Shade tree appeals in Salisbury Township will be handled by the township Environmental Advisory Council.

The change in procedure occurred after a resolution to amend an ordinance was approved by a 4-0 vote, with one commissioner absent, at the Oct. 10 township meeting.

The board of commissioners will no longer be the first township govenning body that will consider shade tree appeals.

Township commissioners have said the appeals hearing, testimony and vote is too time-consuming to take place at either of the two monthly township commissioners’ meetings.

As approved, Chapter 25, Section 109, of the township Code of Ordinances was amended to state:

“Any person aggrieved by a notice, determination, refusal, act or failure to act issued, taken or omitted under this Ordinance shall have the right to a hearing at a regular meeting to be held by the Board of Commissioners’ Environmental Advisory Council.”

The amendment affirms the township board of commissioners “believes that tree-lined streets and shade trees fronting properties add beauty to the township’s surroundings and stabilizes the ecosystem.”

Furthermore, the amendment states “the board of commissioners desires to enact rules prohibiting the removal of shade trees without first obtaining an approved permit.”

Should the resident or property owner not agree with the decision by the Environmental Advisory Council, the amendment further states: “Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Environmental Advisory Council shall have the right to further appeal said decision to the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners within 30 days of the date of said decision.”

Additionally, states the amendment, “Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board of Commissioners shall have the right to further appeal said decision to the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County within 30 days of the date of said decision.”

In other business at the Oct. 10 meeting, commissioners voted 4-0 to approve motions to:

- Enter into a Bus Shelter Agreement with the Lehigh And Northampton County Transportation Authority. It was stated prior to the vote that LANTA approached township officials concerning the placement of bus shelters in the township.

It could not be determined how many, if any, bus shelters or bus stops LANTA has in the township. LANTA would pay the township a $200 per month fee for a shelter location. Commercial advertising could be placed on the shelter. The township would not derive revenue from the advertising.

“They [LANTA] would run the location [of a bus shelter] by the township police chief to make sure there are no problems,” Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. Johh W. Ashley stated prior to the vote.

- Approve a waiver to the Subdivision And Land Development Ordinance requiring fencing and landscaping for a detention basin at 2210 S. Melrose Lane. Developer Myron R. Haydt of Myron Haydt Development explained prior to the vote the basin is a grassy area designed for stormwater infiltration. The lot is in Southbury Park, a development of million-dollar-plus homes on approximately 87 acres in the vicinity of Black River Road and South Church Road. The township planning commission voted 5-1 at its Oct. 8 meeting to recommend approval of the waiver by commissioners.

- Approve Payment No. 7, said to be the final payment, to MJF Electric, Morrisville, Bucks County, for Lindberg Park Phase 3 contracted work in the amount of $5,973.50.

- Approve Payment No. 12, said to be the final payment, to Kobalt Construction, Inc., Swiftwater, Monroe County, for Lindberg Park Phase 3 contracted work in the amount of $58,130.64.

The township commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.