Salisbury Commissioner James A. Brown was re-elected president and Commissioner Debra Brinton was elected vice president for the first time of the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners.

Brinton succeeds Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr., who did not attend the special Jan. 6 township reorganization meeting when commissioner-elect Brown, Commissioner- elect James Seagreaves and Tax Collector-elect Linda J. Minger were sworn in to new terms by District Judge Michael J. Pochron.

The board deadlocked 2-2 in the first vote for board president, with Commissioner Joanne Ackerman and Brinton voting for Brinton and Brown and Seagreaves voting for Brown.

"No winner," ruled Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley.

For board president, Ackerman nominated Brinton and Seagreaves nominated Brown.

"Why don't we ask the person if they want to be nominated?" Seagreaves asked.

"Before you nominate someone, you should talk to the person to see if they accept," observed Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano.

For board vice president, Ackerman nominated Brinton and Seagreaves nominated Martucci. Brown, Ackerman and Brinton voted for Brinton for vice president and Seagreaves voted for Martucci.

After Brinton was elected board vice president, Brinton withdrew from running for board president.

"I'd like to do a revote for president," Brinton said.

"You as vice president, can now continue the meeting," Soriano said.

"I would like to make a motion to take nominations for the office of president," Brinton said.

At that point, Seagreaves nominated Brown. Ackerman moved to close nominations, which the board then voted 4-0 to approve.

In the second vote for board president, Brown, Brinton, Ackerman and Seagreaves voted for Brown.

After Brown resumed chairing the meeting, he nominated Martucci as President Pro Tempore. Brown, Brinton, Ackerman and Seagreaves voted for Martucci as President Pro Tempore.

Commissioners voted 4-0, by resolutions, to:

- Appoint Soriano as township secretary;

- Appoint Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director of Finance, Cathy Bonaskiewich, as township secretary;

- Appoint Minger as township treasurer;

- Appoint Bonaskiewich as township assistant treasurer;

- Appoint Ashley, of Davison & McCarthy, as township solicitor;

- Appoint David J. Tettemer, of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., as township engineer;

- Appoint Hanover Engineering Associates as assistant-alternate township engineer;

- Appoint Scott Beiber, of Lehigh Soils and Wetlands, as sewage enforcement officer, and Hanover Engineering Associates as alternate sewage enforcement officer; and

- Appoint Todd Bushta, of Gneiding, Blizard, Bushta & Company, LLP, as township auditor.

Commissioners also voted 4-0, by motions, to appoint the following to township boards, councils and commissions:

- Planning Commission, four-year terms: Glenn Miller, Fourth Ward, nominated by Brown; Dr. William Licht, Third Ward, nominated by Seagreaves; Richard Hassick, First Ward, nominated by Martucci;

- Zoning Hearing Board, five-year term: James A. Kelly, Third Ward, nominated by Ackerman;

- Recreation Advisory Committee, five-year term: Patrick Jacoby, Third Ward, nominated by Martucci;

- Vacancy Board, one-year term: Dan Moyer, Fourth Ward, nominated by Martucci;

- Building Code Board of Appeals, five-year term: Mike Werley, nominated by Brown;

- Environmental Advisory Council, three-year term: Kreg Ulery, Third Ward, nominated by Seagreaves; Jane Benning, Third Ward, nominated by Brinton; and

- Civil Service Commission, six-year term: Archie Hartzell, Third Ward, nominated by Brown.

In other business at the approximate 45-minute Jan. 6 meeting, commissioners voted 4-0 to:

- Set the tax collector bond amount at $42,700,000, and

- Approve township bills payable Dec. 14, 2013, - Jan. 3.

There was no township meeting Jan. 9, when the first monthly meeting would have been held.

The next township meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 23, at the township Municipal Building, 2900 S. Pike Avenue.