Palmerton has moved a step closer in its quest to add another full-time police officer to the rouce.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council on Thursday accepted the list of police patrolman candidates as certified by the Civil Service Commission. Councilman Cory Kepner was absent.

In November, borough police Chief Tim Kromer told council that the police department could use another full-time officer.

That would bring the department up to 10 full-timers, including Kromer.

After November’s meeting, then borough Manager Donna McGarry said it would cost the borough about $100,000 to add another full-time officer between salary, benefits, uniforms and equipment.

McGarry said at that time the borough would utilize money from its general fund to pay the cost, and that she had added the related expenses in the 2023 budget.