[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6192167,"mediaKeyId","4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94","parentId",4129926,"title","Council authorizes $1.42 million in payments; approves police MDT warranty and PowerDMS onboarding purchases","audioSeconds",131,"startMs",2817000,"endMs",2948000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94&start=2817&end=2948","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94/thumbnail_2817000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6192167/Emmaus/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Council-authorizes-142-million-in-payments-approves-police-MDT-warranty-and-PowerDMS-onboarding-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192167-8e2473a950edd3a51ce3faeab2a52e5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128065&Signature=U37wOmzxS95Yogt8PlU8pOtFMsy85-lJ-GlXkYE7FDTW0f-L8BfkEOkHXC8xZlOV7Ywe4hqBfRwn7ehZqUakBWyQKuHCpODC0V2tx-Al6SLLYtUJzuKaXVToyMt70eBu-R~oP-qRw44eEJ8~baz2YLbbh1SEd-8ujNdcq9q7wTSK-T2dAOvAJ~ZfpgTcAvaj8kozW4dNdyAhQSrOfWKOCQ8YvrRsFejBD~i3czMfgnDz-AJyHK1OTbVQHkp2JUL~yNltPf9lxbXAB6d0HiGROAhjlKr4bPNBGXAVLG238US2dzOUXcvEwotGKuiO9BTyvwKvj5I7mVNtHmdH~~BQKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Emmaus Borough, PA","date","2025-06-18T15:37:47Z","article","At the June 16 Emmaus Borough Council meeting, council approved a bill list and payroll under resolution 2025-18 and authorized two police-technology purchases intended to save future costs.

Budget and Finance Chair Mister Dufresne moved approval of Resolution 2025-18 to authorize payment of the bill list and payroll; the amounts presented in the meeting packet were a bill list of $887,043.11 and payroll figures recorded in the packet as “Payroll number 11 and number $12,405,544 dollars and 72¢,” with payroll taxes listed as $128,770.58, for a total reported in the packet of $1,421,358.41. The council approved the bill list and payroll on voice vote.

Dufresne told the council the police department proposed purchases to generate savings. Council approved a $4,944 purchase of warranties for in-car MDTs (mobile data terminals) that Dufresne said will carry coverage through February 1927 and will allow the borough to refresh existing vehicle computers rather than buying new units; the purchase was described as saving about $22,500 compared with replacing hardware.

The council also approved a $1,900 onboarding fee for the PowerDMS onboarding program to implement the system now rather than pay an initial $8,000 onboarding fee later. Dufresne said the $1,900 option will reduce staff hours and speed digital transmission of applicant forms, references and other records.

Both technology purchases were presented as cost-saving measures and were approved by council vote. Dufresne said the budget and finance committee will recommend a broker for health insurance at its July meeting.

All financial items and the technology purchases were moved and approved as part of the Budget and Finance committee actions reported at the June 16 council meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6 16 2025 Council Mtg #1","oneSentenceSummary","At the June 16 meeting the council approved resolution 2025-18 to pay bills and payroll as presented, and the budget and finance committee secured council approval to buy MDT warranties for $4,944 and to fund a PowerDMS onboarding fee of $1,900 to save longer-term costs.","taxTitle","Emmaus, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71513,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192172,"Council approves first reading of ordinance adding automatic disqualifiers to civil service hiring rules",214,2031000,2245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94&start=2031&end=2245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94/thumbnail_2031000.jpg","/articles/6192172/Emmaus/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-first-reading-of-ordinance-adding-automatic-disqualifiers-to-civil-service-hiring-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192172-36e13161e5c115cbaad05e23ae9b46b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128065&Signature=kDtR9UVUicIT2Mvx7CcsAOg0~Q5lvtAQbUuJSMfmVXF8k3o8YUQ5yU3lIXG680SjT9UAxVf-4jlENWhRGGMIK5yglLeB7WunsSxQDD~1oeuvJ5r0Zshexm0ULFBd5sIA7JtfZSCMCwCxprSfT3DVgVPiRe8dTPEMBKTzrtNyx6kM2Qu7OV5et8JN75wknArbjSL4FIzn4EDm20h0m3KpLXkGeP7mSRiT6QewsYnJOdgMuW3avRf~fokNJoFgUDFaS7rp3XtHcdflDRq5ZqFybh8vNeUzCL9stzuw53p8hlMtKCi~XgMR~o3z6HPYp72kOcMSqSQNt-1PndV020pKzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 16 meeting, the Emmaus Borough Council approved on roll call the ordinance numbered 12-79, which repeals certain civil service rules and adds provisions allowing automatic disqualifiers in police hiring and permitting consortium oral boards as an option.

