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Salem Township elects Kerry Jobe chair, hires MBM Law as township solicitor
Summary
At its Jan. 5 organizational meeting, the Salem Township Board of Supervisors unanimously elected Kerry Jobe chair, confirmed a slate of officer and committee appointments and voted to retain MBM Law as township solicitor, a change supervisors said will provide more on‑the‑ground attorney support.
Salem Township supervisors unanimously elected Kerry Jobe as chairman during the board’s annual organizational meeting on Jan. 5 and approved a package of leadership and personnel appointments, including a vote to retain MBM Law as the township solicitor.
The move names Jobe chair and reaffirms Bob Zundel as vice chairman and Kelly Otto as secretary‑treasurer. "This is not a referendum on Solicitor Falatovich," Supervisor Kerry Jobe said in explaining the change; he praised Solicitor Falatovich’s 24 years of service while arguing the township needed a firm that could provide more immediate, on‑site coverage. The board voted 3‑0 on the solicitor retention, approving MBM Law at a retainer rate of $0 per month and $175 per hour for work outside monthly meetings.
Why it matters: Supervisors said the change responds to the need for more readily available legal counsel. Jobe told residents MBM Law will assign at least two attorneys to support the township — a seasoned attorney, Falco Muscante, and a younger colleague, Ryan Thomas — so that questions from supervisors, staff, and residents can be answered without delay.
Board actions and personnel changes also included appointments to roadmaster roles. The board approved motions appointing Bob Zundel and Todd Paulich as full‑time roadmasters and Kerry Jobe as a part‑time roadmaster; each motion passed unanimously. The board also named Doug Regola as township engineer and primary sewage enforcement officer and arranged for Dave Jobe to remain on as an alternate to complete outstanding 2025 septic permits.
Resident Debbie Perino asked whether hiring a firm would mean rotating attorneys and uncertainty about who would handle township work. "If it is a firm, it could be a group of 10 or 12 employees. You may not know who the solicitor is and who isn't," she said. Supervisor Todd Paulich responded that MBM Law plans to provide two consistent attorneys for township matters.
The meeting record shows unanimous votes for the appointments and retained counsel; no board member opposed any motion. The board concluded the appointments portion of the agenda before moving on to administrative resolutions.
What’s next: The board set its regular meeting schedule for 2026 and directed the secretary to advertise any changes should attorney availability require schedule adjustments.
