Rodney Conn received heartfelt words of praise at his last Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners meeting as a township official.

Conn, Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ vice president, chose to not run for reelection.

The Dec. 11 commissioners’ meeting was Conn’s last meeting as a township commissioner. Conn’s tenure concludes Dec. 31. The commissioners canceled the Dec. 23 meeting.

Conn has served as a township official for nearly two decades, 17 years in total.

In addition to his years as a township commissioner (2018-2025, serving as vice president since 2020 and commissioners’ liaison on the Civil Service Board, 2024 and 2025), Conn was on the Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board (2008-2017) and the Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council (2018-2020).

“I’ve been showing up for meetings pretty regularly for 17 years,” Conn said in an interview with a reporter for The Press before the Dec. 11 meeting.

Conn, a native of Mentor, Ohio, is a graduate of the University of Akron. He and his wife, Sarabel, moved to Salisbury Township 26 years ago.

Conn worked as a chemist for 20 years before being employed as a senior scientist at Evonik Degussa Corp. Most recently, he was environmental health and safety director for Smooth-On, Inc., Lower Macungie Township.

His wife was a chemist for Wacker Chemical Corp.

They each retired eight years ago.

At Nativity Cathedral, Bethlehem, he is the Rev. Rodney Conn, where he is a coordinator of the Cathedral’s emergency shelter ministry (Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering), was a president of the board of directors and is property committee chairperson.

Conn is a member of the Cathedral Church Standing Committee, Commission on Ministry, Mission Resources Grant Committee and the Reunification Discernment Team.

“I’m stepping down from a couple of things to enjoy retirement,” Conn told The Press.

Of his role in Salisbury Township government, Conn told The Press, “It’s been part of my life for 17 years,” adding, “I fell in love with Salisbury when I moved here.”

The resolution approved by a 4-0 vote, with one commissioner absent at the Dec. 11 meeting, states “Conn represented the residents of the Fourth Ward with care and humility; and Mr. Conn’s peaceful disposition and thoughtful consideration of the residents of Salisbury Township garnered him the respect of his colleagues and residents.”

“I will miss Rodney for sure,” Commissioner Alok Patnaik said.

Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ President Debra J. Brinton, who sits adjacent to Conn at the dais at commissioners’ meetings, gave him a hug.

“It’s been a pleasure working with you,” Salisbury Township Director, Public Works Department, Jim Levernier said to Conn.

“He [Conn] really took an interest in our police department,” Salisbury Township Police Lt. Christopher Casey said.

“He did several ride-alongs [in Salisbury Police Department vehicles],” Casey noted.

“For a leader who wanted to get involved with police, that’s important to our leadership,” Casey said.

The township resolution honoring Conn concluded: “The Board of Commissioners extends its grateful appreciation to Rodney Conn for the dedicated service he has rendered to the township and best wishes and appreciation of the members of the board and staff be extended to Rodney Conn for his years of service to the community of Salisbury Township.”

The January 2026 Salisbury Township meeting schedule includes: 6 p.m. Jan. 5, board of commissioners reorganization to elect new board officers; 7 p.m. Jan. 8, board of commissioners’ regular first meeting of month; 7 p.m. Jan. 14, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. Jan. 22, board of commissioners’ second meeting of month and 7 p.m. Jan. 28, planning commission.