A local bank official was selected to fill a vacancy on Summit Hill Borough Council.

Eugene “Gino” DeGiosio, the senior commercial lender and vice president of commercial lending for Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, got the unanimous nod of council to fill a two-year term.

He was one of two people to apply for the position. The other was Mille Ashmore, an employee of the Panther Valley School District who handles the district’s purchasing and grant reporting.

The seat opened when councilman William O’Gurek was elected to both a four-year term and a two-year term in the November general election. He opted to keep the four-year term and resigned from the two-year seat.

In his letter of interest to the borough, he wrote, “In the past, I wrestled with the notion of committing time to public service but the demands of my career conflicted with the ability to make that thought a reality. My situation has changed and I am now in a position that provides more flexibility in my schedule. As such, I can devote the time required to serve the public in a manner the residences of our community expect and deserve.”

DeGiosio said he has a “strong understanding of financing and cash management needs and solutions.” He said in the past, he managed a team of business bankers covering 65 branches.

Among his current and past professional involvements are: treasurer of the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, treasurer of the Carbon County Industrial Authority, a committee member for the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance Revolving Loan Fund, and the PNC Bank liaison to the Lehigh Valley Manufacturing Resource Center.

He said, “In short what I will provide to the residents of our community is integrity and an objective opinion thoughtfully conveyed as a council member who has no other agenda than to serve the community that a large part of my family and friends have resided in for most, if not all of their lives.”

He was sworn-in as a council member by Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina.