The wheels are turning, although slowly, in the effort to add a full-time officer to the North Catasauqua Police Department.

Borough Councilman Mike Seng, who heads up the North Catasauqua Civil Service Commission, reported at the April 23 council meeting that a hearing which was holding up the commission's ability to present candidates for the position has now concluded.

A former candidate for the position, based on his test and evaluation scores, had appealed a decision to remove him from the list of top three candidates because of the findings of a background check.

Seng said at the April 16 hearing, the candidate appealing his disqualification did not show up, but the hearing was held anyway, and the decision to disqualify him was upheld.

The borough council voted to accept the upholding of the disqualification 5-0, with Councilmen William McGinley and John Yanek absent.

Seng then officially presented to the council the Civil Service Commission's top three candidates.

The council's police committee, borough Mayor William Molchany and Police Chief Kim Moyer will interview the candidates and make a recommendation to the council, which is responsible for making the final hiring approval.

Committee members are William McGinley, Michele Hazzard and Cherie Gebhardt.

Also at the council meeting, North Catasauqua Fire Chief Francis Hadik said the fire department recently received notice that a grant application has been approved.

The department is to receive $94,763 for the purchase of new air packs. The grant covers 95 percent of the cost of the new equipment.

Hadik said the fire company will cover the remaining 5 percent and there will be no cost to borough taxpayers.