Palmerton continues to inch its way closer to hiring a new borough manager.

“We believe the process is near completion,” Borough Manager Donna McGarry said. “Council is considering a candidate, though we need to proceed through various background checks.”

McGarry said that council hopes to have a recommendation at its Feb. 9 meeting.

In October, council on a 6-0 vote accepted the retirement of McGarry, effective April 11.

Afterward, council agreed to hire the Lafayette College Meyner Center at the rate of $105 an hour, with an amount not to exceed $7,000, to help it find McGarry’s successor.

McGarry became borough manager in April 2019, after she succeeded longtime borough Manager Rodger Danielson.

McGarry, 61, has been employed by the borough for 35 years.

Her salary is $86,000.