There are about 280 rental properties in Summit Hill with nearly 20 percent of them in arrears on garbage bills, real estate taxes, or both.

This is frustrating members of Summit Hill Borough Council, who vowed to begin enforcing the components of the borough's landlord ordinance.Councilman David Wargo said some landlords haven't even obtained rental certificates required for their properties.To receive a certificate, rental properties must be inspected by the borough and all garbage bills and property taxes must be up-to-date.Wargo said there are three types of people not complying."Some are defiant, some are not aware, and some just refuse to pay their bills," he said.He said the landlord ordinance was enacted in 2012."I feel we must start enforcing it," he said.Failure to adhere to the rules of the ordinance carry fines up to $100 per day.He said he feels landlords could be putting tenants in danger by not having their properties comply with borough regulations."It's time for us to tell them that they comply or we go after them and force them to comply," he said.Wargo suggested landlords be given a 30-day period of clemency to pay their bills and obtain rental certificates or face possible prosecution for violations.Councilman John O'Gurek said there should be no grace period; that the borough enforce the ordinance immediately.The council voted 5-1 for the 30-day waiting period, with O'Gurek opposed. In favor besides Wargo were council President Michael Kokinda, Karen Ruzicka, Bill Chapman and William O'Gurek. Gregory Kosciolek was absent."Let's just follow the damn ordinance," John O'Gurek said.Wargo said, "You can't be a landlord in this community and be ignorant of the laws of this community."Shared servicesDeb Ranck, an audience member, questioned the shared services setup that the borough has with Lansford and Coaldale, asking how it is managed.Kokinda said John O'Gurek manages the setup for Summit Hill. Several council members said the setup is beneficial to the borough.Kokinda said, "The whole concept was kind of helping your neighbors. And it's reciprocated."Chapman wants monthly details on how much time Summit Hill workers give to the setup compared with how much the borough receives. "When people ask me why our people are in Lansford, I want to be able to answer," he said.Ranck also asked if the borough workforce was directing traffic for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation construction project in Lansford.Council members said the borough workers were assisting the Lansford-Coaldale-Summit Hill Sewer Authority with raising manhole covers and not helping the PennDOT contractor.Other businessCouncil also discussed or acted on the following items:• The council accepted the resignation of police officer Ryan Holohan, who received a full-time position in Reading.• Joelle Mota was hired as a part-time police officer. He also works part-time in Franklin Township.• Borough workforce supervisor Ronald Yuricheck said street sweeping has begun in the borough. The schedule of sweeping is on the borough's website. In addition, streets will be posted for the sweeping.• The council agreed to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to be applied to recreational facility upgrades. Usually block grants are used for street improvement projects.The action passed by a 3-2 vote. In favor were Wargo, Ruzicka, and William O'Gurek with Kokinda and Chapman opposed. John O'Gurek and Kosciolek were not present for the vote.Kokinda said he was opposed to the vote because he feels street projects would be more beneficial to the town.Wargo said the block grant is designed to benefit projects affected low and moderate income families.• The council said it is still seeking a part-time employee to clean the Hilltop Community Center on weekends after events are held there.