Summit Hill man complains of noise from bar

Summit Hill police are presently responsible for enforcing complaints of too much noise emanating from such businesses as barrooms.

The borough has an ordinance that allows for borough enforcement; an ordinance that periodically must be renewed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

The ordinance is due to expire in December, and at least one resident is hoping the PLCB takes over the enforcement.

Larry Recla complained to the council about noise coming from the Batter’s Box bar and restaurant near his residence. He said the noise is very loud, forcing him to close his windows and increase the volume on his TV.

He said he has filed a complaint with the police but they only issued a warning. Chief of Police Joseph Fittos said no additional complaints were issued to his department.

Recla agreed he never filed a second complaint.

The council then unanimously agreed to apply to the PLCB for permission to continue enforcing noise complaints.

Borough Secretary Kira Steber said the PLCB will schedule a public hearing on the borough’s request and ultimately decide whether to allow the borough to do its own enforcement.

Council member David Wargo asked Fittos how many times the ordinance has had to be enforced by the police.

He responded, “Never,” stating since the borough first began handling its own noise complaints in 2015, there has been only one complaint, and a warning was issued.

Council President Michael Kokinda said he feels the PLCB has created the noise problems by banning smoking in such establishments. As a result, people go outdoors and smoke.

Recla told the council, “If you don’t think the noise bothers me, it bothers me. The noise is out of control.”

In other business

• Council members discussed campers parked on the streets next to the cemeteries in town. In Summit Hill, most of the cemeteries border each other on the east side of the community.

Steber said there are so many campers “it looks like a campground.”

Wargo said, “My personal opinion is they don’t belong at the cemetery. That place is supposed to be a place of respect for dead people.”

Kokinda said the matter will be discussed at next month’s council meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the borough hall.

• The council adopted a list of new fees for handicapped parking permits. The initial fee is $25; renewals will cost $10; line painting will be $20 and stickers, if applicable, will be $10.

• Council Gregory Kosciolek said the annual Halloween on the Hill event will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ludlow Park, weather permitting.

• Trick-or-treat night will be observed from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31, with the rain date being Nov. 1.

• The council agreed to seek a grant for upgrading its zoning and subdivision ordinances. Wargo said he favors redoing the ordinances.

“Our current zoning ordinance is not very good,” Wargo said. “It is outdated.”

He said, “No matter what anybody does, it requires a zoning ordinance.”

• Wargo urged the council to offer a real estate or an earned income tax credit to active firefighters. He said it might be an incentive to keep the existing firefighters and recruit new ones. The council tabled action on the matter.