Could Lehighton join in with Palmerton and Jim Thorpe police departments on a countywide consortium that would oversee testing for open police positions?

Tim Kromer, Palmerton Borough police chief, and Joe Schatz, Jim Thorpe Borough police chief, met with borough officials on Monday to discuss the proposal.

Kromer told Lehighton Borough Council that the Carbon County Police Chief Association would administer written and physical testing.

That, he said, would allow municipalities that participate to conduct their own oral interviews.

Kromer said that the concept has been successful elsewhere.

“There would be a big cost and time savings to each municipality,” Kromer said.

Schatz said that in January, they reorganized the whole format of the chief’s association.

Kromer emphasized that each department would have its own civil services.

Schatz said they need to establish a list in Jim Thorpe, and are also reaching out to townships.

He said that Palmerton, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Weatherly have shown the biggest interest.

Kromer said they are still in the information gathering stage.

“We’re still in the information gathering,” Kromer said. “We are hoping with an increased number of applicants, that we can look to hire part-timers, because (finding part-timers) is almost impossible.”

Lehighton Borough Council was receptive to the concept.

Councilman Ryan Saunders previously said he could see where such a consortium could have benefits.