A new permitting system was launched March 16 in Salisbury Township.

Salisbury Township Director of Community Development Kerry Rabold announced the online system for building permits.

“Everything can be done online,” Rabold said at the March 12 Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

The platform supports the township’s ongoing efforts to make services more efficient, transparent and responsive for community members and contractors, stated a March 13 township press release.

The new system provides a single place to apply for building permits, submit plans, schedule inspections and track application status online, according to the press release.

By bringing these steps together in one platform, Salisbury Township aims to reduce delays, improve visibility into the review process and make it easier for applicants to understand next steps, the press release stated.

Before launching the new system, Salisbury Township “relied on a combination of manual processes and disconnected tools, which could make it difficult for users to submit materials, track progress or receive timely updates,” according to the press release.

Users can submit materials, track applications and access information related to building permits in one place, Rabold said.

The platform is powered by GovWell, which “helps teams cut down on paperwork, stay organized and serve their communities more effectively,” according to the GovWell website.

The township press release notes that community development officials “will continue to support users as they get started.” Additional resources and frequently asked questions are available through GovWell’s Help Center.

As of March 16, the new platform was available to residents, contractors and business owners at: https://app.govwell.com/salisbury-township.

“While the system is changing, the township’s policies, review standards and service expectations remain the same. Township staff will continue to review submissions and provide support as they do today,” according to the website.

For more information, visit http://salisburylehighpa.gov.

In her report to commissioners, Rabold also talked about the township’s comprehensive plan, which is being updated.

“Our rough draft of the comprehensive plan should be ready March 27 and then we’re going to put it out to the public,” Rabold said.

In other business at the March 12 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve:

- A resolution to appoint Salisbury Township Zoning Officer James Young as an additional alternate township building code official for the township, effective March 12 to Jan. 1, 2028. He is to provide the township with reports, information or estimates of building plan review and inspection work. Commissioner Heather Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Allison Leayman, to bring the resolution to a vote.

- A motion to approve a traffic signal easement for Vistas at South Mountain Holdings, LLC for East Emmaus Avenue. Commissioner Alex Karol made the motion, seconded by Lipkin, to bring the motion to a vote. “That’s for the PennDOT [Pennsylvania Department of Transportation] work that needs to be submitted. It’s not a traffic signal. It’s a crosswalk,” Rabold said before the vote.

- A motion to appoint Paul Carr to the Salisbury Township Vacancy Board. Commissioner Alok Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Lipkin, to bring the motion to a vote.

- A motion to direct Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Gorman to send a comment letter to the Lehigh County Authority in reference to the Act 537 Plan Submission. Lipkin made the motion, seconded by Karol, to bring the motion to a vote. “This has been going on long-term. It’s the Kline’s Island Treatment Plant. I would recommend that you have no comment because there’s nothing there that pertains to your system,” Alan R. Fornwalt, Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., township consulting engineers, said before the vote.

- A motion to request the Civil Service Commission provide a certified list of eligible candidates for the promotion to corporal, detective rank. Karol made the motion, seconded by Patnaik, to bring the motion to a vote. “We have a couple more officers who are doing a good job and we’d like to have 24/7 supervision,” Salisbury Township Lt. Christopher Casey, filling in for Salisbury Township Chief of Police Donald Sabo, said before the vote.

During the officials’ discussion portion of the meeting:

- Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie said, “We’re getting ready for the playground season.”

- Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said, “The auditors were in this week. They have a little more work to do. They’re going to submit a draft by the end of the month. And we hope to see them in May.

“We’re meeting with department heads to see if we need to cut back because of the snow,” Ziegenfus said.

During the workshop, township officials and audience members discussed timbering options in the township and ideas for Ameroca250 events.

The March Salisbury Township meetings schedule in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. is: 7 p.m. March 25, planning commission, canceled and 7 p.m. March 26, board of commissioners.