A policy which allows people who own vacant homes in Summit Hill to be exempt from paying the annual garbage collection fee is being rescinded.

The borough council voted 4-3 to end the exemption regulations, except for business owners who hire their own trash haulers and property owners with vacant lots.Council member David Wargo made the motion to stop the exemptions. Council members William O'Gurek, Gregory Kosciolek and Council President Michael Kokinda agreed. Opposed were Karen Ruzicka, John O'Gurek and Bill Chapman. John O'Gurek said he would favor giving property owners with empty houses a reduced rate.Those already approved for exemptions will keep them for the duration of 2017. Before the vote on stopping exemptions, nine residents were added to the exoneration list. One of those is approved, pending payment of money they still owe on their garbage bill.The council said no more exemptions will be approved this year.Secretary-Treasurer Kira Steber said nearly 100 properties are on the exemption list. The annual garbage collection bill is $200 per year.Steber said the garbage contractor is informed to not pick up any trash at homes on the exemption list, but several council members said enforcement is very difficult.Ruzicka said she doesn't feel residents should have to pay for a service if they aren't using it.The matter arose shortly after council voted on the nine new exemptions, which were approved on a 6-1 vote. Only Wargo said no.Wargo mentioned that the borough was in the process of obtaining placards for the residents on the exemption list, with the cost being passed on to those approved for this status.John O'Gurek voiced concern about the placards, stating they will let potential burglars know of vacant homes. This could result in homes being vandalized for copper and other items, he said.One council member expressed concern that the borough could be held liable for break-ins due to the placards.Wargo then made his motion for ending the exemptions.Ruzicka said she doesn't feel the exemptions are losing money for the borough because the trash collector bases his contracts on tonnage, not residences.Steber said the rates are also based on the manpower and trucks sent to the borough for trash pickup.