Borough Manager Shane explained the changes, saying the borough’s civil service rules are lengthy and costly to administer. He said the ordinance establishes roughly two dozen automatic disqualifying criteria so the borough can remove clearly ineligible applicants earlier in the process and avoid completing full backgrounds and polygraph examinations for those candidates.

“Your civil service ordinance is your service veil service ordinance is, like, 50 pages,” Shane said, and described the cost of background steps the borough would avoid. He said the polygraph portion of a full background costs about $700 for the initial test and that a deceptive result can trigger an additional roughly $500 follow-up.

Shane also said the ordinance gives the borough the option—if it opts into a hiring consortium—to include the consortium’s oral board examination in the process rather than requiring the borough to run an oral board separately.

Council members discussed the changes and said they expected the provisions to speed hiring and reduce legal exposure and costs that arise when the borough must carry candidates through the full process only to later disqualify them. The ordinance was recommended by the general administration committee on a 3–0 vote.

Council approved the ordinance on its vote tonight but did not adopt it; Shane said the second reading will be at the July council meeting.","Emmaus council voted 7–0 on June 16 to approve ordinance 12-79 on first reading, adding automatic disqualifiers to civil service hiring and allowing optional consortium oral boards; council expects a second reading in July.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192178,"Borough manager previews 'See My Legacy' fundraising platform, highlights Eagle Scout campaign and QR memorials",906,702000,1608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94&start=702&end=1608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94/thumbnail_702000.jpg","/articles/6192178/Emmaus/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Borough-manager-previews-See-My-Legacy-fundraising-platform-highlights-Eagle-Scout-campaign-and-QR-memorials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192178-c839077efdb8bf8d23ac6efc4568644d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128065&Signature=fzdKEmSls~oKXGEWhpl7Pb8fFmVmfT8nVBh5YRVuVd3RHjSDNMtZzP1zW4Pz4UoYSr70tk7dk~zfEbfp6NazQhEwm~a30yyGUX9yLM4ePLTfWrmyGrodu0M91t1udoUh0bhAllzRVsn0UiLXecDchZZw7Rf68blQ3nmc3vTYT2HQJg0zR0WFqdOdbXszeaLvzXUymHl-jDDlcKYWyWfGkeZ~8AMnQHDK3YoZsBZ2k54AGF47YMEhk0Gyi~yDrLTvtfeyMUYIqiwxgs8LhlV92dWCJ5JlzA0Ka4tzsnUrxyDtJtTcQRL8~AyYNUKgcreTJs3Emvi10t~uL3oe2~FzpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On June 16, 2025, Emmaus Borough Manager Shane presented SeeMyLegacy.com to the borough council as a fundraising, volunteer-signup and legacy platform the borough has begun using.

Shane said the platform lets nonprofit groups and individuals run campaigns with their own web links and QR codes and route donations directly to the recipient’s bank account. He demonstrated three live borough campaigns: the America 250 volunteer sign-up, a summer concert sponsorship page and an Eagle Scout fundraiser by Chase Ice to build dugouts at South Fourth Street.

Chase Ice’s campaign lists a project cost of $7,300 and includes tiered sponsorship levels, Shane said. “If I wanted to give a thousand dollars, I could be a level 5 sponsor,” he said, describing how donors can select preset amounts or contribute custom sums.

Shane said the borough pays an annual subscription fee to the vendor he estimated at about $1,500 per year and that the vendor had recently announced a transaction fee of about $0.30 per credit-card donation. “It looks like it’ll be $20.30 is the notification received,” he said in response to a council question about whether a $20 donation would be charged an additional $0.30.

Council member Anders asked whether the borough website could link directly to the campaigns; Shane said the three campaigns went live within the previous four to five weeks and that a website link could be added.

Shane said the platform supports mapping of memorials and campaign storyboards so that a plaque or bench with a QR code can link to a donor’s story page and photos. He demonstrated volunteer committee sign-ups that show the number of slots remaining for event volunteer roles.

