Jim Thorpe Borough Council hired a new police department meter attendant/administrative assistant and a full-time officer Thursday night.

Following a brief executive session, council unanimously promoted Kyle Oliver from a part-time to a full-time patrolman."Kyle has put in a number of years with the department and was the number one candidate off the most recent round of civil service testing," Mayor Michael Sofranko said after Thursday's meeting.Oliver will be joining the force as it loses officer Eric Schrantz, a 13-year veteran who was tabbed by the state Senate this week to succeed Edward Lewis as Magisterial District Judge."Eric has been a true asset to the borough and we absolutely wish him the best," Sofranko said. "He told us his intentions were to pursue this seat early enough so that we could get the ball rolling and the town wouldn't be down an officer if in fact he was appointed. He's a real cop's cop."Sofranko also credited council with having the foresight to do a round of civil service testing to have a qualified candidate ready to start.Police Chief Joe Schatz will determine Oliver's start date.A starting salary was not given at the meeting.Susan Mulderig was also a unanimous choice to replace the retiring Jamie Solomon as meter attendant.Solomon had been with the borough for at least seven years, Sofranko said."We're going to miss Jamie greatly and we're excited to have Susan on board," he said. "It's a job that requires a lot of holiday and evening responsibilities."Six people applied for the position and interviewed in front of Sofranko, Schatz, Councilman Thomas Highland and borough manager Maureen Sterner.The field was then whittled down to three finalists before council settled on Mulderig.Sofranko said she would start at $12.75 per hour.