Words of kindness continue to be expressed in memory of a former Palmerton borough manager who passed away last month.

This time around, the Palmerton Borough Council chambers was the forum as officials on Thursday were told of the many good deeds of John Kasten.Ed Ziegler, a resident of Washington Township, extolled praise on Kasten, who resided in the borough until his passing.Ziegler said he was close friends with Kasten, and that his absence is a huge loss for those who had the pleasure to know and work with him.Earlier this month, council held a moment of silence for Kasten, who served as borough manager, secretary and treasurer of the Borough of Palmerton from 1981 to 1989.In 1997, Kasten was named the business development manager for Grand Central Sanitation, after serving as director of sales and resource development manager.From there, he worked as borough manager, secretary and treasurer of the Borough of Slatington from 2000 to 2008.Most recently, he served as the borough manager in Bangor, from 2008 until his passing.In an unrelated matter, Ziegler also praised the work of the police department for locating an Easton Area School District teacher who resides in Palmerton who had been reported missing.Ziegler specifically named borough police Chief Randy Smith, in particular, who he said deserved to be complimented.Also on Thursday, Councilman Jeremy Barbosa referenced a recent incident in which a borough police officer was involved in an altercation with a suspect.During the incident, Barbosa said the portable radios were not responding, which prompted him to suggest it might be wise to take steps to improve them.The portables are spotty, said Barbosa, who added that officers have had issues with poor reception for years.In other business, council, on a 6-0 vote, with Councilman Richard Nothstein absent:• Adopted an amendment to an ordinance entitled firefighters' relief association.• Appointed Steve Elton to a one-year term, Matthew Baumgardt, a two-year term, and Warren Riggins, a five-year term, on the BOCA Board of Appeals.