Salisbury Township is poised to hire two new police officers.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to hire Diano Reavis and Thomas Sabulsky Jr. from the township Civil Service Commission eligibility list.

The hiring is contingent upon the prospective officer candidates passing psychological and physical tests.

One of the prospective officers would fill a vacant position. The other prospective officer would fill a new position previously approved and budgeted by township commissioners.

Commissioner Rodney Conn moved to bring the motion to a vote at the Sept. 27 township meeting, seconded by board of commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton, to hire the entry-level police officers.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles said the police department candidates, if they successfully pass the tests, would be sworn in for duty as soon as possible. The next township commissioners’ meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 11 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. The new police officers may be introduced at that meeting.

In other township police matters at the Sept. 27 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint township Police Officer Kyle Rehatcher as corporal from the promotional list. Conn moved to bring the motion to a vote. It was seconded by Brinton.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to certify the 2019 Minimum Municipal Obligation for township police and non-uniformed township employee pension plans. Conn moved to bring the motion to a vote. It was seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves.

Prior to the MMO vote, Brinton asked, “Should we want to discuss contribution rates? When would that be done?”

“That comes up at the time of negotiations,” Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said. “Right now is the time for negotiations. The new contract starts in 2019. But we still have to contribute that amount.”

Township contributions to the MMO, which are $507,408 in 2018, are projected to be $694,388 in 2019.

The new public works department employee contract goes into effect in 2020. There are about 30 to 35 non-uniformed employees, including retirees, affected. There are about 30 police department employees affected, including retirees.

“Some of the concerns we discussed will be brought up by you?” Brinton asked Bonaskiewich.

“Yes,” Bonaskiewich answsered.

Brinton voiced concerns about the township MMO contribution at the Sept. 13 commissioners’ meeting.

At the Sept. 27 meeting, board of commissioners President Robert Martucci Jr., announced commissioners would hold an executive session for personnel matters prior to voting on the police officers’ hiring offer and the corporal appointment. The executive session lasted about 15 min. Commissioners also met in executive session after the Sept. 27 meeting.

After the Sept. 27 meeting, Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press a request for proposals would be advertised for a pole barn to be placed at the eastern side of Franko Farm Park for use by the township police department.

The township borrowed $270,000 as part of a bond for the project.

The facility was to have been constructed on the property of Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, but site preparation expenses were determined to be prohibitive.

The Western Salisbury Fire Company’s Eisenhower Avenue Fire Station was also under consideration as a location for the police department facility.

Separate bids are apparently to be sought for a concrete pad, electrical work and lighting for the pole barn.