Ohl promoted to police sergeant in Summit Hill

A Summit Hill police officer was promoted to the position of sergeant during a meeting of the borough council on Monday.

Jeffrey Ohl, who has been a full-time officer in the borough for four years and a member of the force for 13 years, received the promotion by unanimous vote.

He fills a vacancy created some years ago by the retirement of then Sgt. Robert McDonald.

Ohl will serve under Chief of Police Joseph Fittos Jr.

Fittos questioned the council in July after hiring a sergeant.

The council directed its Police Civil Service Commission to do testing for applicants for the position, with Ohl netting the highest score.

Casinos

Council member Bill Chapman expressed anger at the state Legislature, particularly Sen. Mario Scavello, on a gaming bill which allows small casinos to be constructed.

Chapman said the bill forbids such casinos to be constructed in Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties. He said they are the only three counties where new casinos can’t be built.

“Summit Hill sits right in the middle of the Sands, Mount Airy and Mohegan Sun casinos,” he said. “We wouldn’t hurt any of the three (if a casino was built in Carbon County).”

“I’m really, really really upset at our legislators,” he said. “I think it’s terrible. I think it’s absolutely terrible.”

He said allowing a small casino in one of those three counties would potentially provide economic growth.

In other business

• The council thanked member John O’Gurek for his 16 years of service to the borough as a council member. O’Gurek, who was not present at the meeting, leaves the position when his term expires this month.

The council also recognized tax collector Alice Kane for serving more than 30 years. She chose not to seek re-election. The new tax collector is Kathleen R. Crampsie.

• The council is taking applications for a planning and zoning officer.

Bill Kirklosky, who has been the zoning officer for a number of years, submitted his resignation but agreed to continue serving until a replacement is found.

The council declined to accept the resignation until a new zoning officer is named.

• The council said it will ask its engineer, Michael Tirpak, to advertise for bids for the Ginder Field renovation project. The bids will be opened at the Feb. 22 meeting of the council.

• Council member David Wargo said the newly formed economic development committee of the council had its first meeting recently.

He said the committee will meet the second Monday of each month in the borough hall at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

• The borough council agreed to enter into an agreement with Joseph Collura to audit the borough’s records for 2017. The cost is not to exceed $5,250.