Palmerton Mayor Chris Olivia resigned from his position in the wake of a family member’s death.

Olivia’s resignation was unanimously accepted by borough council on Thursday.

Olivia, who was not present at that meeting, grew up in the borough. He became mayor in 2012, and around four years later, in 2016, received the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Mayor of the Year award.

Before stepping into his more recent role, Olivia spent over a decade on borough council. “(A)ll I’m going to do now is try to help Palmerton in a different way,” Olivia said at his swearing in as mayor eight years ago.

While the borough searches to find Olivia’s replacement, Terry Costenbader, council president, will temporarily take up the mantle. The body will be accepting letters of interests from potential candidates until Aug. 21.

Council could approve the new mayor as early as its next meeting on Aug. 27.