EMMAUS, Pa. — The history of Emmaus is about to become a lot more unified.
Emmaus Borough Council at its meeting Monday introduced an ordinance establishing an official borough historical commission to collaboratively govern efforts toward the historical borough landmarks of the 1803 House, Shelter House and Knauss Homestead.
Currently, all three homes are owned by the borough but overseen by three independent boards.
"Bringing all of the three historic sites together never seem to really come to fruition. They were not really on the same page when it came to board makeup, so the coming together of these three groups is a huge win for the community."Emmaus Historic Commission member Teri Sorg-McManamon
Commissioner Teri Sorg-McManamon, an outgoing council member who also is a board member for the independent Emmaus Historical Society, said a larger organization could be a big boon to those sites getting grant money, prioritizing efforts and opening further collaborative projects and funding.
"Bringing all of the three historic sites together never seem to really come to fruition," Sorg-McManamon said. "They were not really on the same page when it came to board makeup, so the coming together of these three groups is a huge win for the community."
The individual volunteer preservation boards will remain, operating in the same capacity, but if they were to disband, the historical commission will come to control the property in question until a new board is created.
"We're excited about all this coming together because it'd be a lot more people involved to help support us," said Gene Clock, president of the Knauss Homestead Preservation Society.
"I think it was just the right time for us all to join him and effort."
Manage historical preservation
The ordinance says the action is to further historical preservation and the celebration of history in the community.
It says the new body will manage borough-wide efforts related to the preservation and promotion of its history and historic sites.
It states that the commission will manage the evaluation and preservation of historic resources of the borough, investigate new historic assets in the community and communicate with other historical bodies and groups.
The commission also will be responsible for creating and updating historic districts and preservation rules, and cooperate with the borough on potential acquisition of future historic property.
It also will review funding requests made to the borough for historical preservation.
Sorg-McManamon said she intends to apply to the commission board after her term on council ends, and it is "really up there" in terms of accomplishments she has helped see to completion while on the board.
"It's been really satisfying to see that the presidents of the three historic homes are on the same page, they want to work together, they're excited to work together," she said.
Borough Manager Shane Pepe said during Monday's meeting that to get to this point meant moving around many political landmines to get to this point.
"There's some struggles that they really need the help of a larger organization to really help them with," Pepe said.
"I think they're starting to see that's going to be the way that they're going to be able to continue to do what the community wants and what they want with the houses."
Board representative of existing bodies
The commission will be made up of 11 voting members serving three-year terms, including two representatives from each of the three historic homestead preservation societies, and five at-large members of the Emmaus community, two of which can be non-residents.
A non-voting liaison to Emmaus Borough Council also will sit on the board.
Members will be appointed by borough council and be volunteer positions. Commission members may serve up to two consecutive terms.
Borough officials say that positions could begin to be filled in January, with the hope the commission could be up and running by March.
An annual report will be required to be given to council.
Other nearby municipalities, such as Lower Macungie Township and the City of Bethlehem, have adopted their own boards to govern historic preservation.
