Two quality-of-life amendments to the dumping and littering and noise ordinances have been approved in Salisbury Township.

Meanwhile, the immediate quality-of-life issue in the township concerning township commissioners, administration and many residents is: How to get garbage picked up?

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 in separate votes to amend the dumping and littering ordinance and the noise ordinance at the Oct. 28 meeting. The amendments were effective immediately.

The ordinance amendment sets possible fines for littering of from $300 to $1,000 and for dumping of from $1,000 to $5,000, plus costs, for each offense.

A person who deposits hazardous materials and/or materials requiring specialized disposal shall be financially responsible for abatement costs, the amendment states.

The noise ordinance lists eight definitions of possible noise ordinance violations; 10 prohibited acts; hours of regulation (10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays; 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekends) and a separate section concerning fireworks.

Fines for violating the noise ordinance can range from $100 to $1,000 for each offense.

The amendments to the ordinances are on the township website under the Oct. 28 meeting agenda.

A good portion of the meeting was preoccupied with discussion of continued problems with trash and recycling pickup by township contracted hauler, Republic Services.

Township residents Brian Smith and John Sovko stepped up to the podium microphone to complain about tardy garbage pickup.

“How do I get my garbage picked up?” Sovko asked. “Now it’s ridiculous. They [Republic] don’t call you back.

“I’m in violation of your ordinance that my garbage isn’t picked up,” Sovko said.

Sovko was assured by commissioners he wouldn’t be cited for violating the dumping and littering ordinance.

“It’s absurd,” board of commissioners President Deb Brinton said. “They [Republic] don’t give us a viable answer. We don’t know what to do.”

“I’ve heard from people in Bethlehem and they’re not getting their trash picked up,” Commissioner James Seagreaves said.

“I was in Bucks County and they’re having the same problem,” Salisbury Township Assistant Manager Sandy Nicolo said.

“Cathy [Bonas-kiewich, township manager] is communicating with them [Republic] all the time,” Seagreaves said.

“I called the gentleman [at Republic] and he never called me back,” Brinton said.

The area manager of township trash hauler Republic Services fielded questions from residents and officials at the Salisbury Township Sept. 23 board of commissioners meeting.

Republic Services Operations Manager Paul Temby said he was appointed operations manager in July. Temby cited the impact of COVID-19 and labor shortages as reasons for the trash pickup problems.

The township has an approximate $5 million trash contract with Republic for three years: 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The township refuse and recycling rates effective Jan. 1, increased to $93 per unit per quarter or $372 annually.

The 2020 township trash collection rate was $68 per quarter per unit or $272 annually.

Refuse rates are not expected to increase in the 2022 budget.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said to residents and commissioners concerning the trash pickup problems.

“The first two weeks after the [Sept. 23] meeting improved. The last three weeks, things have fallen apart,” Bonaskiewich said.

The 2022 budget was discussed during the Oct. 28 meeting workshop.

“I didn’t have any changes from last time,” Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said concerning the 2022 budget, which was discussed at the Oct. 14 meeting workshop when township public works department requests were reviewed.

The 2022 township budget proposes a $120 average annual tax hike, which is $10 per month, based on the township median residential property valuation of $235,000.

The increase is 0.50 of a mill, from 2.42 mills to 2.92 mills. The 0.50 mill is: 0.25 mill for township police hires and 0.25 mill for township capital improvements.

At the Oct. 28 meeting, township police department requests were reviewed.

“It’s status quo,” Bonaskiewich said of the police department budget.

“2021 was a lot of catch up for 2020,” Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin Soberick said.

“We did a lot of behind-the-scenes work,” Soberick said.

Brinton asked about the status of police department accreditation.

“It’s going well. We did make changes. We must submit them to the bargaining unit,” Soberick said.

“We should have it completed by the end of 2022,” Soberick said.

The 2022 budget includes the hiring of two police officers and the purchase of one police vehicle.

“Next meeting is the public reading. We’re planning on adopting it [the budget] at the first meeting in November,” Bonaskiewich said.

Township commissioners next meet 7 p.m. Nov. 10, a Wednesday, rather than Thursday, Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day.

If adopted, the budget will be available on the township website and at the municipal building.

Township fire company representatives are expected to make their presentations at the Nov. 10 meeting.

Commissioners meet 7 p.m. Nov. 23 rather than Nov. 25, which is Thanksgiving Day.

In other matters, Nicolo said a nuisance house along Seidersville Road may have to be demolished.

At the Oct. 28 meeting, township resident Jason Kichline complained to commissioners about the condition of the house.

Nicolo shared photos of the house with commissioners.

“The house is beyond repair,” Nicolo said.

“I’m planning on demolishing the house, grading it and seeding it. The property will be liened,” Nicolo said.

Nicolo said the property was posted Oct. 10. “I gave him 30 days,” Nicolo said.

“What happens to the gentleman who lives there?” Brinton asked.

“I spoke with the man’s mother,” Nicolo said, later adding, “I bought him some groceries.”

“We have a community intervention specialist and we will make her aware of it,” Soberick said.

Township Planning Commission Chairman Charles Beck asked commissioners about a Laubach Park memorial project for Lester and Lillian Young, founders of the forerunner in 1951 of the Salisbury Youth Association.

A granite monument must be engraved.

Beck is concerned about placing the monument before upgrading of Laubach Park.

“We were willing to include it in the master plan [for Laubach Park],” Bonaskiewich said.

Salisbury Township Director of Public Works James Levernier said he will work with Beck on placement of the monument in the park.

Levernier announced curbside leaf collection is to begin in the township.