Nesquehoning Borough Council is mourning the loss of one of its councilmen.

On Wednesday, borough council announced the passing of Robert "Bob" Marouchoc, a Democrat, who was beginning his fourth year on the board. Marouchoc died Tueday.Council now has 30 days to choose a person to fill the seat. Officials hope to act on an appointment during the next council meeting on March 25.Letters of interest are now being accepted at the borough hall.According to an article previously printed in the Times News, Marouchoc grew up in Nesquehoning, attended the former Nesquehoning High School and East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, and spent over five years in the U.S. Army in Military Intelligence.Followed his military service, he spent over 35 years in federal service, retiring in 1998 as the deputy director for Intelligence for the U.S. Army in the Pacific.During that time, he attended numerous management training institutions, including courses at the

F.B.I. Academy in Virginia, OPM's Western Management Center in Denver, Colorado, and the U.S. Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.Following retirement, Marouchoc was involved in several civic committees; including the Carbon County Citizens Emergency Response Team and the Carbon County Citizens Corp Council.He was also a member of the

V.F.W. and American Legion posts, both of Nesquehoning, and a 50-year member of the Elks; and served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Sisters of Honolulu, Hawaii, and was chairperson for game-day promotions for the Hula, Aloha and Hawaii bowls.In other matters, council discussed or acted on the following items:• Mayor Sam Kitchko reported that for the month of January, the borough police collected $2,572, issued 47 citations, responded to 441 incidents and drove 3,665 miles while on patrol.• Kitchko also announced that the next Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on April 7 at the borough hall. There will be no March meeting.• Council voted to adopt a resolution officially joining the Carbon County Council of Governments. Kitchko will be the representative with Councilwoman Mary Fox being the alternate.• Council voted to approve John Cooper's request to remain on the borough Recreation Commission. This now leaves two vacancies on the board. Letters of interest are being accepted.• Councilman Frank Jacobs said that the committee that was formed to negotiate police contracts in 2013, have not met with Chief Sean Smith since April 2014 to discuss his contract terms and thinks a meeting needs to be opened so it can be resolved.He asked Council President David Hawk, who Smith had previously asked to meet with regarding his contract, to set up a meeting for the committee and Smith.