The Salisbury Township Police Department is fully staffed.

“That puts us up to full command,” Salisbury Township Chief of Police Donald Sabo said.

Two new officers at the swearing-in ceremony at the Jan. 9 Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners meeting brought the township police command staff to 23. There is also one part-time officer.

It’s believed to be the first time in about five years the township police department is fully staffed.

Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President Debra Brinton administered the oath of office to Zachary Palansky and Dakota Baker.

Each graduated Dec. 13, 2024 from the Allentown Police Academy after completing 919 hours, or about six months, of classes.

Palansky and Baker were officially sworn in Jan. 2 by District Judge Kyle B. Miller, 31-1-08 Judicial District, which includes Salisbury.

In his report to commissioners, Sabo said renovations to the township public safety building are 95% complete. State Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th, is credited with securing funding for the project.

“Without that funding, we would have been three years behind,” Sabo said. “It’s impressive. It’s awesome,” Sabo said of the renovations.

The expanded facility occupies the district magistrate’s former offices.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said, “For the first time in many years, we were under budget in police overtime.”

During the workshop, which followed the township meeting, a resident’s complaint concerning a neighbor’s fire pit was discussed.

“We never saw a violation occur,” Sabo said.

There was one complaint and no subsequent complaints last year.

A fire pit, or outdoor burning area, must be 25 feet from a house or structure and 20 feet from a property line.

The outdoor burning ordinance was rewritten nine years ago.

“We modeled that on the International Fire Code,” Sabo said.

The resident who complained requested the ordinance be amended.

“I don’t see any reason to amend anything,” Commissioner Alex Karol said.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said she would send a letter concerning the matter to the resident who made the complaint.