Lehighton will apply for a grant in the hopes to attract more candidates to fill a pair of full-time positions within its police department.

Borough council on a 6-1 vote on Monday agreed to have police Chief Troy Abelovsky apply for a grant to assist with the hiring process for a new officer for the police department, or for sign-on bonuses or fees associated with advertising. Councilwoman Becky Worthy was opposed.

After the meeting, Abelovsky said that the police department still has two full-time positions to fill, and noted there are plans to open up the testing process within the coming weeks.

In September, Abelovsky told borough council that the police department is down three full-time officers.

He said at that time that per the Civil Service Commission eligibility list, there were no applications received.

Abelovsky then alluded to the Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program established under Act 54 of 2022.

As part of it, eligible law enforcement agencies that do not cover the cost of Act 120 training can request up to $7,000 per new officer to support costs associated with the training, but the borough would have to pay for their salary and their medical benefits while they would be in the academy and training for six months before them coming on for duty.

Abelovsky said that through their civil service rules, the department only hires people that currently have the Act 120 certification.

Or, it can apply for a $5,000 grant and that can go toward advertising costs for the position or sign on bonuses for the new hires.

Abelovsky reiterated to council on Monday that the hope is that the grant program will help generate a larger pool of candidates to apply.

He then asked council for direction to apply for the grant.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said she liked the $5,000 signing bonus option.

However, then-Councilman Ryan Saunders, who is now borough mayor, said he preferred the $7,000 option because it would result in candidates they wouldn’t normally get.

Councilman John Kreitz said the only thing is how the borough is going to pay for it, and then questioned the reason why there are no candidates.

But, the chief pointed out the police department isn’t the only one facing a lack of candidates to fill officer positions.

It was then stated it would take six months to put an officer through the academy.

Council then instructed the chief to apply for the $5,000 grant.

Abelovsky said the borough has 11 full-time officers, including himself, and that it would like to get that number up to 14.

At borough council’s meeting in August, Terry Buss was sworn in as the 11th full-time police officer. The department currently has no part-time officers.

Also as part of that motion, council agreed to have the Civil Service Commission look to restart the testing process again to create a new full-time list.

Abelovsky said in July the salary for an officer in their first year is $80,300, depending on the experience of the candidate.