Summit Hill borough council is preparing to advertise a new garbage collecting contract and there will be some changes in it from the present contract.

Currently the trash is collected by County Waste Inc., which has a one-year pact that expires at the end of the year.

Council member David Wargo said residents shouldn’t notice any differences in the new contract but the bidder will.

For one thing, the present contract allows for five bags of garbage per week. The new contract changes “bags” to up to 250 pounds per week. This will include cans of ashes and other containers with garbage in them.

Residents also can place one large item such as a piece of furniture at curbside during the weekly garbage pickup.

The contract also calls for the trash collector to empty borough trash containers at public facilities as well as doggy waste container sites. Presently, the dog waste containers are emptied by borough employees.

One other change is that the employees of the trash collection service must adhere to conduct standards or the employer will have a penalty assessed. This includes no foul language from the employees, no strewing ashes in the street and other activities which can be considered offensive.

There will be two cleanup weeks and an electronics recycling collection specified in the contract. The cleanups will allow the collection of up to 500 pounds of refuse and up to four car tires. For the tires to be collected, a label for each one must be obtained at the borough hall.

Wargo said in the past some individuals abused the tire pickup during cleanup week.

In other business

• Borough resident Patty Gledhill asked for permission to place a mobile trailer on her property to conduct her financial services business. She was advised she would have to obtain a permit and then apply for a zoning variance since her house is in a residential and not a commercial area.

• Some discussion was held about a deteriorating building in the unit block of West White Street. Wargo said the structure is a safety issue. He asked if a quality of life penalty could be imposed.

Zoning officer Danny Matika said “there are tons of animals under that site.”

The borough’s solicitor said it would be the neighbor’s responsibility to take civil action against the owner.

• The borough agreed to sell a 1995 Dodge pickup truck via sealed bids; the minimum bid being $400. The truck is being sold “as is, where is.” Bids will be opened at the Sept. 27 meeting of the council.

• The council will also sell a tar buggy on a municipal bid site, with the minimum bid acceptable being $1,000.

• Wargo said he plans to begin holding economic development committee meetings in October.

• A problem regarding water damage allegedly from a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation project last year is a concern of council. Borough work foreman Ronald Yuricheck said an ADA ramp was installed at 152 E. Holland St. Water flows from McMurtree Street and has gotten under the ramp, causing ground to become unsettled.

“The concrete now has sunk,” he said. He said he’s contacted PennDOT but “it’s still a problem.”

The council agreed to ask state Rep. Jerry Knowles and a representative from PennDOT to visit the location.