Summit Hill Borough Council approved a tentative budget for 2017 which retains taxes at their existing levels.

The budget is balanced at $1,551,188.It is based on an overall real estate tax rate of 15.6 mills, including 13.6 mills for general purposes, 1.5 mills for street lighting, and a half-mill for fire protection.Most discussion at the meeting centered on trash collection fee exemptions.Council member David Wargo proposed a resolution to the exemption ordinance requiring that properties qualifying for this have placards placed on them so that the garbage hauler knows to not collect any trash placed there.In addition, there would be fines levied on anyone placing trash at exempt properties. The fine could be placed on the property owner if it isn’t determined who placed the trash there.Presently the rate of trash collection is $200 per year per dwelling unit. If a unit is vacant, the property owner can obtain an exemption from the borough for paying the fee, but is not permitted to place trash on the curb.Wargo said presently the ordinance is not enforceable and the trash collection company has difficulty determining who qualifies for the exemption.He said both he and council member Greg Kosciolek have witnessed instances where garbage was placed on the curb at properties which had the exemption applied.The proposal by Wargo passed on a 4-2 vote. In favor were Wargo, Kosciolek, Billy O’Gurek and Karen Ruzicka. Opposed were Bill Chapman and Council President Mike Kokinda. Councilman John O’Gurek was absent.Another segment of the resolution is that property owners who have three violations to the exemption rules will have the exemption status revoked and not qualify for exemption the following year.In addition, to meet exemption status, garbage bills must be paid up to date.The placards placed on exempt properties will be numbered.One resident expressed concern that the placard will let people know a property is vacant and expose it for vandalism such as theft of copper pipes.Wargo suggested that people use security cameras.“Up until this point, we cannot enforce the exemption ordinance,” Wargo said.In other business• Jodi McAndrew, president of the Summit Hill Recreation Commission, said Christmas on the Hill will be observed in Ludlow Park at 6 p.m. on Sunday. She said it will include the arrival of Santa Claus, tree lighting and hot chocolate and cookies.• Zoning officer Bill Kirklosky asked the borough to adopt regulations so that enforcement can occur on landlords not complying with zoning rules.He said the county has a program in which any landlord who has a landlord’s license revoked by a municipality will no longer be permitted to purchase foreclosure properties. He said Summit Hill doesn’t have licenses for landlords.• Ruzicka urged that repairs be made to deterioration occurring at the walls of Memorial Park. Kokinda said he will discuss the matter with the borough work force to determine if the workers can make the repairs.• The borough will solicit bids for a 1998 Ford Explorer that is being replaced by the police department. Chief of Police Joseph Fittos said the vehicle is still drivable, but because government funding is involved in the purchase of the new vehicle, the one being replaced can no longer be used by the borough.