Slatington Borough Council met for its monthly meeting and someone was conspicuously absent from the session.

Arthur “Ted” Kistler, a police officer of the town for the past 30 years, ended his career earlier this week, retiring as police chief after a 20-plus years stint as the department head.

Kistler had been with the department since 1968 and served as its chief since 1972, which gave him the distinction of being the police chief with the most seniority in all of Lehigh County.

Last month, the police chief received the highest award of the Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, the Community Spirit Award” for his long-standing service to the community.