Council members asked about fees and web links; Shane said the borough is still rolling out the platform and that nonprofits may set up their own campaigns through the borough-hosted site without routing funds through borough accounts.

The presentation concluded without a formal vote; council members expressed general support and asked staff to add campaign links to the borough website.","Emmaus Borough Manager Shane demonstrated the See My Legacy platform at the June 16 meeting, showing volunteer signups, donation options, QR-linked memorial plaques and a $7,300 Eagle Scout dugout campaign; the borough expects modest subscription and transaction fees.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192182,"Residents urge apology after council president's remark about rainbow on Kiwanis mural, say businesses faced boycott",3220,76000,3296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94&start=76&end=3296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4129926-5f9ae864bd1e9b9427bfccea196c2b94/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6192182/Emmaus/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-apology-after-council-presidents-remark-about-rainbow-on-Kiwanis-mural-say-businesses-faced-boycott","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192182-c4ab8620aa7afb26c4a0b5bd6addc632/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128065&Signature=cmoRfuyL759jn1pM7-atqDDYTyVIOFtZvzQfkzttvpujh0ZpbNDxDLE-QSOeYQ6Zqsr~jU6DQFuwOzytdo7cgzNYyfRRCtAR2qv2ivgfiqnTd43XJDZ7mHBEKqDh~f1CKduBRA-I7GJlIYyd-oh3Avp~9uAdl0SqEbcFkVokHF3a74aLqCdPWR8nmrPUD5r03oqsSvnNni3WBzzspHVQ-3~zAdQzfJYUKTf5darITlUogkUAcxMXoBum7jIMWbJ6oorzri6Ivho3mzP-Lj3i~zfRcfsV8P6M5VDvLjAAneMbSjffSPNoibNrQxb0Ej3xwTo3ZdkFDvA78lKIUdEqkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Emmaus Borough Council meeting on June 16, 2025, residents told the council that a remark by Council President Michael Balliet about a proposed rainbow element in a Kiwanis park mural has prompted local backlash and, they said, a boycott of borough businesses.

Alisa Bowman, a Berger Street resident, told the council she supported the Kiwanis project but was alarmed by Balliet's prior comment at a May 19 meeting that “it's a shame what the rainbow has come to represent.” She said the remark signaled to some that Emmaus is not a welcoming community and that some people have begun boycotting local businesses.

“The signal has really made it a lot easier to get across that intersection,” Bowman said earlier in her remarks when thanking the council for a traffic signal; on the mural she said the original design’s rainbow “was just a rainbow” and that the president’s comment “took Emmaus off the map of welcoming communities.”

Kevin Gaiman, a North Third Street resident who was at the May meeting, urged the council to keep public murals neutral and noted historical meanings of the rainbow. “The rainbow is primarily a symbol of God's covenant with Noah,” he said, adding he believed the symbol should be treated carefully on a public building.

Several speakers said the Kiwanis project itself and the Kiwanis volunteers are appreciated and that the controversy centers on one councilmember’s remark rather than the mural’s installation. The council did not make an immediate statement on the record responding to requests for an apology during the public-comment period.

Members of the council and the Arts Commission indicated the Kiwanis mural remains under the committees’ review. Council member Watt told the Community Relations, Planning and Development Committee she had suggested the arts commission include alternative slat designs — such as weather motifs or “some rainbow slats” among options — so the design reflects Kiwanis branding while addressing community feedback.

The parks and recreation committee is scheduled to meet June 19; the Arts Commission will continue work on the mural design and options discussed at committee meetings.

The matter was raised during the public comment portion of the June 16 meeting; the council’s formal agenda items that night proceeded after the comments.","At the June 16 Emmaus Borough Council meeting, residents criticized Council President Michael Balliet for a comment about a proposed rainbow motif on a Kiwanis mural and said the remark has prompted a boycott and harmed the borough's reputation for inclusivity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes $1.42 million in payments; approves police MDT warranty and PowerDMS onboarding purchases

Council approves first reading of ordinance adding automatic disqualifiers to civil service hiring rules

Borough manager previews 'See My Legacy' fundraising platform, highlights Eagle Scout campaign and QR memorials

Residents urge apology after council president's remark about rainbow on Kiwanis mural, say businesses faced boycott