A Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board member has been appointed to represent the Fourth Ward on the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners.

Allison Leayman, an alternate zoning hearing board member since January 2024, was appointed to represent the Fourth Ward by a 4-0 vote by township commissioners at the Jan. 22 meeting.

Township Commissioner Heather Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alok Patnaik, to bring the resolution to a vote to appoint Leayman.

District Judge Kyle B. Miller, District 31-1-08, administered the oath of office to Leayman at the Jan. 22 meeting. After she was sworn in, Leayman began serving on the board of commissioners. She was one of two applicants.

Leayman succeeds Rodney Conn, who chose not to run for reelection. Conn’s term concluded Jan. 1. No candidates filed to seek election in the May 20, 2025, Primary Election for the Fourth Ward. There were no write-ins in the Nov. 4, 2025, General Election for the Fourth Ward.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Gorman posted the notice of board of commissioners’ vacancy for the Fourth Ward on the township website Dec. 10, 2025. The application deadline was Dec. 28, 2025.

Leayman’s two-year appointment concludes Jan. 1, 2028. She would need to file as a candidate in the 2027 municipal election to continue serving after her appointment concludes. Her term on the zoning hearing board was set to expire Jan. 1, 2027.

Leayman, who grew up in Bethlehem Township, is a Freedom High School graduate, Class of 2008. She received an associate degree from Northampton Community College in 2012.

Leayman worked for the Borough of Quakertown and Lower Saucon Township.

“My professional background includes more than eight years of experience in municipal government administration and finance, including administrative support, payroll and financial, purchasing and providing direct support and assistance to residents,” Leayman said in an email to a reporter for The Press.

“I have worked closely with municipal staff and elected officials to support effective local government,” Leayman said.

“I am currently focused on my family and have been a stay-at-home mom since 2022 while remaining engaged in the community through volunteer service and board involvement,” she said.

Leayman is a resident of Salisbury Township for three years. She lives in the Devonshire area with her husband Matt and their two children, Jackson and Olivia.

“My husband was born and raised in Salisbury Township, and our family has deep roots in the community,” Leayman said in the email.

“I applied for the board of commissioners’ vacancy to help support continuity and effective day-to-day operations of the township, drawing on my prior municipal experience and familiarity with local government processes,” Leayman said.

“Serving as an alternate on the zoning hearing board has further strengthened my interest in local government and reinforced my desire to support thoughtful, transparent decision-making that balances resident concerns with the township’s long-term goals,” Leayman said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the residents of Salisbury Township alongside the other commissioners,” Leayman said in the email.

The Fourth Ward, on the west side of the township, is bounded roughly by Lindberg Avenue on the north, Country Club Avenue on the east, the areas of Devonshire Road and Fish Hatchery Road on the south and Patricia Drive on the west

Leayman was welcomed to the board by commissioners and officials.

In other business at the Jan. 22 township meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve:

- A resolution to appoint Keycodes Inspection Agency, Bethlehem, as an alternate building code official third-party inspector. Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alex Karol, to bring the resolution to a vote.

- A resolution establishing the Salisbury Township fee schedule for 2026. Karol made the motion, seconded by Patnaik, to bring the resolution to a vote.

- A resolution approving the township official sewage facilities planning module for 1507 Lehigh Ave. Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Lipkin, to bring the resolution to a vote.

“It’s a residential building lot. This is to allow them to get connected for sewer [service],” Kerry Rabold, Salisbury Township director of community development and planning and zoning officer said.

- A motion to exonerate Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church of local real estate taxes for 2025 and 2026. Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Patnik, to bring the motion to a vote.

“They [Western Salisbury] allow us to have yard-waste drop-off,” board of commissioners President Debra J. Brinton said.

“They [Western Salisbury] have refiled to have their exoneration,” Attorney Jason A. Ulrich, partner at Gross McGinley, LLP, township solicitor, said.

- A motion to approve Salisbury Township’s social media policy. Karol made the motion, seconded by Lipkin, to bring the motion to a vote. “We feel it’s important,” Brinton said.

- A motion ratifying the nonuniform defined benefit contribution pension plan funding amount of $94,000 for the year ending 2025. Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Patnaik, to bring the motion to a vote.

In his report to commissioners, Salisbury Township Chief of Police Donald Sabo said 92 hunting permits, including 91 adult hunting permits and one junior hunting permit were issued, and two bucks and six doe were harvested in 2025 in Walking Purchase Park. “We had no problems,” Sabo said. Hunting is no longer allowed in Franko Farm Park.

The police department is again applying for a grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to cover the cost of police patrols at Salisbury Township School District events.

In her report to commissioners, Gorney said the township has received a $411,144 Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for replacement of a water main at Lindberg Avenue and Gail Avenue.

Township officials discussed preparedness for the Jan. 25-26 snowstorm. Salisbury Township declared a snow emergency, effective midnight Jan. 25 through noon Jan. 26. Information was posted Jan. 22 on the township website.

At the workshop following the meeting, officials discussed the township purchasing policy and expanding no parking on one side of certain streets to year-round.

“It’s the same ordinance, only all year-round,” Salisbury Township Director of Public Works James Levernier said.

Concerning the purchasing policy, Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said, “We’re getting into an electronic purchasing system.

It was noted Karol was elected second vice president, central region, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners.

Patnaik is first vice president, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners.

Salisbury is accepting applications for a zoning-code enforcement officer in the community development department.

“The successful applicant will be responsible for a variety of complex professional, administrative and technical functions as it relates to the zoning ordinances and resident safety of the township,” the Jan. 6 posting states on the township website.

The zoning code enforcement officer works under the direction of the community development director and township manager, according to the website.

“Duties also include zoning and code enforcement, rental inspections and representing the township at zoning hearing board meetings,” the posting states.

The application deadline is Feb. 1. Applicants are to send a resume and references to: info@salisburylehighpa.gov (subject: Zoning-Code Enforcement Officer Position) or: Township Manager, Salisbury Township, 2900 S. Pike Ave., Allentown, 18103. No phone calls are accepted.

The Jan. 28 planning commission meeting is canceled.

Salisbury Township February meetings in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., include: 7 p.m. Feb. 11, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. Feb. 12, board of commissioners; 7 p.m. Feb. 18, environmental advisory council; 7 p.m. Feb. 25, planning commission and 7 p.m. Feb. 26, board of commissioners.