The resignation of longtime Salisbury Township Treasurer Linda Minger has been accepted.

Her successor, Tamara Kulik Smarch, has been appointed.

The resolution to accept Minger’s resignation from the elected position of township tax collector and appointed position of township treasurer as of Dec. 31 was accepted by a 5-0 vote by the township board of commissioners at the Nov. 24 meeting.

Township board of commissioners’ Vice President Rodney Conn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves, to bring the resolution to accept Minger’s resignation to a vote.

“I’ve worked with Linda a long time and it’s with a heavy heart that I see her go,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said, adding, “She’s been a part of Salisbury Township history.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, a retirement reception would typically have been held following the commissioners’ meeting in the municipal building meeting room.

“Unfortunately with current conditions, it prevents us from doing more,” Bonaskiewich said.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Smarch to fill Minger’s final year of her unexpired term as tax collector.

Conn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alok Patnaik, to bring the resolution to a vote to appoint Smarch as tax collector to fill the vacancy through Dec. 31, 2021.

“We did have a few candidates for the position,” Bonaskiewich said. The list was narrowed to three, each of whom was interviewed in executive session and followed up with background checks, according to Bonaskiewich.

“Thanks to everyone who applied. Everyone was qualified,” Patnaik said.

The public session of the Nov. 24 meeting was held in a hybrid virtual format using the Zoom meeting platform because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines, according to a statement on the meeting’s agenda.

Members of the media were not allowed to attend in-person, but had to preregister to cover the meeting via the Zoom format.

Members of the public were also not allowed to attend the meeting in-person and had to preregister via Zoom.

According to the Zoom screen listing, there were 15 participants at the Nov. 24 meeting.

Nicole Ortiz, an alternate member of the township zoning hearing board, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board by a 5-0 vote of commissioners.

Board of Commissioners’ President Debra Brinton made the motion, seconded by Seagreaves, to nominate Ortiz.

“She [Ortiz] doesn’t reside in the third ward. She lives in the fifth ward. We didn’t have anyone from the third ward,” Brinton said.

During the commissioners’ commentary portion of the meeting, Commissioner Heather Lipkin thanked township firefighters for “saving a structure and getting the residents out safely” during a recent fire.

“The closest fire hydrant is at Weil [Street] and Savercool [Avenue] and it doesn’t work,” Lipkin said.

“I do know that the fire department is aware that these hydrants don’t work. I do think we need to know why these fire hydrants don’t work. And I do not think that’s right,” Lipkin said.

“I think we talked about this many times. What is the issue with Bethlehem?” Brinton asked.

Public water service in the eastern portion of Salisbury Township is provided by the City of Bethlehem.

“To undertake any project would be costly. Accordingly, that’s why the fire department knows how to send out the right truck,” Bonaskiewich said,

Reportedly, three tanker trucks were dispatched and two tanker trucks waited during the fire Lipkin referred to.

“I can reach out again just so that we can keep a bug in their ear,” Bonaskiewich said, referring to City of Bethlehem officials.

“We’ve talked about this for years,” Brinton said, adding, “We can’t make Bethlehem do it?”

“They were in the room and we talked about it,” Seagreaves said.

Firefighter Ian Dodson, speaking via Zoom, said, “This has been ongoing. We know about the issue. We have additional tankers in the area in the initial alarm.

“Even if they put a booster pump in it’s going to increase the pressure by 3 PSI. So, you’re going to be able to wash your hair better,” Dodson said.

“The way we have it set up is more than adequate. It would be great if they put a water tower up there, but I don’t see that happening,” Dodson said.

Salisbury Township Director of Fire Services Dustin Grow, said, “I did look into a CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] and I don’t think the cost effectiveness would be good.”

“You got that out quickly. I do appreciate it,” Lipkin said of the fire,

In his report to commissioners, Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin Soberick said that, as of Dec. 1, the township police department was closed to the public.

“We’re starting closing to the public to try to mitigate the exposure that we’re going to have,” Soberick said.

“Also, there will be no more hunting permits issued,” Soberick said.

“We can’t lose a platoon. We will reevaluate in the middle of January [2021]to try to get back to some sort of normalcy,” Soberick said.

Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie reported at a recent recreation advisory committee meeting, “A resident brought forth concerns about hunting in Franko Farm Park. We are interested in reevaluating the safety needs at Franko.”

Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley reported, “We had an [legal] argument today with regard to the Fountain Hill matter. It was just the details. I’m hoping it will go a long way toward resolving that.”

Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas reported, “We’re out there working the leaves. The guys are putting in a lot of hours.

“We’re probably going to be picking up leaves for a couple more weeks,” Andreas continued, noting, “Curbside pickup is a service that we provide.

“This year, the volumes are up. In the last week, it was 23,044 cubic yards and 43,061 for the season,” Andreas said.

Brinton commended Andreas and public works department employees for the township leaves pickup.

Bonaskiewich said she would get an updated list to township commissioners responsible for particular appointments.

“We will ask folks on the board if they want to continue or not. There is the alternate position now open on the zoning hearing board. There’s also an opening on the environmental advisory council, but we have no applications for that.”

Bonaskiewich polled commissioners on the format of future meetings. Bonaskiewich said she prefers the in-person meetings for township officials in the municipal building meeting room. Brinton and Lipkin said they also prefer in the in-person format for officials.

The board of commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Dec. 10 in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

If a second monthly meeting is required, it would be held 7 p.m. Dec. 22.

The municipal building “is open to the public for now,” Bonaskiewich said.

The 7 p.m. Dec. 1 zoning hearing board meeting was canceled.

The 7 p.m. Dec. 8 planning commission meeting is canceled.

The 7 p.m. Dec. 16 environmental advisory council meeting is scheduled, as of the deadline for this article.