Summit Hill councilman resigns

A vacancy exists on Summit Hill Borough Council.

Council member William Chapman, who has served the borough for several terms, resigned Monday night effective immediately.

Chapman wasn’t present at the meeting of the borough council but in a letter said he and his wife, Sharon, are moving from the borough.

They are the owners of the Parkview Inn on Ludlow Street, which they reportedly have sold.

The council agreed to send Chapman a letter thanking him for his service and contributions to the borough.

Kira Steber, the borough’s secretary/treasurer, said letters of interest from individuals interested in filling Chapman’s unexpired term will be received at the borough hall until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

A special meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15 to name the new council member as well as for general purposes.

In other business

• Steber said she has received two letters of interest from people who want to fill the position of zoning officer. She said the applicants will be interviewed and a decision made after that.

Council member Karen Ruzicka suggested that criminal background checks be required from anyone seeking borough positions.

• Vince Suzadail of the 100 block of South Chestnut Street complained about the unkempt condition of a neighboring property owned by a landlord he can’t reach.

He said the property is occupied but has a broken window, a leaky roof, a yard with a lot of animal excrement, a furnace which hasn’t been cleaned for several years and other inadequacies. He said the present occupants have five dogs and six cats.

“I have no idea what to do,” he said to the council.

Steber said she will forward his complaints to the borough’s code enforcement officer, Lehigh Engineers.

• The council tabled action on a proposal by Patriot Energy Group to shop for electric rates. The borough has a contract with Hudson Energy for this which doesn’t expire until November 2020.

• Sgt. Jeffrey Ohl of the Summit Hill Police Department was granted permission to attend a media relations class on Oct. 30 and 31.

• Council member Karen Ruzicka asked Chief of Police Joseph Fittos Jr. if the state is still paying for the Narcan that police officers carry. Narcan is utilized for resuscitating some drug overdose victims.

Fittos said, “We’re still getting it from the state. The borough’s not paying for it.”

• Borough workforce supervisor Ronald Yuricheck was instructed to get rates for renting a street paver.

He told council that the present paver that the borough owns probably won’t last long.

• The council agreed to rent a Merchant Deposit Capture Machine from Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank at the rate of $40 per month for the electronic deposit of checks by Steber.

• A request was approved for Tammy Rusnock-Kline to use the Ginder Field from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 31 for a small gathering for overdose awareness day.

• Hope Presbyterian Church was given permission to block off Market Street between White and Ridge Streets from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 15 to host a street festival.