Salisbury Commissioners Appoint Zoning Hearing Board Alternates

To improve chances of having a quorum at Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board meetings, township commissioners recently appointed two alternates to the board.

Jason Wright and Joe Kovach, both Salisbury Township residents, will be on call in case any of the regular zoning hearing board members are unavailable to attend monthly meetings.

Wright, distribution supervisor for Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms in Allentown, said he applied for the position because his company emphasizes community service.

Kovach is a field service technician for OPEX Corp., Moorestown, N.J. He volunteered for the new township position because he has an interest in zoning and said he wants to give something back to the community. “I think Salisbury is a nice place to live,” he said.

Cindy Sopka, zoning hearing board supervisor, said the chairman of the board would designate one of the alternates to sit in on cases as a valid board member if a quorum is needed.

“The zoning hearing board is a unique, quasi-judicial body,” said Township Manager Randy Soriano. “They have to abide by certain rules and be seen as fair. It is an important function.

We will do as much as possible to train all the volunteers who serve on this board.”