Salisbury Township approved the revision to the sewage facilities plan for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania land development plan on South Mountain.

Salisbury commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a resolution, on a motion by Commissioner Alex Karol and seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin at the Sept. 14 township meeting, to approve revisions to the Official Sewage Facilities Plan for Adventure Place at Mountain House, 2638 W. Rock Road, west of the Interstate 78 Interchange, Summit Lawn.

“We have to formally approve it so that the Girl Scouts can move forward with their project,” Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director, Community Development Sandy Nicolo said before the vote.

The sewage facilities will be served by individual on-lot systems.

In approving the plan, Salisbury Township found the Sewage Facilities Planning Module “conforms to applicable sewage-related zoning and other sewage related municipal ordinances and plans, and to a comprehensive program of pollution control and water quality management,” according to the resolution.

With the vote, Salisbury adopted and will submit to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection the revision to the Sewage Facilities Plan.

Salisbury Commissioners had voted 3-0, with two commissioners absent March 9, to approve a motion to accept the time extension to March 31, 2024, for the Girl Scouts’ land development plan, 2638 W. Rock Road.

The Girl Scouts project was first proposed nearly four years ago.

The Girl Scouts previously requested extensions for the project, which includes a new multipurpose building with supporting infrastructure and parking.

At the Sept. 14, 2021, meeting of the Salisbury Township Planning Commission, delays in the DEP review of the Girl Scouts’ project were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, which began roughly mid-March 2020.

At the September 2021 township planners’ meeting, a township official said the Girl Scouts’ project needed an approved Sewage Facilities Planning Module in order to receive a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board voted March 9, 2020, to approve the Girl Scouts’ appeal to build an approximate 7,000-square foot building to be heated; including bathrooms with showers, sinks and flush toilets; activity rooms, staff offices, “Trading Post” for purchase of Girl Scouts items and a paved parking area for 15 vehicles.

Township zoning hearings for the project were held before the COVID-19 shutdown. The first two hearings were Feb. 4 and 18, 2020.

The Girl Scouts submitted a sketch plan for the project to the township planning commission at its Dec. 10, 2019, meeting.

The Girl Scouts have owned the 15.21-acre Summit Lawn site and operated it as a private recreation area since 1952. A cabin was on the site as of 1943.

In other business at the Sept. 14 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve:

- Resolution approving City of Bethlehem Act 537 Special Study. Commissioner Vice President Rodney Conn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alok Patnaik.

“The City of Bethlehem is under a moratorium. The city does have too high organic matter,” Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer Stan Wojciechowski, Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., said adding, “It’s not changing any of the allocations.”

The study provides for an increase in the organic design capacity at Bethlehem’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves a portion of eastern Salisbury Township.

- Resolution authorizing the township manager and assistant manager to execute Northampton-Lehigh counties local share assessment grant documents and agreements for the construction of a new salt shed and relocation of fueling equipment. Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Conn.

- Resolution authorizing the township manager and assistant manager to execute statewide local share assessment grant documents and agreements for the construction of new salt shed and relocation of fueling equipment. Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Patnaik.

Salisbury is requesting $733,500 each from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority from the counties and statewide assessment. Before the vote, it was explained the entire amount of such an application typically is not received and is sometimes spread over the two assessments. The funding is provided from casino revenue in Pennsylvania.

- Resolution supporting Pennsylvania America250PA Campaign. Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Conn. “The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was established by the legislature and governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States,” according to the America250PA website.

- Motion approving $29,484.87 payment from fire fund capital reserves for repair of Western Salisbury Fire Department 2005 Ladder Truck No. 31-31. Karol made the motion, seconded by Patnaik.

Before the meeting, Commissioner President Deb Brinton announced commissioners would hold an executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The session was held approximately 7:05-7:33 p.m. before the start of the Sept. 14 meeting, When commissioners reconvened, they voted 4-0, with Brinton abstaining, to approve a disciplinary action against a police officer. Conn made the motion, seconded by Patnaik.

After the Sept. 14 meeting and workshop, which concluded at approximately 8:48 p.m., Brinton announced commissioners would hold an executive session to discuss real estate.

September township meetings in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., include: 7 p.m. Sept. 27, planning commission and 7 p.m. Sept. 28, board of commissioners.