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Salem Township reorganizes board, names Kerry Jobe chair and retains MBM Law as solicitor
Summary
At its Jan. 5, 2026 organizational meeting, the Salem Township Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Kerry Jobe chair, confirmed officer and administrative appointments, retained MBM Law as township solicitor at $175/hour for out‑of‑meeting work, set the 2026 meeting calendar and approved resolutions on depositories, fees and inspections.
Salem Township supervisors met Jan. 5, 2026, at the municipal building for the board’s annual organizational meeting and unanimously appointed Kerry Jobe as chairman, with Bob Zundel as vice‑chair and Kelly Otto as secretary‑treasurer.
The meeting’s most contested administrative decision concerned legal representation. The board voted to retain MBM Law as township solicitor with no monthly retainer and a $175 hourly rate for work outside regular meetings. Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the switch reflects a desire for attorneys who can “answer our questions quickly and to work for us exclusively” and described the new firm as providing both seasoned and younger attorneys; supervisors named Falco Muscante and Ryan Thomas as MBM attorneys who will assist the township. Resident Debbie Perino asked whether the township would be assigned a single attorney or a rotating group from the firm; Jobe responded there would be two attorneys assigned to the township during the transition.
Board members also confirmed several administrative and operational appointments. Doug Regola was named township engineer and primary sewage enforcement officer (SEO), with Richard Bourg and Dave Jobe retained in secondary/alternate SEO roles to complete outstanding 2025 septic permits. The board appointed Becky Maruca as tax collector (compensation: 4% of taxes collected; for township real property taxes, 4% of the first $300,000 and 2% on amounts above $300,000) and Jesse Maruca as deputy tax collector. Fred Cecchini was appointed to the vacancy board, named emergency management coordinator and hired as the township’s code enforcement officer at $25 per hour. The supervisors also voted to hire Sam White to conduct the 2025 fiscal audit for $7,995.
The board passed several resolutions and administrative motions: Resolution 02‑2026 formally appoints Kelly Otto as secretary‑treasurer; Resolution 03‑2026 designates First Commonwealth Bank, PNC Bank, S&T Bank, Commercial National Bank and Citizens Bank as township depositories; Resolution 04‑2026 retains a third‑party inspection agency for permit reviews and inspections; and Resolution 05‑2026 updates fees related to on‑lot sewage disposal systems. Supervisors set the 2026 regular meeting schedule, designated the Delmont Salem News as the primary legal advertising source and the Tribune‑Review as secondary, and approved a 2026 standard business mileage rate of 72.5¢ per mile.
Residents addressed the board during public comment about Planning Commission workload and compensation. Former Planning Commission chair Jack Dunaway praised outgoing solicitor Falatovich’s long service, while Planning Commission chair Connie Mattei said recent procedural changes should reduce review time and that most commission members view their roles as volunteer public service. Resident Tom Ridella said he supports term limits, calling the solicitor change and other appointments “a step in the right direction.”
All motions and resolutions in the meeting passed unanimously. The board adjourned at 8:05 p.m.; the first regular meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem Township Municipal Building.
