On a 4-3 vote by the Lehighton Borough Council last night, Dennis Wentz of South Third Street was hired as a regular patrolman for the borough.

Voting for Wentz were Councilmen Richard Semmel, Clinton Williams, Conrad Sthare and Ned Harleman. Opposed were Wayne Hunsicker, Lamont Ebbert and Stephen Rakos.

Wentz, who has been serving as a special patrolman with the department for several years, becomes the seventh regular patrolman on the force. He will succeed Ernest Kreidler, who is retiring from the job on March 1 after having served for 20 years on the force.