Otto Slozer Questions Accuracy of Emmaus Council Minutes

Although a regular fixture in the audience during Emmaus Borough Council meetings, , rarely addresses council.

And yet Slozer approached the microphone during the public comment portion of back-to-back council meetings – most recently addressing council during the Jan. 7 meeting to state his dissatisfaction with the way his public appeal during the Dec. 17 meeting is captured in that meeting’s minutes.

Slozer, who resides at 121 E. Elm St., said that his comments and the personal appeal of the person speaking before him – listed in the Dec. 17 minutes as Emmaus firefighter Kevin Farnish – are quite poorly summarized.

“In reviewing the minutes of the Dec. 17 council meeting,” he said, “my appeal has been so condensed that it is unrecognizable as to what happened. If the minutes don’t reflect what actually took place, then what are they worth?”

Council President Lee Ann Gilbert started to tell Slozer that council would look into the matter. She was interrupted by Borough Manager Shane Pepe, who said that would not be necessary. Pepe told council that meeting minutes are merely required to capture the spirit of what a particular commenter had to say and as such, the Dec. 17 minutes meet that obligation.

The Dec. 17 meeting minutes approved Monday night summarized Slozer’s public appeal on Dec. 17 as follows:

“Otto Slozer – 121 E. Elm Street – stated that he has made 2 Personal Appeals in over a year and is offended by Mr. Barrett’s prior comment. He stated that Borough Council, as elected paid officials, should know how the Departments within the Borough operate. He also stated Mr. Labenberg received a paper from a citizen and threw it in the garbage. He stated that this is very disrespectful to the public.”

Borough council meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the Borough of Emmaus web site.