Lehighton has hired a trio of maintenance operators for its public works department.

Borough council, at a special meeting on Thursday, agreed to hire Ryan Heckman, Anthony Krum and John Rupell as maintenance operators.Council's action came after it went into an executive session.Heckman was hired on a 5-1 vote, with Councilwoman Helen Torok opposed; Krum was hired on a 6-0 vote; and Rupell was hired on a 4-1 vote, with Torok opposed and an abstention from Councilman Joe Flickinger. Council President Grant Hunsicker was absent.All hires were conditional upon passing the pre-employment processes, borough manager Nicole Beckett said.Beckett said the maintenance operator positions are members of the AFSCME Union.The starting hourly rate is $17.62 an hour.