MOUNT CARMEL - Joseph Lapotsky was appointed to the Mount Carmel Borough Council on Tuesday, filling the vacancy left with the resignation of Councilman Ronald Tanney in April.
Councilman Bob Shirmer made the motion to appoint Lapotsky, and Councilman Gary Hixson Jr. seconded. Lapotsky was unanimously appointed with a 4-0 vote.
Mayor J. Kevin Jones was not present at Tuesday's meeting, but will swear in Lapotsky during the next meeting.
Lapotsky was born and raised in Centralia and has resided in Mount Carmel for the past 20 years.
He graduated from Mount Carmel Area High School in 1970 and Bloomsburg University in 1974 with a degree in business education. He earned his master's degree in education from Bloomsburg in 1976.
Lapotsky was a business education teacher at Tamaqua for 34 years and served as an adjunct instructor for both Reading and Luzerne community colleges, teaching a variety of business administration courses. While at Tamaqua, he developed and implemented several new courses, including personal finance and other consumer and business related studies. He has also coached wrestling at different levels and was an adviser for several clubs and organizations.
In addition to his educational endeavors, Lapotsky said he has knowledge and experience in construction and vocational areas.
Lapotsky served on the Conyngham Township Board of Supervisors from 1982 to 1986, which he said afforded him the opportunity to deal with many local, state and federal officials in regards to the Centralia mine fire. He is currently a member of the Mount Carmel Borough Zoning Board.
Lapotsky is married to the former Kathy Hynoski and has two children, Jessica, a speech therapist with the Ridley School District, and Eric, a graduate student and coach at the University of Oklahoma.