Almost two dozen Summit Hill residents came to a town hall meeting for an update on code enforcement and quality of life issues Monday night.

Interim zoning officer Dan Matika opened the floor for questions and provided updates on what has been done since a Sept. 27 session when he and Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina fielded complaints.

Most of the previous issues regarding weeds, garbage, junk cars have been addressed by the property owners, or citations have been issued, Matika said.

He got kudos for work on a West Vernon Street property which had high weeds and grass, and now has been cleaned up for the winter.

The borough didn’t even know it owned that property, Matika said, and he recommended the property be sold and put back on the tax rolls.

Another resident asked about a property on East Ludlow Street and Matika said the address they were given at the last meeting was incorrect, and that he has the correct address now.

“So, I’ll revisit it tomorrow,” Matika said, but the owners had been cited in the past and nothing was done. “We can keep citing them, but unless they do something, it’s in the magistrate’s hands after that.

“There’s nothing else we can do with that,” he said.

The same resident, Marlene Basiago, then asked about another property, which Matika was also following up on, he said.

“We sent out a letter,” he said. “So, if they don’t have it done by tomorrow, I will cite them.”

Matika explained that usually if it’s a first-time offender, they will wait to see if the owner takes care of the issue. But some property owners are habitual offenders and they are cited immediately because they received numerous warnings in the past, he said.

Those who have been cited and failed to act will get hit with a double fine, Matika said. A $25 citation goes to $50, he said. Anyone with repeat violations within the calendar year faces double fines, he said.

Matika pointed out that a situation where people got two geese has been remedied. The geese, which attacked the neighbors and “did their deed” on the sidewalk, have been removed, he said.

“Today I went there and actually the entire setup with all the cages and animals are gone,” he said. “So, that’s another property that got cleaned up.”

Residents pointed out properties where issues remained, and Matika ran through what was done on each. A number received citations, he said. Those that have not been cleaned up will be cited again and the fines doubled, he said.

While out on a call the other day, Matika said he noticed an abandoned SUV and camper in a backyard, and that camper went up in flames Monday morning. He hopes to get the burned vehicle removed.

Another resident pointed out an East Hazard Street property with garbage flowing out onto the sidewalk, alongside the house and more garbage in the backyard, including cages with dead birds.

Matika took down the complaints, and plans to investigate. He also told residents to reach out to the borough secretary, Kira Steber, either by phone or email, shboro@ptd.net.

Matika also addressed the rat problem in town, as the problem being aired by residents this year may have started with a building that had been vacant for about 15 years.

That building, the former Bott building on East Ludlow Street which was bought and is being rehabilitated by Symmetry Construction, reportedly had tons of rats in the basement, Matika said.

He said he can’t be certain, but from what he’s been told when the new owner went in to the work on the property, the rats got pushed out and migrated to other properties in the area.

“That’s where a lot of the rats have been seen. I guess they had to find another home and got into some people’s houses there,” Matika said.

Following the meeting, Matika said the new owner, Symmetry, has done a nice job restoring the historic building, which was home to the former Frank Llewellyn law office.