The fire prevention and fire protection ordinance has been updated in Salisbury Township.

Amendments to what’s known as the burn ordinance were approved by a unanimous 5-0 vote at the April 26 township meeting, on a motion by Commissioner Rodney Conn, seconded by board of commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton.

The changes are based on recommendations by the township fire safety department. A copy of the updated portions of the ordinance was provided to The Press. Deletions and additions were highlighted by officials.

One reason for the change, Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich explained prior to the vote: “We had to clean up language that could have conflicted our recycling efforts.”

With respect to the conflict with recycling, the following was stricken from outdoor fires, burnable materials, of the ordinance: “Burnable materials shall include paper, including newsprint, wrapping paper, sheet paper items or paper products; cardboard and chipboard, including cardboard and chipboard boxes, sheets, packing materials, etc. and wood, including any unpainted wood or wood product.”

Also, under the non-burnable materials section, the following was added as prohibited: “Copy machine paper and other high-grade office paper (including shredded or otherwise), file folders, newspaper including fliers, newsprint, magazines, paper products, cardboard and chipboard boxes, sheets, etc. or any other materials that are required to be recycled as outlined in the township solid waste and recycling ordinance, as amended and codified in Chapter 20 of the Salisbury Township Code of Ordinances.”

The intent is that the aforesaid materials are to be recycled.

Added to the burnable materials section: “Burnable materials shall include any untreated wood and-or unpainted wood or wood product.”

Also added to the burnable materials section: “Excluded and not permitted to be burned are any wood that has been chemically treated to prevent rot or moisture damage or other similar treatment; wood products that have a high glue content, such as flakeboard or composition board and wood products in combination with any non-burnable materials.”

Under the non-burnable materials section: “any other materials ... [that] otherwise create a nuisance to people or animals are strictly prohibited from being burned ... “

Also, under the non-burnable materials section, the following was added as prohibited: “plantings, shrubbery.”

Under the burning rules section, it was added that “A township-authorized party official or agency, as noted in Section 103.A of this ordinance, shall make a determination of whether illegal burning has occurred and the appropriate course of action.”

Under the violations section, which is Section 103, under “A. Enforcement,” added was that the “Salisbury Township Code Enforcement Officer” and “Fire Safety Inspector,” among other township officials, including fire department officials and police officers, are to enforce the ordinance.

Under the penalties section, added was that a fine of not more than “one thousand dollars ($1,000) plus” costs of prosecution can be assessed.

In other business at the April 26 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a motion to award a bid of $818,437 to Barrasso Excavation, Inc, Oley, Berks County, for the Paxford Road, Maumee Avenue and Montgomery Street water main replacement project.

“We reviewed their financing and recommendations and we feel they would be good to work with,” Township Engineer David J. Tettemer, of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., said. Commissioner Joanne Ackerman made the motion, seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves. There were six bids, the highest of which was $1,110,779.

During the courtesy of the floor portion of the meeting, Joseph Sagat said there’s a feral cat problem in his neighborhood.

Sandy Nicolo, township code enforcement officer, said he is looking into the problem and will continue to do so.

There was no workshop. An executive session followed the meeting.

Township commissioners next meet 7 p.m. May 10 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.