Ronald Yuricheck, a lifelong resident of Summit Hill and a 20-year member of the borough's fire department, was hired by Summit Hill Borough Council last night as a full-time maintenance employee.

He was hired by a 5-1 vote, with only Councilman Bill Chapman opposed. Councilman John O'Gurek did not vote on the matter.Yuricheck will be filling a vacancy created by the retirement effective Sept. 1 of longtime borough work leader John Kosalko.The new employee is married to the former Tara Barron. They have two children.Yuricheck said he has 10 years experience operating heavy equipment and had also worked as an electrician.He has experience with snow plowing and snow removal, he stated.Yuricheck said he will be giving his present employer his two-weeks resignation notice today.The decision to hire Yuricheck was on the recommendation of a three-member personnel committee of the council.O'Gurek, who is chairman of the street committee, indicated he was upset that he and other council members weren't included in the interviewing process for the new workforce employee."I'm in charge of streets for 11 years," he said. "Three others (council members) interviewed for the position."He added that he feels Kosalko also should have had input in selecting his successor, stating when a police officer is hired, Chief of Police Joe Fittos has input, and when a part-time secretary was hired, borough secretary/treasurer Susan K. Gibiser was asked for her recommendations."I don't see why I had to be excluded, especially as street chairman," O'Gurek said.Council President Mike Kokinda said if the whole council had interviewed the candidates, advertising would have been required for a special personnel session of council.Mike Alabovitz of the personnel committee said he accepts responsibility for the way the interviews were conducted."In the future, it's a seven-man team, not a three-man team," O'Gurek stated.O'Gurek then made a motion to hire Brian Erbe, a laid-off Coaldale Borough workforce employee, to replace Kosalko. Chapman seconded the motion.The motion was defeated by a 5-2 vote.Later in the meeting, Councilman Francis O'Gorman made the motion to hire Yuricheck, which passed by the overwhelming majority without comment.