Lehighton’s outgoing borough manager has thanked borough officials for the opportunity to serve the community.

Borough council at a special meeting on Tuesday accepted the resignation of borough Manager Dane DeWire, effective Sept. 5.

In his resignation letter to borough council dated Aug. 14, DeWire noted that on Aug. 6, he provided borough council President Dave Zimmerman with a verbal commitment of his resignation from his role.

DeWire noted in his letter that as required by his employment agreement dated March 3, he provided a 30-day notice of his resignation, and that his last day of employment will be Sept. 5.

“I will hand in my borough cellphone, laptop PC, keys, and all borough credit cards in my name before the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026,” DeWire states in his letter. “Any written or verbal discharge of my duties prior to Sept. 5, 2026, will be considered an early termination from my position and will be administered per my March 3, 2026 employment agreement.

“I want to thank you for everything you do to serve the borough and for everything you have done for me to grow in this role over the last three years. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me before my last day.”

At Tuesday’s special meeting, borough council after over an hour executive session, accepted DeWire’s resignation and dismissed a police officer.

Before the vote, borough council heard from Jerry McAward, owner of Lehighton Outdoor Center, who said he sent a letter to each member urging them to consider how to hire the right person qualified to run “this complex and demanding borough.”

McAward added he hopes borough council conducts a true recruiting process “that takes into consideration all the things that a borough manager does.”

In March, borough council again approved DeWire’s contract.

At borough council’s reorganization meeting in January, DeWire was appointed as borough manager on a 5-2 vote, with councilmen Joe Flickinger and Grant Hunsicker opposed.

In December, the former council held a 30-minute executive session and then voted 5-1 to approve the 2026-2027 employment contract for DeWire.

Councilwoman Becky Worthy, who was opposed, said after that meeting she believes DeWire should have been at 3.5%, not 4%.

The contract called for DeWire to receive a new two-year pact that calls for a 4% raise both years of the contract through the end of 2027.

DeWire’s salary in 2026 is $105,835, and $110,068 in 2027.

Before the vote, DeWire said he was seeking a two-year deal with a 3.5% increase both years, or inflation, whichever is higher.

However, Councilman Steve Hawk told DeWire he would take issue that it’s open-ended, and that he didn’t want to put the borough in that situation.

Afterward, DeWire said his second rebuttal would be a 4% increase in each of the two years.

DeWire was hired in August 2023 on a 4-3 vote by the then-council on a one-year contract at a salary of $95,000.