A New Jersey administrator has accepted the position of borough manager in Slatington.

Borough council at a special meeting on Monday hired Roy Hambrecht as interim manager from Nov. 15 until Jan. 1, 2025, when he will become an employee at $95,000 a year with full benefits.

Councilman Zachari Halkias was absent.

Hambrecht said he plans to relocate to the area with his wife of 34 years. He has a son and daughter.

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Borough of Slatington,” Hambrecht said.

Hambrecht is currently chief administrative officer for the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety.

After the meeting, council President Dave Schnaars said Hambrecht will start his new position on Nov. 15.

Schnaars explained how council arrived at its decision.

“We had a small subcommittee that went through resumes, they decided who to interview,” Schaars said. “Roy interviewed extremely well. He’s extremely well-qualified for the job.

“The subcommittee recommend him to the remainder of council, they interviewed him, they liked him. An offer was extended, and he accepted.”

Schnaars described the terms of the agreement council reached with Hambrecht.

“His agreement when we reach one with him in January, that is good until the new council takes over,” he said. “The following January it would need to be renewed.”

Schnaars said council is pleased with the outcome.

“I’m feeling very lucky that we got this guy,” he said. “It’s one of those things where all of the stars were in alignment at the right time.”

Contacted Tuesday morning, Hambrecht said he’s “very grateful for the offer of the position.

“I’m not too familiar with the Slatington area, but the amount of times that I have driven through there, a couple things stood out to me,” Hambrecht said. “I would like to bring some industry to the town; I see a lot of vacant storefronts, I’d like to bring some industry, bring some activity, increase the tax base, things like that to help the residents of Slatington.”

Hambrecht, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, said he eventually plans to move closer to the area.

“I do intend to relocate when the time is right,” he said.

Hambrecht replaces former borough Manager Dan Stevens, who retired in early September. He had been borough manager since February 2020.

Previously, Stevens had served on borough council from 2009 to 2014, and from 2018 to 2020. He served three terms as council president.

Borough secretary

Also on Monday, council hired Karen Leach as the new full-time borough secretary/treasurer at the rate of $19 an hour.

Council also agreed to increase the rate of pay for part-time borough secretary Linda Christman to $19 an hour.