Palmerton has hired from within to replace its current police chief who is scheduled to retire early next year.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Thursday agreed to hire patrolman Timothy Kromer as police chief, effective Jan. 1.

Kromer will eventually succeed current police Chief Randy Smith, who has set a retirement date of Jan. 31.

Council did not set Kromer’s salary, as it expects to do so at a meeting in December. Smith’s salary is $77,230.

Councilman Kris Hoffner explained the lengthy process that council went through before it arrived at its decision.

Hoffner noted that in anticipation of Smith’s eventual retirement, they had worked on this for close to a year and a half.

He said they met with police officers several times to get their input, and most recently asked officers what qualities they were looking for in a new chief.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry added that the personnel committee - due to the significance of the position - decided to include all of council, who interviewed the final two candidates.

“It really was a very thorough process,” McGarry said this morning. “A lot of consideration went into it.”

McGarry said there were a total of six candidates for the position.

Kromer, who was not in attendance, was hired as a part-time officer in May 2002, and has been a full-time officer since December 2002. His current salary is $67,537.

Smith has been police chief since October 2008. He started as a full-time officer in the borough in March 1984.

Other police matters

Also on Thursday, council authorized the Civil Service Commission to create an eligibility list for the position of a full-time patrolman.

Currently, the department has nine full-time officers, including Smith, and one part-time officer.

In May, council authorized McGarry to advertise for a new police chief, but not through the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for the hiring process.

Before that vote, council rescinded the motion made in April to authorize McGarry to initiate proceedings to find a replacement police chief utilizing the services of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

There would have been a $5,000 cost had council opted to go through the PA Chiefs of Police Association.