The Palmerton Borough Council, on a 5-2 vote, appointed Jeremy Barbosa to a vacancy on the town’s planning commission.

Councilmen Randolph Gursky, Chris Olivia, Brad Doll, Jason Behler and Terry Costenbader voted to make the appointment while members Richard Nothstein and Sherri Malik voted no.

Nothstein questioned the qualifications of Barbosa. The councilman said he favored the appointment of his son-in-law, Christopher Anthony, to the position.

The council members also appointed Bernie Shea to the municipal authority and named Randy Smith to be officer-in-charge of the police department while Police Chief Tim Nothstein is on sick leave.