A candidate has accepted an offer to become Lehighton’s new chief of police.

Borough Council has not released the name of the candidate. Final approval is expected next month.

A resident this week asked Council to consider officer Matthew Bender for the position.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said after the meeting that council has made a conditional offer, and a candidate has accepted the offer, but it’s all pending the third party pre-employment background checks.

“We could not make an announcement or appointment at this meeting,” Saunders said. “The process isn’t complete yet.”

Saunders added that the next step in the process would be to appoint the candidate and officially hire him at next month’s meeting.

“We want to make sure that the chief we’re hiring is not only the right fit and the right person for the job, but also the best fit for our community as well,” he said.

Council at a special meeting in April, after an executive session, appointed Gabe Szozda as officer in charge until a new police chief is hired.

Also at April’s special meeting, council approved the memorandum of understanding with former police Chief Brian Biechy.

Biechy’s last day was April 26. He was originally set to retire Aug. 10.

In April, council after an executive session approved the Intercounty Investigations & Solutions Inc. proposal in the amount of $3,095 for Chief of Police Applicant Background Investigation.

Council at a special meeting in April agreed to advertise for the chief of police position.

In December, council accepted Biechy’s notice of retirement and approved the Lafayette College Meyner Center proposal for recruitment services for the chief of police position, and the consulting rate of $95 per hour for any work outside of the proposal.

Biechy became police chief in December 2013.

Biechy’s salary was $88,400.

He began as a part-time officer in the borough in 1988, and became full-time in 1989.

Last month, council on a 5-0 vote following an executive session, accepted the resignation of police Sgt. Scott Prebosnyak.

Prebosnyak resigned voluntarily because he has agreed to take a job elsewhere in law enforcement. He started with the department in 1995.