumgartner reported that there is nothing for official action tonight. She stated that the next Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. Progress. d. Public Safety Committee Mr. Hart reported that there is nothing for official action tonight and the next Committee meeting is Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Progress. e. General Administration Committee RESOLUTION 2023-1 BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by Emmaus Borough Council to appoint the following officials to their designated positions for a term expiring on January 2, 2024. Ambulance Corps Assistant Chief Adam Priest Animal Control Officer April Schiel Assistant Borough Manager Sara Jarrett-Eaton Borough Manager/Secretary Shane Pepe Borough Solicitor Gross McGinley LLP Delinquent Tax Collector Norris McLaughlin Director of Finance / Treasurer Christine Snyder Certified Public Accountant Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP Civil Service Commission Solicitor Davison & McCarthy Code Enforcement Officer/Public Works Inspector Robert Hammond Earned Income and Local Services Tax Office H.A. Berkheimer Deputy Director of Emergency Services Keith Miller Emergency Management Coordinator Keith Miller Engineer (Primary) Ott Consulting Engineer (Utilities and Alternate) Hanover Engineering Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Services John Price Fire Inspector Ryan Crawford Health Officer Garry Ritter Pension Consultant-Police/Non-uniform Mockenhaupt Benefits Group Per Capita Tax Office H.A. Berkheimer Police Chief Jason Apgar January 3, 2023 4 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Public Works Director Lawrence Carl Sewage Enforcement Officers Jacob A. Schray Gregory Gray Christopher Taylor Special Labor Counsel Campbell, Durrant, Beatty, Palumbo & Miller, P.C. Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor Ronald Corkery, Esq. Motion by Mr. Balliet, seconded by Mr. Hart to adopt Resolution 2023-1. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Mrs. Sorg-McManamon to authorize Mr. Pepe and Mr. Labenberg to sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Borough of Emmaus and Teamster’s Local Union #773, the Emmaus Borough Secretaries Union, effective January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Mrs. Sorg-McManamon, seconded by Mr. Anders to appoint the following individuals to the 2023 Employee and Volunteer Safety Committee: Administration: Shane Pepe, term infinite; (alternate – Sara Jarrett-Eaton) Codes / Zoning: Rob Hammond, term infinite; (alternate – new Codes Officer) Police: Joe Longenbach, term expires 12/31/24; (alternate – Jayme Seltzer) Fire: Chris Lubenetski, term expires 12/31/24; (alternate – Tom Carl) Ambulance: JT Pfleegor, term expires 12/31/24; (alternate – Adam Priest) Public Works: Brent Reed, term expires 12/31/23; (alternate – Troy Bower) Clerical: Teresa Pohlmann, term expires 12/31/23; (alternate – Sherry Palinkas) There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. Labenberg reported that next Committee meeting is Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Progress. January 3, 2023 5 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL f. Budget & Finance Committee Motion by Mr. DeFrain, seconded by Mr. Hart to appoint the following members to the Pension Board as mandated by Ordinance and/or selected by the different unions/departments. Police Pension Board: Mayor LeeAnn Gilbert (Mayor – per Ordinance) Brent Labenberg (Council President – per Ordinance) Shane M. Pepe (Borough Manager – per Ordinance) Sergeant Kevin Schmidt (Union Representative) Carlos Marrero (Union Representative) Employee Pension Board: Brent Labenberg (Council President – per Ordinance) Shane M. Pepe (Borough Manager – per Ordinance) Leslie DeLong (Public Works Union Representative) Yashira Hussett (Clerical Union Representative) Sara Jarrett-Eaton (Non-Union Representative) There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 2023-2 authorizing payment of the January 3, 2022 bill list as follows: Bill List $ 123,880.01 Payroll #26 $ 157,622.63 Payroll Taxes $ 54,114.21 Total $ 335,616.85 Done this 3rd day of January 2023. Motion by Mr. DeFrain, seconded by Mr. Balliet to adopt Resolution 2023-2. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. DeFrain entertained questions about the Significant Revenue and Expense Items for December. Mr. DeFrain asked Mr. Pepe to invite the Borough auditors to the January 19, 2023 Committee meeting. Mr. DeFrain reported that the next Committee meeting is Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom. Progress. January 3, 2023 6 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL g. Community Relations, Planning and Development Committee Mrs. Sorg-McManamon reported that the next Committee meeting is Monday, January 23, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Progress. PERSONAL APPEALS, PART II - None. BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT Progress. PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS Motion by Mr. DeFrain, seconded by Ms. Baumgartner to reappoint Rebecca Straus to the Shade Tree Commission to a term ending 1/1/2028; Dr. Aaron Ratner to the Board of Health to a term ending 1/1/2028; John Stover to the Vacancy Board to a term ending 1/1/2024; Craig Neely to the General Authority to a term ending 1/1/2028; Theodore Iobst and Roger Steinmayr to the Zoning Hearing Board to terms ending 1/1/2026; to appoint Timothy Jones as an alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board to a term ending 1/1/2024; and to reappoint Kathy Reinhard to the Library Board to a term ending 1/1/2026. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. Hart thanked Mr. Pepe and Mrs. Jarrett-Eaton for their hard work on the 4 union contracts that occurred during 2022. Mr. Pepe thanked the Committee and Council members for their hard work. Progress. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mrs. Sorg-McManamon seconded by Ms. Baumgartner to adjourn the January 3, 2023 Emmaus Borough Council Meeting. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m. Shane M. Pepe Transcribed by: Paula Weiant Borough Manager Administrative Assistant January 6, 2023