A member of Summit Hill Borough Council would like to see aggressive measures taken against property owners who allow debris to accumulate, which in turn potentially attracts rodents.

Council member David Wargo described what he called a “Quality of Life Abatement Strategy,” noting it is presently only a draft and must be reviewed by the borough’s solicitor before formal action can occur.

If approved, the borough could hire a contractor to clean up properties on which the owner refuses to comply with notices and citations. Police would assist the contractor.

Wargo said the council came up with the concept following discussions with Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina and Chief of Police Todd Woodward.

Individuals would be given two weeks to remove debris from properties, after which they would be issued daily fines which can increase to as much as $2,000.

After that, the borough could have a contractor go onto the site with a police officer to do the cleanup.

The borough would have a start-up fund to take such actions. Fines would replenish the costs in the fund.

Wargo said he doesn’t know of any other such abatement strategy in the state.

He admitted, “I cannot guarantee it’s going to work but it’s all we got.”

For the past several months the council has received complaints about properties with trash on them, some of them apparently havens for rats and snakes.

Numerous residents have indicated their frustration, claiming little is being done about the problems.

“We do listen, and we hear you,” Wargo said to the approximately 20 people in attendance at the meeting.

Wargo said the proposal will be forwarded to the borough’s solicitor for his review and recommendations and hopefully approved in the near future.

Earlier this year, the borough agreed to have a full-time police officer handle code enforcement.

Jason Bell was hired as a police officer earlier this year, and his duties included serving as the code enforcement officer.

At last month’s meeting, Bell was released with the council stating he didn’t satisfy the requirements of his probationary period.

The council has solicited applications for an officer to replace Bell as both a police officer and the code enforcement officer.

Kira Steber, the borough’s secretary/treasurer, said there were three applicants.

The candidates will be interviewed and receive relevant testing, after which a new officer will likely be hired.

Council also said it is looking for individuals as interim zoning officers and alternate interim zoning officer.

Borough resident Sandy Dellicker asked about the status of two properties on West Mountaintop Road which have garbage on them. She said they present “a terrible eyesore.”

Mayor Szczecina said one property owner was cited, didn’t show up for a hearing and was fined $200. The other property owner hasn’t responded to his citation.

The mayor said the police department is following up on both matters.