The Salisbury Township planning and zoning officer was honored at the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 8 meeting for obtaining certification as a floodplain expert.

Salisbury Township Planning and Zoning Officer Kerry H. Rabold attended a one-week Federal Emergency Management Administration floodplain seminar.

At the township meeting, Rabold was presented with a plaque for attaining the certification by Salisbury Township Assistant Township Manager, Director, Community Development Department Sandy Nicolo.

“I want to commend Kerry. You put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes. And it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Commissioner Heather Lipkin said.

The township floodplain ordinance is being updated by Rabold. “This affects people in flood plains,” Nicolo said.

Salisbury officials have estimated 100 township residents own property in or partially in a flood plain, mainly along or in the vicinity of Trout Creek north of East Emmaus Avenue on the township’s east side.

Rabold and Nicolo were instrumental in coordinating the Dec. 20, 2023, meeting of the Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council when approximately 35 Salisbury residents heard a talk by Emily Houdeshell, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency State National Flood Insurance Program specialist.

In other business, in his report to the commissioners at the Feb. 8 meeting, Salisbury Township Chief of Police Donald Sabo said the township police department received the results of its audit. “We were 100 percent compliant,” Sabo said.

Commissioner Alex Karol said he was pleased with the new trash collection containers. He said the uniform design presents a better appearance and the containers are better able to contain the trash. “I know that this was not the intent, but it is a great byproduct,” Karol said.

Board of commissioners President Deb Brinton said she has received positive comments about the containers and the trash and recycling service. Whitetail Disposal is the new township trash hauler as of Jan. 1.

A township resident attending the Feb. 8 meeting said of the trash pickup, “The experience to date has been quite positive.”

The resident asked if the township could change its policy for the length of time a trash container can be placed at the curb. He said the driveway at his house is 585-feet-long with a 60-foot rise.

“It’s definitely something to look at,” Karol said.

“We’re going to review our ordinance and some exceptions for people with long driveways,” Nico said.

Commissioner Alok Patnaik mentioned complaints from residents about the wild deer population.

Lipkin said if residents in an area agree to it, there are measures that can be taken by the residents, including requesting professional hunters via the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission website:

“The Agricultural Deer Control (AG Tag) Program, formerly known as ‘Red Tag,’ is a special permit for deer control.

“An Agricultural Deer Control permit authorizes landowners or lessees to enlist the aid of hunters for the purpose of removing deer causing damage, outside of the regular deer-hunting seasons.

“Landowners interested in participating in the AG Tag program must call the Game Commission Region Office serving the county in which the land to be enrolled is located. Applications for deer control permits under this program are made through the district state game warden on a form provided by the Commission.”

“We explored this years ago after I contacted the city,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said. “Most of the deer are in Lehigh Parkway in Allentown. They [city officials] had no interest in participating.”

A township couple again presented concerns about alleged speeding vehicles along Flexer Avenue in western Salisbury.

“We live on Indianapolis Flexer,” quipped the man. “It’s become a very dangerous situation.”

“There’s a stop sign at Lindberg. They don’t stop,” the woman said.

Sabo said one reason the speed limit is difficult to enforce along the short stretch of Flexer is because local police departments are prohibited from using hand-held radar in Pennsylvania.

“We’re the only state in the nation that doesn’t allow local radar,” Karol said.

“We have an officer who is assigned to traffic complaints,” Sabo said, who will have the Flexer Avenue concern reviewed.

During the meeting workshop, rates for a proposed food truck ordinance were discussed.

The rate under consideration is $100 annually per truck for any location in the township.

The rate for a food stand would be $100 per event and $25 for each additional stand at the event.

“We have to inspect them. The fees have to do with getting an inspector out there,” Sabo said.

“If there’s an unlicensed truck now, are we able to enforce it?” Salisbury Township Solicitor Attorney John F. “Jack” Gross, Gross McGinley Attorneys At Law LLC, asked.

“It’s enforceable. The fire inspector is there,” Sabo said.

Also discussed during the workshop was the draft of a water meter calibration ordinance.

“We’re going to start calibrating the commercial meters every year,” Salisbury Township Director, Public Works, Jim Levernier said.

“I’m hoping this will determine where we’re losing a lot of water,” Levernier said.

Consumer water meters were replaced in 2017-2018. “The consumer meters are not the problem,” Levernier said.

The February Salisbury Township municipal meetings include: 7 p.m. Feb. 14, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. Feb. 21, environmental advisory council; 7 p.m. Feb. 22, board of commissioners and 7 p.m. Feb. 28, planning commission, all in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.