A new assistant township manager has been appointed in Salisbury Township.

The Salisbury Township board of commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent at the March 28 meeting, to name Sandy Nicolo as assistant township manager-code enforcement director.

Nicolo will receive a $3,500 increase, bringing his annual salary to $86,083, according to Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich.

Board of commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton brought the motion to a vote, seconded by Commissioner Rodney Conn.

Prior to the meeting, Nicolo told a reporter for The Press that he would continue as township MS4 coordinator, but that he would not continue as township assistant zoning officer.

“We have already begun the transition where I have relied on Sandy. I am very happy with the working relationship. I look forward to building a strong management team,” Bonaskiewich said prior to the vote to appoint Nicolo,

According to Nicolo, township zoning ordinance work he has done will be picked up by Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Cynthia Sopka.

Nicolo said some of the township code enforcement would be picked up by a part-time township official who is to be hired.

Nicolo has worked for Salisbury since 2005. Prior to that, he worked for Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County, for 17 years, including as a building inspector.

Before being appointed township manager, Bonaskiewich was assistant township manager in Salisbury.

Prior to the March 28 meeting, board of commissioners President Robert Martucci Jr., announced the township commissioners would hold an executive session for fact-finding after the meeting and had held an executive session for fact-finding March 23.

Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley told a reporter for The Press that public officials are permitted to meet in executive session for, in addition to legal and personal matters, fact-finding. “They’re allowed to gather information, not to make a decision,” Ashley said.

While the topic for the executive session after the March 28 meeting was not made public, Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua G. Wells told a reporter for The Press after the meeting he had been invited to attend the executive session, which was held in the meeting room. After the reporter left, Wells and another Western Salisbury official sat down at the presentation table for the executive session meeting.

Township commissioners unanimously accepted the Emergency Services Comprehensive Review at the March 14 township meeting.

In other business at the March 28 meeting, township commissioners voted 4-0 to:

- Repeal Junkyard Ordinance No. 20 adopted Sept. 12, 1958. Explained Bonaskiewich prior to the vote, “In going through the fee schedule, there was no reference to junkyard permits. We would like to let zoning enforce this.” Brinton brought the resolution to a vote, seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves.

- Appoint Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus as chief administrative officer of the township’s pension plans. “Paul’s been doing the work,” Bonaskiewich said prior to the vote. Conn brought the motion to a vote, seconded by Brinton.

- Approve Payment No. 4 of $3,380.40 to MJF Electrical Construction for Lindberg Park Phase 3 contracted work. Bonaskiewich said prior to the vote June 14 is still the completion date. “They hope to get everything done in May so that they can go back and tweak anything as necessary.”

- Rejected Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ request for a $900 refund for a conditional use hearing. Seagreaves brought the motion to a vote, seconded by Conn. Bonaskiewich and commissioners said the hearing cost the township approximately $900. “I don’t think we should give back the amount if that’s what it cost,” Ackerman said.

- Tabled a motion to approve a collective bargaining agreement with the township Public Works Department Employee Association for 2019-2022. “We are very, very close, but it is premature,” Bonaskiewich said prior to the vote.

In his report, Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles said a National Take Back Day for returning prescription drugs will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at South Mall.

Stiles said the new township K-9 patrol dog, Michlon, has arrived and will begin training.

The township board of commissioners next meets 7 p.m. April 11 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.