The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners has accepted the resignation of a Salisbury Township Police Department officer.

Commissioners voted 3-0, with two commissioners absent at the Sept. 28 township meeting, to accept the resignation of Police Officer Geoffrey Hebel.

After the meeting, Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles told a reporter for The Press the police department would fill the position.

The police department roster includes 19 full-time officers and two part-time officers. The resignation reduces full-time staff to 18.

“The list is quite short,” Stiles said after the meeting regarding the Civil Service police eligibility list. “We need to discuss our options with the board of commissioners and manager.”

The commissioners voted to accept Hebel’s resignation without comment.

Stiles released a press release that stated: “Officer Geoffrey Hebel, 33, resigned from the Salisbury Township Police Department Sept. 22 after serving the residents of the township for the past nine years.

“Officer Hebel began his law enforcement career with the Salisbury Township Police Department on July 13, 2008. He will receive an honorable discharge from the department. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” the press release concluded.

In other business at the Sept. 28 meeting, commissioners voted 3-0 to approve:

•A motion to certify the 2018 Minimum Municipal Obligation for police and non-uniformed pension plans.

•A motion to set the annual “Trick-or-Treat Night,” 6 to 8 p.m. the last Friday of October. The date this year is Oct. 27.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said the wording in the motion sets the day annually so commissioners do not have to approve a motion each year.

Said township Board of Commissioners President James A. Brown, “I’d like to thank the chief [Stiles] and the police department for their outstanding job on ‘Trick-or-Treat Night.’”

Stiles said, “It’s fun for us to be out there. I would encourage the children to not eat the candy until they get home and it’s inspected.”

During the courtesy of the floor portion of the meeting, Robert Agonis, who lives in the Meadowbrook area of Salisbury, said he would like to see natural gas service available in the area where he lives.

Agonis said when Meadowbrook was developed, it was promoted as a “Life Better Electrically” community whereby the houses were all-electric and there were no gas lines.

Agonis said he’s contacted UGI. “They’re doing a study of the area to see if there’s enough interest [in natural gas service],” according to Agonis.

Agonis said a new water meter was installed at his house. Commissioner Joanne Ackerman said a new water meter was installed at her house. In each instance, installation took 10 to 15 minutes. Bonaskiewich said notices were included in township billing to remind residents to schedule meter replacement appointments.

InLine Services, Inc., Flemington, N.J., is handling appointments and doing the work for the estimated three-month project in the township. Residents are to call InLine to schedule appointments.

During the township officials comment portion of the meeting, Ackerman said, “I must thank Western Salisbury for the wonderful Community Day.” Western’s ninth annual Community Day was Sept. 23 in Green Acres Park.

“And I’d like to thank Ginny [Baillie, Salisbury Township recreation director, who attended the meeting] for the wonderful summer program. It seems to grow each year.”

In his report to the commissioners, Stiles said, “I attended Audrey Penn’s memorial service to give our condolences to the family. They were very grateful. It was a very humbling experience.”

Audrey Penn, 78, was pronounced dead 3:44 p.m. Sept. 17 by Deputy Coroner Jack Fliter after her body was found in a drainage ditch in the area of Hamilton Boulevard and Kressler Road, Lower Macungie Township.

In addition to the coroner’s office, Penn’s death is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Fogelsville and the Salisbury Township Police Department.

Penn, who had Alzheimer’s disease, lived in Woodland Terrace at the Oaks Senior Living Community, Salisbury Township. She was last seen alive Aug. 23.