Borough Council Meetings

January 2, 2024 1 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL The Emmaus Borough Council met in Regular Session on January 2, 2024, in Council Chambers and via Zoom. The Honorable Judge Douglas Reichley administered the Oath of Office to incumbent Council Member Chad Balliet, and to newly elected Council Members Nathan Brown, Christopher Hoenscheid, and Katherine Watt. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert called the Reorganization meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Roy Anders Present Chad Balliet Present Shana Baumgartner Present Chris Hoenscheid Present Nathan Brown Present Brent Labenberg Present Kate Watt Present LeeAnn Gilbert, Mayor Present Jason Ulrich, Solicitor Present Shane Pepe, Borough Manager Present Sara Jarrett-Eaton, Asst. Borough Manager Present Mayor Gilbert asked for nominations for President of Borough Council. Mr. Anders nominated Mr. Labenberg for Council President. Mrs. Watt nominated Mr. Balliet for Council President. Motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Balliet to close the nominations for Council President. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. Labenberg received 3 votes (Anders, Baumgartner, Labenberg) for Council President. Mr. Balliet received 4 votes (Watt, Hoenscheid, Balliet, Brown) for Council President. Mr. Balliet was declared Council President. Mayor Gilbert asked for nominations for Vice President of Borough Council. January 2, 2024 2 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Mr. Balliet nominated Ms. Baumgartner for Council Vice President. Mr. Labenberg nominated Mr. Anders for Council Vice President. Motion by Mr. Hoenscheid, seconded by Mr. Balliet to close the nomination for Council Vice President. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Ms. Baumgartner received 7 votes for Council Vice President. Ms. Baumgartner was declared Council Vice President. Mr. Balliet took the President’s seat and presided over the Borough Council Meeting. Mr. Balliet called for a brief recess at 6:10 p.m. for photos. PERSONAL APPEALS, PART I – None. COMMUNITY MINUTE – None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS – None. READING OF MINUTES Motion by Ms. Baumgartner, seconded by Mr. Anders to adopt the December 18, 2023, Council Minutes as drafted. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. DECISION ON BIDS COMMUNICATIONS 11.a. John Zettlemoyer Request for Reappointment to the Emmaus General Authority for a 5-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2029 11.b. Alan Hawman Request for Reappointment to the Building Board of Appeals for a 5-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2029 11.c. Carolyn Davidson Request for Reappointment to the Board of Health for a 5- Year Term to Expire January 1, 2029 11.d. Anne Zayaitz Request for Reappointment to the Emmaus Public Library Board for a 3-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2027 11.e. Taylor Rojek Application for Appointment to the Emmaus Arts Commission. Mr. Balliet referred the item to the Community Relations, Planning and Development Committee. January 2, 2024 3 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL 11.f. Hattie Freye Application for Appointment to the Emmaus Arts Commission Mr. Balliet referred the item to the Community Relations, Planning and Development Committee. 11.g. Bruce Luff Application for Appointment to the Emmaus Public Library Board. Mr. Balliet referred the item to the General Administration Committee. 11.i. Patricia Roblin Request for Reappointment to the Community Garden Commission to a 3-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2027 11.j. Carl Cramer Resignation from the Public Library Board. Mr. Balliet clarified the resignation was due to term limitations. 11.k. Tim Jones Request for Reappointment to the Zoning Hearing Board to a 3-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2027 11.l. Kiwanis Club Request to hold the 70th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Mr. Balliet referred the item to staff. 11.n. Rebecca Straus Request for Reappointment to the Community Garden Commission to a 3-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2027 11.o. Franklin Tranguch Request for Reappointment to the Building Board of Appeals to a 5-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2029 11.p. Craig Smith Request for Reappointment to the Community Garden Commission to a 3-Year Term to Expire January 1, 2027 11.q. Darryl Wentz Request for Reappointment to the Civil Service Commission to a 6- Year Term to Expire January 1, 2030 11.r. Giovanni Sicurello Resignation from Ambulance 11.s. Delinquent Real Estate Tax Collection Proposal from Keystone Collections Group. Mr. Balliet referred the item to the Budget and Finance Committee. 11.t. Christopher Pierog Retirement Motion by Ms. Baumgartner, seconded by Mr. Hoenscheid to reappoint John Zettlemoyer, Alan Hawman, Carolyn Davidson, Anne Zayaitz, Patricia Roblin, Tim Jones, Rebecca Straus, Franklin Tranguch, Craig Smith, and Darryl Wentz to the Commissions and Boards requested to the terms listed above. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. BOROUGH ENGINEER’S REPORT – None. SOLICITOR’S REPORT Solicitor Ulrich reported that after discussions with their Solicitor, the School District has decided to accommodate the Borough with a flat fee amount as to the Crossing Guard Agreement and that a new draft of the Agreement was expected. Progress. January 2, 2024 4 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL UNFINISHED BUSINESS, PART I – None. NEW BUSINESS RESOLUTION 2024-1 BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by Emmaus Borough Council to appoint the following officials to their designated positions for a term expiring on January 6, 2025. 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 Certified Public Accountant Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP Civil Service Commission Solicitor Davison & McCarthy Codes Director Eric Fuhrmann Codes Officer Brent Reed Deputy Director of Emergency Services Keith Miller Deputy Police Chief Bryan Hamscher Director of Finance / Treasurer Christine Snyder Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Johnathan White Earned Income and Local Services Tax OfficeH.A. Berkheimer 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 Public Works Director Lawrence Carl Sewage Enforcement Officers Jacob A. Schray Luke E. Eggert Christopher A. Taylor Special Labor Counsel Campbell, Durrant, Beatty, Palumbo & Miller, P.C. Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor Ronald Corkery, Esq. January 2, 2024 5 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Ms. Watt to adopt Resolution 2024 - 1. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, PART II – None. ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA, subject to Rule 9 – None. MAYOR’S REPORT Progress. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Public Works Committee – None. b. Health, Sanitation, and Codes Committee – None. c. Parks and Recreation Committee – None. d. Public Safety Committee – None. e. General Administration Committee – None. f. Budget & Finance Committee Motion by Mr. Hoenscheid, seconded by Ms. Watt to approve the 2022 Annual Audit Report. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Mr. Balliet entertained questions about the Significant Revenue and Expense Items for December 2023. Resolution 2024-2 authorizing payment of the January 2, 2024 Bill List as follows: Bill List $ 133,892.04 Payroll #26 $ 186,829.56 Payroll Taxes $ 60,485.90 Total $ 381,207.50 Done this 2nd day of January 2024. January 2, 2024 6 EMMAUS BOROUGH COUNCIL Motion by Ms. Baumgartner, seconded by Mr. Anders to adopt Resolution 2024 - 2. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. Progress. g. Community Relations, Planning and Development Committee – None. PERSONAL APPEALS, PART II – None. BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Pepe reported that interviews for full-time paramedics have begun. He added that the team will be starting the hiring process for a full-time Public Works employee. Mr. Pepe stated part-time paramedic Robert Bellone’s employment has been terminated. Progress. PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS Mr. Balliet wished everyone the best for the next 2 years. He stated he knows everyone will work hard. He added that there is a lot to accomplish in the next two years, and that there are a lot of things they will have to accomplish that they don’t know about yet. Mr. Balliet concluded that he is looking forward to working with everyone. Progress. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Hoenscheid to adjourn the January 2, 2024 Emmaus Borough Council Meeting. There were 7 ayes. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m. Shane M. Pepe Transcribed by: Jessica Wessner Borough Manager Administrative Assistant January 10, 2024