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Emmaus council adopts mobile-device driving policy, authorizes bill payments and notes retirements; executive session yields no action
Summary
Council adopted a clarified cellular and mobile device use policy, authorized payment of bills and payroll totaling $1,214,968.93, accepted a retirement letter from Detective Christian Gill and heard a borough manager staffing update; an executive session produced no action.
The Borough of Emmaus Council on March 2, 2026 approved a package of routine municipal actions, adopted a clarified mobile-device-use policy for employees and officials and acknowledged a police detective’s retirement.
On the budget front, council adopted Resolution 20-26-11 authorizing payment of the bill list and payroll for the period ending March 2, 2026. Meeting materials list a bill list total of $936,759.77, payroll number 4 at $211,590.71 and payroll taxes of $66,618.45, with a consolidated total shown of $1,214,968.93. Council Member Wiebelberg moved the authorization; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote 6-0.
In general administration, the council adopted a cellular and mobile device use policy after members identified a contradiction between two paragraphs. A policy paragraph initially said employees and officials shall not use a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle for borough business and listed “including hands free devices.” A later paragraph allowed calls for business use if the device was in hands-free mode. Council removed the phrase in the prohibition so the document aligned with the hands-free exception for business purposes. The amended policy was adopted unanimously.
Council also accepted a retirement letter from Police Detective Christian Gill; the borough manager and other members praised Gill’s long service, citing undercover work and county-level assignments. “He was a wonderful asset, and he will definitely be missed,” Shane, the borough manager, said.
In the borough manager’s report, Shane announced returning lifeguards and concession/front-desk staff for the 2026 pool season by name and said the borough still needs to hire about five lifeguards and five concession/front-desk employees before the season. Shane credited the pool manager for strong staff retention and recruitment.
The council recessed to an executive session at 6:16 PM to discuss personnel and legal matters related to planning and codes and reconvened at 6:49 PM; the chair announced there was no action to be taken. The council then voted to adjourn (6-0).
