Following a 75-minute executive session, Lehighton borough council on a 6-0 vote Monday agreed to hire candidate No. 1 as a full-time patrol officer, pending acceptance of conditional offer and completion of background check.

After the meeting, borough police Chief Troy Abelovsky said that the name of the person and the salary for the position, was being withheld until the position is accepted.

Abelovsky said that this hire brings the borough to 12 full-time officers, including himself, and that he would like to get that number up to 14.

Councilman John Kreitz was absent from the meeting.

In February, borough council agreed to waive the $45 application fee for entry level testing for police officer positions for 2025.

Contractual salary ranges from $62,592 to $86,795 (based upon prior experience) through 2026.

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

That decision was made to attract more candidates to fill a pair of full-time positions within its police department.

Abelovsky said at that time the police department still had two full-time positions to fill, and noted there were plans to open up the testing process within the coming weeks.

However, Abelovsky said at Monday’s council meeting that the grant funding is no longer an option.

In September, the police department was down three full-time officers and no applications has been received.

Abelovsky said under the Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program, 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.

The borough would have to pay for their salary and their medical benefits while they are 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.

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

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.

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