A Palmerton borough councilman has been appointed as the borough’s new mayor.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Thursday appointed Councilman William Gallagher to fill the vacant mayor’s seat.

Gallagher will serve in that capacity until Dec. 31, 2021.

As a result of his appointment, Gallagher resigned his seat on council.

The borough will accept letters of interest for the vacant council seat until 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

Council plans to appoint a new councilman when it meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 24.

Whoever is appointed will serve until Dec. 31, 2021.

Gallagher was one of four candidates who applied for the mayor post.

The others were Charles Gildner, Donald Herrmann and Melinda Schneck.

Council didn’t take any action at last month’s meeting because it was without its full slate of members.

The position opened up after former Mayor Chris Olivia resigned last month in the wake of a family member’s death.

Olivia became mayor in 2012. In 2016, he received the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Mayor of the Year award.

Before his stint as mayor, Olivia spent over a decade on borough council.

Since Olivia’s resignation, council President Terry Costenbader was filling in for the mayor.