A joint effort between a number of municipalities in Carbon County is moving forward, officials report.

On Thursday, the county commissioners voted to adopt a resolution regarding the membership in the Carbon County Council of Governments, which named Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard as the county representative and Commissioner William O'Gurek as the alternate representative.Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, who has been involved in the planning of the COG since it began its planning phase in 2013, said that he will still be involved in the group, but decided to let his colleagues represent the county in the COG.The purpose of a COG is to serve as a common goal entity, consisting of municipalities, to better serve the people. COGs can share services, equipment and manpower to save taxpayer money and work as a larger entity to try to obtain grants.To date, Nothstein said 17 municipalities have joined the COG.In other matters, the commissioners approved the following personnel items:• Accept the resignation of Jane S. Hower of Palmerton, chief real estate clerk, sheriff's office, effective Feb. 17.• Accept the resignation of Jesus A. Morales of Jim Thorpe, corrections officer, prison, effective Feb. 8.• Approve the change of status for Mary Ann C. Marzen of Jim Thorpe from aging care manager II, to aging care manager supervisor II, Area Agency on Aging, effective Feb. 29.• Approve the change of status for Christian J. Archer of Lehighton and Christopher J. Wickkiser of Nesquehoning, from part-time corrections officers, to part-time corrections officers/Teamsters, prison, effective Feb. 29.• Approve the change of status for William S. Spencer of Kunkletown and Rachel N. Witiszin of Barnesville, from part-time corrections officers/Teamsters to corrections officers, prison, effective Feb. 29.• Approve the clerk of court appointment for Irene K. Thomas of Jim Thorpe, first deputy, effective Feb. 22.