Though the snowstorms of February are but an aching-back memory, Salisbury Township officials have acted to ensure any costs from damages incurred might be recouped.

The handling of snow removal in Salisbury received resounding kudos from township officials.

From Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, a nor’easter, Winter Storm Orlena, also known as the “Groundhog Day Storm” because Groundhog Day was Feb. 2, dumped 27.3 inches of snow, according to measurements at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Salisbury Township received a reported 26.9 inches of snow.

Orlena produced the second biggest snowfall on record from a single storm in the Lehigh Valley, surpassing the 25.9 inches recorded at the airport, Jan. 7-10, 1996. The biggest snowfall was 31.7 inches recorded at the airport Jan. 22-23, 2016.

For the month of February, there was an estimated 38.8 inches of snow in the Lehigh Valley, second-highest to 42.9 inches of snow in February 2010.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent, to ratify a “Declaration of Snow Emergency for Winter Storm Orlena.”

Board of commissioners Vice President Rodney Conn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves.

“It was the first big one we had this month,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich, said, adding, “This is to just formalize that [snow emergency].”

Township officials praised the township public works department employees for coping with the February snowstorms.

“I just want to thank public works for all the snow removal,” Commissioner Heather Lipkin said, adding, “I had several residents reach out to me. We have very narrow streets.”

“I just want to echo that. Good job, guys,” Conn said.

“My street is a tight street. And I want to thank Ian [Dodson] for helping to clear hydrants. And I’m sure Western [Salisbury Fire Company] was in the same shape.”

“I have a caregiver, from another state and she can’t believe that the trash is picked up twice a week,” board of commissioners President Deb Brinton said. “And 30 inches of snow and right away they’re getting it done.

“Another resident contacted me about fire hydrants,” Brinton continued. “I saw on Eastern’s [Salisbury Fire Company] website that they would help. We have a fire hydrant on our property. We’ve taken care of it for 40-some years.

“Do people get fined for not maintaining it during a snowstorm?” Brinton asked.

“There’s not a law saying you have to clear it,” Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin Soberick said.

“I think everybody is doing a fantastic job, the police, public works. We seem to be able to handle things in a good way,” Brinton said.

“If your trash wasn’t picked up, it was supposed to be picked up by the end of the day [Feb. 25],” Brinton said.

“We had a lot of changes, with a new contract, changing dates. We’re trying to get hazardous wastes. The weather tripped up Republic [Services, township trash hauler],” Bonaskiewich said.

“By the end of tomorrow [Feb. 26], they should have everything cleaned up. By Monday [March 1], everything should be in good shape. We are going to keep on them [Republic],” Bonaskiewich said.

A flyer from Republic to township residents included an incorrect phone number to schedule hazardous wastes pickup. The correct number is: 484-273-3940.

“It seems that holidays and snowstorms are on a Monday,” Brinton said.

“Here’s a tip: If there’s a snowstorm, don’t put your trash out,” Brinton said, adding, “We upped the rates, and we got a snowstorm and everyone went nuts.

“And when you call into the office, please remember it’s not the girls in the office fault,” Brinton said.

“The police department is ready for spring. Before the snowstorms, we had communication with everyone. Listening to all the comments, I think it really paid off,” Soberick said.

“We would like to thank public works. We were dispatched for 72 hours, coordinating with EMS,” Eastern Salisbury Fire Department Chief Ian Dodson said.

“It was a very busy month for me taking over. Hopefully, spring’s right around the corner,” Jim Lavernier, acting director of public works, said following the retirement of John Andreas.

The first day of spring, March 20, is in less than three weeks.

There were 13 participants listed on Zoom for the one-hour Feb. 25 meeting. Afterward, commissioners and township officials held an executive session, which was closed to the public.

The Feb. 11 commissioners meeting was canceled.

Township commissioners are next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. March 11 in the municipal building meeting room, with the public to preregister via Zoom on the township website.

In other business at the Feb. 25 meeting, commissioners voted 4- 0 to approve:

•Payment No. 2, the final payment, to Insituform Technologies for the 2020 Sanitary Sewer Rehab Cured-In-Place Pipe Lining Contract in the amount of $4,555.18.

Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineer, Inc., said the payment includes additional items.

Conn made the motion, seconded by Lipkin, to bring the motion to a vote.

•A Memorandum Of Understanding with Salisbury Township School District for school resource officers.

“This is something that we routinely do. It’s every two years. This is something that is up in May,” Bonaskiewich said, noting the officers are the same.

Seagreaves made the motion, seconded by Lipkin.

•A proposal for third- party building inspection and plan review services and to appoint Barry Isett & Associates as primary township code enforcement.

Bonaskiewich said five firms’ responses to requests for proposals were received by the end of January and were reviewed by Salisbury Township Assistant Manager Sandy Nicolo.

“They [Isett] are the current provider,” Bonaskiewich said, adding, “They took over from CodeMaster [Inspection Services, Inc.]. They had a very competitive proposal.”

Conn made the motion, seconded by Lipkin.

•A proposal for auditing services for fiscal years 2020-2022 to Frey & Company, Walnutport.

“There’s a possible one- or two-year extension,” Bonaskiewich said, adding, “Five responses were received to the requests for proposals that was put out in November [2020]. Paul [Ziegenfus, Salisbury Township director of finance] did the vetting.”

•Grading Plan Waiver Request for 1756 Ritter St.

“It really was a straightforward type plan without any major drainage issues,” Tettemer said, noting the Salisbury Township Planning Commission recommended waiver approval and he backed the approval.

Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Conn.

•Grading Plan Waiver Request for 2911 Beacon Road.

“The maximum slope is 10 percent required in the ordinance. It’s 14.9 percent,” Tettemer said.

“Right now, the driveway to the tower is severely eroded. To make repairs to the tower, they need to repair the road, which is gravel.

“It’s a very minimal use of the driveway. It’s maybe used two or three times a year. I asked them to go to the Lehigh County Conservation District,” Tettemer said, noting the Salisbury Township Planning Commission recommended waiver approval and he backed the approval.

Conn made the motion, seconded by Seagreaves.

•The township fee schedule for 2021

“The only change on here is the refuse rate,” Bonaskiewich said.

Seagreaves made the motion, seconded by Lipkin.

•A change in RCN Franchise Agreement

“There’s been an equity ownership change of RCN. No terms have changed. All the franchise agreements will remain in place,” Bonaskiewich said.

Commissioners were presented with the 2020 township police department report by Soberick.

“I read your report. It was a very nice end-of-the-year report,” Brinton said.

Bonaskiewich concluded the meeting, noting, “The traditional egg hunt can’t be done,” adding details are to be announced.