A Tamaqua councilman, the board’s former president, has earned a statewide distinction.

Micah Gursky has been named Outstanding Council Member of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.Gursky received the award Tuesday during the association’s conference in Hershey.“I have a tremendous respect for the work of the borough’s association and I am honored,” Gursky said.Gursky is a Princeton University graduate and Tamaqua native. The former football quarterback led his Tamaqua Area High School team to scholastic laurels and then returned to his hometown after college to help lead the community in an ongoing, multifaceted program of rejuvenation.But Gursky said many can be credited with Tamaqua’s successes.“I am fortunate to have served for years with great council members, borough workers, police, mayors, commission and board members and community partners. Local government is truly a team sport and I work hard to do my best and be a leader on that team.”Gursky has served on council for 15 years beginning in 1999.A nomination letter submitted to the PSAB by council President David Mace outlined Gursky’s background and contributions.He is part-time executive director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, a charitable community development corporation, through which he partners with local, state and national entities to develop and redevelop Tamaqua assets.His full-time job is in the capacity of rural health clinic administrator and director of business development for the 44-bed St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale.He has partnered with state and federal government to secure funding for renovations to the hospital’s intensive care unit, reconstruction of a floor of patient rooms and expansion of professional medical services in Tamaqua.He serves on the boards of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council, Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center and Tamaqua Salvation Army Advisory Committee.He’s helped to coordinate Tamaqua’s $2.7 million Victorian streetscape program, develop Depot Square Park, install the Carriage Street Stairs, coordinate Main Street and Elm Street programs, and assist in bringing the $10 million Lehigh Carbon Community College campus to Tamaqua and other projects.Gursky has been involved in community projects that emphasize health, safety quality of life and culture, such as the Tamaqua Safety Initiative’s National Night Out and Dear Tamaqua projects, state and federal National Historic District, Blueprint Communities, Spirit of Christmas and the “Live your Life” Healthy Communities Initiative.In 2015, Gursky attended a White House reception for the first lady’s Let’s Move campaign.Sen. Dave Argall said the award is well-deserved.“Having known Micah for many years, I have witnessed firsthand his hard work and extraordinary dedication to revitalizing Tamaqua and its surrounding communities. We have all seen major improvements in the borough because of his hard work. Working with employers to create more jobs, improving our neighborhoods, fighting blight, and saving the Owl Creek Reservoir are just a few of his successful initiatives.“Micah’s special gift is that he is very good at working with other local, county, state and business leaders to build a stronger community. Tamaqua is proud to recognize his gifts and today, the entire state borough’s association provided him with their top award.” Argall said.For Gursky, married to the former Penny Coleman, the honor evoked thoughts of his late parents, Ed and Donna Legutko Gursky.“I remember when I was a kid my dad ran for council and wasn’t elected. I hope he’s proud looking down today. I imagine my mom is looking down, too, saying ‘Good job, but couldn’t you get rid of those damn parking meters on West Broad?’ ”