Several residents are concerned about runoff problems they blame on a veterinary clinic along West Emmaus Avenue.

And they say a parking lot for three to five cars that is to be constructed at the clinic will add to their woes.

“Who issued the permit to allow them to put in the parking lot?” Scott Horvath asked at the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ April 11 meeting.

Horvath also said a private alley maintained by him and neighbors is being used by those working at or patronizing the clinic.

“It’s for residents use only,” Horvath said.

Horvath said a house is being renovated for use as a veterinary clinic.

Horvath and two other residents claimed the clinic was to be the base for a mobile veterinary clinic and not a clinic where owners may bring their pets for care.

According to a website for Dr. Sam’s Veterinary House Calls, P.C., 3115 W. Emaus Ave., “phone and office hours” are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday, with the office closed Saturday and Sunday.”

No one representing the veterinary clinic attended the April 11 township meeting. The office could not be reached for comment at the time of deadline for this article.

Horvath cited restrictions placed on A & H Sporting Goods, 3103 W. Emmaus Avenue, during its township approval process.

“My house gets flooded when it’s a heavy rain. And now it’s going to get worse,” Janet Borrelli told township officials at the meeting.

“It sounds like there are two different issues here: a zoning issue and a water issue,” board of commissioners President Robert Martucci Jr. said.

“The only persons who can use the alley are the homeowners,” board of commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton said.

“What if you’d put up a sign that said, ‘Private Alley’?” Commissioner Joanne Ackerman asked.

“We did,” Horvath replied. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“They have the right to use the alley to some extent,” Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley said of the clinic facility.

“I don’t think it’s right that the residents have to resolve this,” Brinton said.

“I agree that we need to resolve this,” Martucci said.

“Can’t we look into it and see what our options are?” Commissioner James Seagreaves asked.

“I think we need to look into it,” Martucci reiterated.

At the conclusion of the approximate 45-minute discussion, Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said she agreed with the commissioners and that township officials would look into the residents’ concerns.

In other business at the April 11 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve:

- A resolution in recognition of Kathryn J. Martucci’s years of service and approve her retirement benefits. Commissioner Rodney Conn made the motion, seconded by Ackerman, to bring the resolution to a vote.

- A resolution for the volunteer recognition of Robert Agonis, Kirk and Kristine Alder, James Brown, Keith Carson, Ian Dodson, Dennis Grejda, Rosalie Maehrer, James Marsh, William Remo Jr., Darrell Singles and David Tomcics. Making the motion was Seagreaves, seconded by Brinton.

- A resolution to authorize a Community Development Block Grant submission in the possible maximum amount of $261,850 for a township sanitary sewer project with the township paying 10 percent or a minimum of $29,185. The grant amount is uncertain. The township could receive the full amount applied for or the township could receive a portion of it. “It’s promised. Not that you’re going to get it,” Salisbury Township Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc. said. The application was to be submitted to Lehigh County by April 1. Conn made the motion, seconded by Brinton, to bring the resolution to a vote.

- A motion to approve Payment No. 8 to Kobalt Construction for Lindberg Park Phase 3 Contracted Work in the amount of $18,000. Ackerman made the motion, seconded by Conn.

Before the start of the April 11 meeting, Martucci announced, “There will be an executive session relating to an agency matter following the workshop.”

Attending the executive session were Eastern Salisbury Fire Department Fire Chief David Tomcics and another member of the fire department.

Township officials held an executive session for “fact-finding” after the March 28 meeting. Western Salisbury Fire Chief Joshua G. Wells and another Western fire company official attended the March 28 executive session meeting.

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

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners next meets 7 p.m. April 25 in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.