Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President James A. Brown all but made the selection of a new township manager a foregone conclusion when he called the April 27 township meeting to order and, following the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, said:

“At this time I’ll turn the meeting over to Cathy Bonaskiewich, the last time I’ll be saying acting township manager.”

The first item on the meeting agenda under new business was: “Resolution to Appoint Township Manager and Township Secretary.”

Brown made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Joanne Ackerman, for the resolution to appoint Bonaskiewich. The vote to approve the resolution was unanimous 5-0, with Commissioners Debra Brinton and James Seagreaves, Board of Commissioners Vice President Robert Martucci Jr., Ackerman and Brown voting yes. Her appointment was retroactive to April 1.

“Congratulations,” Brown said to Bonaskiewich. A round of applause by officials and those in the audience followed.

“I don’t know what to say, so I’ll say thank you very much,” Bonaskiewich said, who has 31 years of experience working for the Salisbury Township administration department.

After the meeting, Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press, “I appreciate the opportunity to just keep Salisbury moving forward.”

She said one of her first moves was to advertise for a township finance director, with a pay range of $70,700 to $88,300, depending on qualifications. The deadline for applications is May 24.

It’s uncertain as to if and when an assistant township manager will be hired.

Last fall, commissioners discussed the hiring of a human resources director, at the recommendation of then township manager Randy Soriano, who resigned in March for early retirement.

Bonaskiewich said if a finance director candidate had human resources experience, that could be a bonus. “I would love to find that,” she said.

Bonaskiewich was acting township manager December 2016 through April, as well as June 2015 to June 2016 and June to September 2008.

During her tenure as acting manager, she continued her duties as assistant manager-director of finance.

Bonaskiewich has been assistant township manager since 2008 and township finance director since 1998. She was township accounting supervisor 1986 to 1998. She was hired in 1986.

Bonaskiewich, a life-long resident of Salisbury Township, graduated from Salisbury High School and received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Moravian College.

She and her husband, David, have been married for 30 years. He’s a crew leader in the township public works department and also a life-long township resident.

“Although we have no children, we are very much into dog rescue and have opened our hearts and home to many over the years,” Bonaskiewich stated in an email response to a Press reporter.

Said Martucci in an April 30 phone interview with a reporter for The Press, “The township is fortunate enough to have someone like Cathy, who could step into that position. And I feel that way because she’s worn so many hats there over the years and knows the township administration inside out. I have complete confidence that Cathy will be an excellent township manager.”

Martucci confirmed commissioners approved the hiring of a township director of finance.

“We will probably look for an assistant manager,” Martucci added.

“As far as a human resources person, that would not be a stand-alone position nor a requirement as part of the township finance manager or assistant manager. If that person had that experience, that would be a plus,” Martucci said.

Commissioners accepted Soriano’s resignation by a unanimous 5-0 vote at the March 23 township meeting. Soriano was township manager for eight years and seven months.

The reason stated at the meeting for Soriano’s resignation is he requested early retirement, which with their vote commissioners granted.

Soriano was absent from township manager duties since the Dec. 22, 2016, commissioners’ meeting with his last public appearance as a township official at the Dec. 8, 2016, township meeting.

Bonaskiewich was acting township manager since the Dec. 22, 2016 meeting.

Soriano, 59, a heart transplant recipient, was on leave from June 2015 until June 2016 when he resumed his duties as township manager and continued until December 2016.

Soriano accumulated years of duty as borough manager in Fountain Hill and as township manager in Salisbury, which together totaled 29 years. With time accumulated in both municipalities, Soriano would have been eligible for retirement at age 60.

The Salisbury Township manager is responsible for the administration and supervision of township departments, including police, public works, finance, utilities, planning and zoning, code enforcement, recreation, data processing and human resources.

The manager implements policies as mandated by the township board of commissioners.