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Emmaus borough manager signals upcoming Act 537 resolution; council to review sewer-module documents in September
Summary
Borough manager Shane Pepe told council Act 537 (sewer module) resolutions will be presented within about 30 days so the borough can opt into an area-wide sewer plan; staff and the solicitor urged careful legal review because adoption has regulatory consequences for future development and potential constraints if not adopted.
Borough Manager Shane Pepe told Emmaus Borough Council on Aug. 18 that staff will distribute Act 537-related resolution documents within about 30 days and place them on the council agenda for consideration. The documents are tied to a sewer-module plan for a larger regional effort—referenced in the meeting as a roughly $380 million project—and would opt the borough into a coordinated plan with the Lehigh County Authority and DEP.
Pepe and the solicitor cautioned that adoption of the Act 537 plan is a procedural step: it allows the municipality to participate in the proposed approach to address infiltration and inflow and other wastewater issues, but it does not, by itself, commit the borough to paying its share of the full project costs. They also warned council that declining to adopt the plan could result in DEP or regional authorities imposing restrictions, including limits on new development (no EDUs), as a regulatory consequence.
Staff said the documents will be circulated to council as soon as possible, likely this week, and indicated council should expect the matter for the first meeting in September to allow legal review and potential tabling if members request it.
Ending: Council members were advised to review the Act 537 materials when released and consult with legal counsel before any vote; a formal adoption timeline was discussed for September.
