The North Catasauqua Borough Council is expected to vote Sept. 27 to select a new member of the borough’s civil service commission. Four residents have applied to fill the position.

All four of the candidates attended the Sept. 13 council meeting to be interviewed by the council. The interviews were brief and were followed by a discussion by council members.

The North Catasauqua Civil Service Commission enforces and regulates the rules for the recruitment of police department personnel. The procedures are in place for ensuring appointments are made based on merit, through interviews and testing.

Each candidate stated his reasons for applying for the position.

Borough Council member Billy Duch began serving as a council member in January.

“It would be a good stepping stone for me,” he said. “I could learn more about the borough.”

Joseph Keglovits, son of council member Joe Keglovits and a member of the borough’s zoning hearing board, explained his interest in the position.

“Growing up, my father was a part-time patrolman for Northampton Borough, so I have a little bit of an idea what that entails,” he said. “Secondly, my parents instilled in us to always volunteer and reach out to the community, and I think this is a way for me to do so.”

Brandon Lively, the third candidate, is new to the borough.

“I’ve been in the community for over a year,” he said. “I am interested in joining in the civil service to give back to the community. I am a hard worker and a goal setter. I like to accomplish things.”

The final candidate, Roger Scheirer, is currently on the borough’s emergency management team.

“I have 15 years’ experience with civil service as an Allentown fireman,” he said. For the past 10 years he has been assisting with the administration of written and agility civil service tests to the Allentown Fire Department.

“I know a lot about procedures in civil service,” he said. “I’d just like to give a little more back to the community.”

During the council discussion, Councilman Keglovits said it might not be advisable to add a third member of his family to the commission. The two current members are his son John Keglovits and his daughter, Barbara Barber.

“I don’t know if we should have three from the same family,” he said, speaking to his son. “It’s certainly legal. I think you have excellent qualifications and you make an excellent candidate, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

The position has been open for nine months, since the retirement of Michael Seng in January. The commission meets only at the direction of borough council, when the need to appoint a new police officer is anticipated.

After a review of state statutes regulating borough governance, borough Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian said Keglovits would not be permitted to serve on the commission.

“If you sit as a zoning hearing board member, you can’t sit on any other elected or appointed office in the municipality,” he reported.

Borough council President Peter Paone tabled further discussion of the candidates until the next meeting, when the council is expected to vote to choose a commission member from the three remaining candidates.