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Salem Township approves $200,349.60 in monthly expenditures, hires road crew member and accepts $340,000 waterline grant
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting Salem Township supervisors approved $200,349.60 in expenditures, hired a full‑time road crew employee, authorized traffic‑signal repairs and accepted a $340,000 grant for waterline extension; all motions passed unanimously.
Salem Township supervisors voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to approve the township's routine monthly expenditures totaling $200,349.60, hire a full‑time road crew employee and accept a Commonwealth grant for a local waterline extension.
The board approved the expenditure motion — covering the General Fund ($124,177.62), Payroll ($50,892.53), Liquid Fuels ($21,681.74), Machinery ($2,273.17), Street Lights ($499.54) and Sewage ($825) — after a motion by Todd Paulich and a second by Bob Zundel.
Kerry Jobe, one of three supervisors present, said the board also moved to hire Blaise Defrances as a full‑time road crew employee to bolster the township's maintenance capacity.
In a separate vote the board approved Resolution 9‑2026 to enter a grant agreement with the Commonwealth Financing Authority for $340,000 under the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program to fund the Tower Lane and Apple Lane waterline extension project. Kerry Jobe explained the grant allows the township to sign necessary agreements to proceed with the project.
The board also authorized a $6,000 proposal from Gibson‑Thomas Engineering to prepare specifications and bid documents for permanent repairs to a mast arm assembly at the 119/22 intersection, and authorized advertisement of bid specifications for the permanent repair. Supervisors said repairs to stabilize a damaged pole will begin immediately.
The supervisors ratified an advertisement to amend the township's Restricted Roadways Ordinance to add Quarry, Thorn Run, McQuaide and Orr to the weight‑restricted list after engineering studies; the board said the change aims to reduce heavy‑truck damage to local roads.
Votes at a glance
- Motion 1D: Approve monthly expenditures totaling $200,349.60 — Mover: Todd Paulich; Second: Bob Zundel; Vote: Kerry Jobe (yes), Bob Zundel (yes), Todd Paulich (yes). Outcome: approved. - Motion 1F: Hire Blaise Defrances, full‑time road crew — Mover: Todd Paulich; Second: Bob Zundel; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Motion 1I / Resolution 9‑2026: Enter grant agreement with Commonwealth Financing Authority for $340,000 (Tower Lane and Apple Lane waterline extension) — Mover: Bob Zundel; Second: Todd Paulich; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Motion 1K: Approve Gibson‑Thomas traffic engineering proposal, $6,000 — Mover: Todd Paulich; Second: Bob Zundel; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Motion 10: Ratify advertisement to add weight‑restricted roads (Quarry, Thorn Run, McQuaide, Orr) — Mover: Todd Paulich; Second: Bob Zundel; Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.
Why it matters
The expenditure motion covers routine operational costs and payroll; the hiring decision and vehicle and equipment procurement indicate the township is prioritizing public‑works capacity. The $340,000 state grant enables a waterline extension project that could affect local residents' water service and future development. The traffic‑signal engineering and weight restrictions respond to recent accidents and community complaints about road damage.
What’s next
Supervisors said bid documents for the 119/22 intersection repairs will be prepared and advertised. The waterline grant agreement may require additional administrative steps before construction. A special meeting is scheduled Feb. 24 for additional business, and the next regular meeting is March 18, 2026.
