Northampton Borough Council has appointed Leroy Brobst as its next borough manager.

He has been the longtime assistant to Gene Zarayko, the current borough manager who is retiring next month at the age of 76.

Brobst has held the appointive office since 1986. He has been employed by the borough in some capacity for nearly 50 years.

He is a graduate of Northampton High School. He then studied at the Pennsylvania State University on a scholarship. But on the verge of being drafted into the U.S. Army, he went to work as a laborer for the borough public works department. Called up by the Army, Brobst then served in Vietnam, Army Unit 307th Combat Aviation Battalion, earning 14 medals in combat-related activity.

Holding varied positions, including heading the borough pool operations, Brobst said, “In 1993, Gene (Zarayko) offered me the job as staff assistant, which I accepted.”

Brobst mentioned his title was later changed to assistant to the manager. He has continued a bond and close friendship with Zarayko throughout the decades.

“Yes, I am looking forward to the challenge,” Brobst, 68, said.

In continuing Zarayko’s legacy, Brobst said he does not foresee much that has to or will be changed.

“We may do a little tweaking,” Brobst said.

Council members unanimously selected Brobst, a decision Zarayko wholeheartedly supports.

Borough lawmakers will abolish the assistant to the manager post and instead will hire a full-time secretary and a part-time employee for some of Brobst’s assistant duties, one of which is parking enforcement.

He is married to Debbie Brobst. The couple has two children, Holly and Ryan, and nine grandchildren.