Policies affecting property maintenance and sidewalks are expected to be addressed by Summit Hill Borough Council in 2024.

Councilman David Wargo has been working on an abatement program within the Quality of Life ordinance which would not only fine landlords who let their properties fall into disrepair or become filled with junk and infested with rodents, but remedy the situations.

Wargo proposed that the borough have an exterminator and a private cleanup firm available with the work occurring at the expense of the property owner.

Borough Solicitor Robert Frycklund is working on creating regulations for such a policy.

The matter has been hotly discussed on the borough’s agenda for months as a result of a rodent problem reported due to the lack of maintenance with some properties, especially in the area of the unit block of East Ludlow Street. Some residents have been to council meetings complaining about a rat problem that’s spreading in the neighborhood.

Wargo said of his proposal during the September meeting of the council, “There is a plan that’s in the works.”

He said under the proposal, “We will carpet-bomb those properties with quality-of-life citations.”

The proposal would mean the borough would have to pay upfront costs for enforcement and then collect those costs from the property owners.

Although the sidewalk ordinance is still being drafted, council member Karen Ruzicka said she hopes it can be enacted early in the year.

Ruzicka was asked by Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina if residents who have no sidewalks would be required to install them.

“I’m not at that point, yet,” Ruzicka said about drafting the ordinance.

The issue of sidewalks came up several times in the past year, but especially in recent months.

At the November meeting of the council, resident Joanie Morana said she is upset that some residents have blacktop for their sidewalks. “It looks horrible,” she said.

Ruzicka at that meeting said she looked at the ordinances and the borough does not regulate sidewalks. However, she said at a point when she was replacing her sidewalks, she wanted to use pavers but was informed by the zoning officer at the time that cement sidewalks were required.