A new township zoning officer has been appointed by the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners.

By a unanimous 5-0 vote at the Feb. 26 township meeting, commissioners approved a resolution to appoint James Young as Salisbury Township zoning and code enforcement officer.

Salisbury Township Commissioner Alok Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Salisbury Township Commissioner Allison Leayman, to bring the resolution to a vote.

Young succeeds Kerry Rabold, who has been promoted to Salisbury Township Director of Community Development. Rabold succeeds Sandy Nicolo, who retired.

Young was given his oath of office at the meeting by Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Magisterial District Judge Kyle B. Miller, District 31-1-08.

The resolution also appointed Rabold as alternate zoning officer.

Young succeeds Michele Lopez Gudino, former Salisbury Township code enforcement officer, assistant zoning officer and rental inspector, who was appointed Borough of Kutztown community development department code enforcement officer, primary building code officer and zoning officer.

After the Feb. 26 township meeting, Young said to a reporter for The Press he has had previous experience in zoning and building code enforcement at a previous municipality. Young, who lives in East Greenville, Montgomery County, started his job March 2 with Salisbury Township.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Jonathan Rotger, of the Fourth Ward, as an alternate zoning hearing board member.

Commissioner Alex Karol made the motion to bring the resolution to a vote, seconded by Patnaik.

Rotger succeeds Leayman, who was alternate zoning hearing board member of the Fourth Ward before her appointment as township commissioner representing the Fourth Ward.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve an ordinance to designate sections of Voortman Avenue, Salisbury Road, Ash Street and Vermont Avenue as “parking prohibited on one side.”

Karol made the motion, seconded by Patnaik, to bring the ordinance to a vote.

The purpose of the ordinance is to enable township public works crews to provide maintenance and to improve access for emergency services and for snow removal.

Parking will be enforced, as follows, states the ordinance:

• Voortman Avenue –Starting at the northeast corner of Voortman Avenue and Van Vetchen Avenue; continuing east on Voortman Avenue for 265 feet

• Salisbury Road –Starting at the northeast corner of Salisbury Road and Fretz Avenue, continuing East on Salisbury Road for 600 feet

• Ash Street – Starting at the northwest corner of Ash Street and Broadway, continuing southeast on Ash Street for 600 feet

• Vermont Avenue – Starting at the northwest corner of Vermont Avenue and Susquehanna Street, continuing south on Vermont Avenue for 406 feet

A certified copy of the ordinance will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Courts of Lehigh County.

Township commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a declaration of disaster emergency, 8 a.m. Feb. 22 to noon Feb. 23, when a winter snowstorm caused or threatened to cause injury, damage and suffering to the persons and property of Salisbury Township.

Karol made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin, to bring the declaration to a vote.

The declaration could make the township eligible for grants and reimbursements pursuant to the snowstorm.

“We approve this after the fact,” Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President Debra J. Brinton explained before the vote.

Brinton also commended public works for the new lights in the [municipal building] parking lot.

In his report to commissioners, Salisbury Township Director, Public Works James Levernier said, “I’m looking forward to spring.” March 20 is the first day of spring.

In his report to commissioners, Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said the township audit was to begin March 2. “They’re usually here for about a week. Hopefully, we’ll get a draft by the end of March.”

In his report to commissioners, Alan R. Fornwalt, Keystone Consulting Engineers, township consulting engineers, said, “We’re getting up to speed on projects.”

An executive session was held by commissioners 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 before the meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters, Brinton announced.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Gorman and commissioners said April 23 is tentatively set aside for a dinner to honor township volunteers. The event would be held in the municipal building meeting room in lieu of a commissioners’ meeting.

The Salisbury Youth Association will hold “Community Day,” noon to 4 p.m. May 17 at Salisbury Middle School, Gorman said.

During courtesy of the floor, township residents David Giering and Steve Milinchuk spoke about parking concerns in their neighborhoods.

A workshop was not held after the meeting.

The March Salisbury Township meeting schedule in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., includes: 7 p.m. March 11, zoning hearing board, canceled; 7 p.m. March 12, board of commissioners; 7 p.m. March 25, planning commission and 7 p.m. March 26, board of commissioners.