Weatherly Borough Manager Harold Pudliner walked into a full council chamber on Thursday morning not knowing what was happening.

Council members, borough employees and media were present, and a blue and white sheet cake sat on a side table.

“Am I retiring?” he asked.

No, he wasn’t, but Pudliner was being honored.

The American Municipal Power Inc. selected him as this year’s recipient of the prestigious AMP Seven Hats Award, which is normally presented at nonprofit corporation’s annual conference in Ohio.

His staff along with AMP officials arranged to surprise him with the award via video conference Thursday.

The award recognizes utility managers who serve smaller communities of less than 2,500 meters, and whose management duties extend well beyond the scope of a manager in a larger system.

Pudliner, who has been with the Borough of Weatherly 26 years, and held an affiliation with AMP for 20 years, said he was humbled to receive the award as nonprofit serve public power communities in nine states.

“You don’t do it because it’s your job,” Pudliner said. “You do it for the residents.”

Pudliner in his role as manager has secured some $8 million in grants for the community, some of which funded the new borough building, which houses the borough offices, police station and district judge’s offices.

He is also working on a multiuse trail project connecting Weatherly to the Lehigh Gorge, and turning brownfields into commercial properties.