Bowmanstown will pay a donation to a church for each meeting it conducts on its premises.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council agreed last week to make a $50 donation to Emmanuel United Church of Christ per meeting held at the church.

Before the vote, Councilman Rob Moyer said he wasn’t sure if council previously decided to donate for use of the facility, which council recently began to use.

Councilwoman Pam Leiby questioned that since council members social distance and wear masks, why can’t it go back to holding its meetings at council chambers.

But council President William Ravert said he believes that if council would do that, there would be too many people for which council chambers can’t accommodate per social distancing.

Before the vote, resident Robert Sikorsky told council he didn’t agree with the decision to turn away several members of the public at a meeting last month.

“I think this council owes an apology to everyone for that fiasco last month,” Sikorsky said. “Those people shouldn’t have to have been turned away.”

Last month, Sikorsky told council that he believes the decision to turn away several members of the public was a violation of the Sunshine Law.

However, Ravert explained to Sikorsky at that time that there is limited space inside the borough building, and noted they have to stay 6 feet apart.