Slatington has a new borough manager.

Former council member Daniel Stevens has accepted the position, after the borough council unanimously approved him Monday night.

Stevens has been a resident of Slatington for 32 years and owns an antique business on Main Street. He has served the community as a council member and was its president three times. His most recent term ended in December.

“I’m honored that they have the confidence in me to appoint me as manager,” Stevens said. “I know the town’s strengths and weaknesses, and I just want to further the borough.”

Stevens said he thinks the borough has many recreation resources, which he considers to be a strength in growing the community. These resources include the trailhead, trails, the Lehigh River, Appalachian Trail and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Council President Bryon Reed said, “Dan has experience with us, and I think he’s ideal.”

Stevens will be employed full-time, with an annual salary of $57,200 plus benefits.

The position has seen a turbulent past, which has left the borough without a manager since January 2018. That is when the council decided not to renew the contract for Judith Danko, after one year in the position.

Danko had been the borough manager in Freemansburg before coming to Slatington in January 2017. While in Freemansburg, she was making $90,000 per year, which was equaled in Slatington, plus a $40,000 benefits package. Her salary was the largest expenditure in the budget and a source of contention among the council members.

Steve Salvesen held the position before Danko from Nov. 24, 2009 until September 2010, when he left to retire. Salvesen was 70 at the time. He received a salary of $60,000.

Before Salvesen, Herb Pfeiffer was the borough manager for eight months from September 2008 to May 2009, but was let go from the job. He later sued the borough for the dismissal, but the case was dismissed in federal court in October 2010.

The longest-serving borough manager this century was John Kasten, who held the position from 2000 to March 2008. He resigned and went on to become the borough manager in Bangor, until his death in December 2013.

Council member David Schnaars said he hopes hiring Stevens will bring stability to the position, and he thinks Stevens is a good choice in part because he has significant experience and history with the borough.

“I think Dan will be very good for the borough,” he said.