He comes from a family who has always been participatory in civic affairs, and now Michael Rivkin will get his chance to give back to his community.

On Wednesday night, the Jim Thorpe bed-and-breakfast owner, who has been attending council meetings for around six years, traded in his seat in the audience for one at the main table.

Rivkin was appointed to fill the council seat vacated by Thomas Highland, who recently passed away due to complications from injuries sustained in a house fire last May.

“I’m very honored, flattered and actually pretty proud,” Rivkin, who co-owns the Dolan House along with Jeffri Coleman, said following the meeting. “The late councilman’s shoes are certainly big ones to fill, but I’m hoping to be able to step in and do my best for the borough.”

Having been sworn in following Wednesday’s vote, Rivkin will serve on council until the end of 2023. The last two years of Highland’s term will be decided in the 2023 municipal election.

Council received seven letters of interest for the vacancy, and four of the applicants received nominations during the meeting.

During the first round of voting, Rivkin and Eric Cinicola both received three votes, falling one short of the four needed for a majority approval. Former councilmen John McGuire and Curtis Jackson each received one vote.

Rivkin picked up the fourth and deciding vote during a second roll call, giving him the vacant seat. Bob Schaninger, Kyle Sheckler, Mike Yeastedt and Jessica Crowley voted in favor of Rivkin.

“I think it’s very encouraging that we had seven people apply,” Council President Greg Strubinger said. “Honestly, any of the seven would have been a great addition to council and we could have worked with each of them. They all have something unique that they would have brought to council. A vacancy is not something we look forward to, especially under these circumstances, but we’re very excited to have Michael on board.”

Rivkin, who is also president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, said some residents have felt a bit of a disconnect with council over the past several years, and it’s something he hopes to help address.

“I’m not a fan of bashing council or any of the agencies we have to work with,” he said. “I find my approach tends to work a little bit better for me and we’ll bring that here to this table.”

Jim Thorpe, he added, currently enjoys a healthy economy, albeit is very fragile.

“It doesn’t happen magically or without challenges,” Rivkin said. “One of the main discussions we are having right now is managing the effect of our heavy tourism, and you have to do that with respect to the locals and neighbors, with the long-term goal of preserving the great name Jim Thorpe has out there as a cool place to live, work and visit.”