A former councilor with over a dozen years experience has been chosen to round out Palmerton Borough Council.

After a brief executive session, council on a 5-0 vote Thursday appointed Randy Gursky to fill its open seat. Council President Terry Costenbader was absent.

Gursky was sworn in by Mayor Don Herrmann, and takes over the seat that had previously been occupied by former Councilman Cory Kepner, until he resigned last month.

Councilman Kris Hoffner explained how council arrived at its decision.

“We interviewed three people, and we feel that (Gursky) is the best,” said Hoffner, who touted Gursky’s prior tenures as a borough councilman.

After the meeting, Gursky said he looks forward to once again work with his peers.

“Hopefully we keep moving in the right direction,” Gursky said.

Chris Lucykanish and James Miller were the other two people who applied.

Gursky most recently served on council from September 2020 until Dec. 31, 2021. Before that, he served on council from 2004-2011, and also 2016-2018.

After last month’s meeting, Canfield said Kepner resigned due to “personal reasons.”

Kepner had served on council since January 2022, when he was sworn in for a four-year term.