Lehighton won’t have a full slate of councilors until next month.

After over a 30-minute executive session, borough council at a special meeting on Monday tabled the appointment of a new council member until its meeting on Dec. 2.

Councilwoman Becky Worthy, who had made a motion to appoint Jordyn Miller to fill the vacant seat on council, cast the sole vote in opposition of tabling the appointment.

Three candidates applied to fill the vacant seat: Kyle Elsasser, Joe Flickinger, and Miller.

Before council went into executive session, Elsasser and Miller explained why they were interested in the post.

Elsasser who was born and raised in the community, said “I’m passionate about this town.” Elsasser added that he believes his background would help council in any problem-solving matters.

Miller, also born and raised in the community, said she previously served as a junior council member on council when she was in high school.

She said she believes in clear and responsive communication.

“I also believe in leading by example,” Miller said.

Flickinger, who was not in attendance, had previously served nine years on council before he resigned in December 2022.

In his resignation letter, Flickinger cited a change in his employment obligations as the reason he chose to leave council.

Earlier in the meeting, council accepted the resignation letter of former Councilman Ryan Saunders.

Saunders was officially sworn into office as the borough’s new mayor as part of a ceremony at the borough municipal building on Nov. 8.

At that time, borough solicitor Jim Nanovic swore in Saunders, who was joined by his wife, Tracie, and daughter, Nicole.

Upon taking his oath of office, Saunders pledged to fulfill the duties of his new position.

Earlier this month, borough council on a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, appointed Saunders to the vacant mayoral post.

Council member Grant Hunsicker was opposed, while Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky abstained because the mayor is in charge of the police department, and she is married to police Chief Troy Abelovsky. Councilman John Kreitz was absent from that meeting.

After that meeting, Hunsicker, who had been handling mayoral duties in the wake of the death of former Mayor Clark Ritter, 78, said he believes that council should have advertised to give others a chance to apply for the position.

Saunders will fill Ritter’s term, which runs through 2025.

The appointment of Saunders, who was a sitting councilman, has created an open seat on borough council, as well as on the Civil Service Commission.

Letters of interest for both positions are being accepted by the office of the borough secretary or by email to secretary@lehightonborough.org. Saunders has served on council for the past seven years.