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Council refuses to discuss snow plow incidents

Several personnel matters werediscussed during a meeting of Summit Hill Borough Council on Monday, including an incident involving a plow driver who struck numerous parked vehicles, a borough worker posting unkind social media messages and a councilman making an accusation that he was taken off a committee as a form of revenge.

At the start of the meeting, council President Jesse Walck said there would be no comments from council on the plow incidents because "it is a police matter and a personnel matter."A report to the Times News from the Summit Hill Police Department last week said a plow truck struck eight vehicles. The driver of the plow has not been identified.Borough resident David Hiles told council that 11 vehicles were hit."This is a small town. Everybody knows what led up to it," Hiles said.Hiles said there was no voluntary blood test requested from the plow driver."Laws were broken and procedures weren't followed," Hiles said, adding that he is waiting to see what action the leadership takes.Hiles also said a borough worker has been posting unkind remarks on social media.One of the comments, Hiles said, involved an accusation that Nathan Halenar had his car parked on a street while plowing was occurring and that he should "move his car before I tear his door off with the plow."Hiles had a copy of the social media posting at the meeting.Hiles said another posting said plowing was occurring and "if people don't like it, they can move and kiss my a..""People abused by a borough worker on social media can only go on so long," Hiles said.Halenar said the car that was referenced in the posting wasn't his. In addition, it was parked on a street "that was not plowed all winter.""We're held to a lever of professionalism," Halenar said, suggesting that the borough worker be reprimanded.Council President Jesse Walck came under attack regarding removing John O'Gurek as chairman of the street committee. O'Gurek had served in that capacity for many years.Councilman Billy O'Gurek said to Walck, "It's ironic that last month, after a council member had questions, that same week the committee appointments came out and that person was removed from chairman."He asked Walck if he was going to be removed from his committee for speaking out.John O'Gurek said, "The reason I was taken off the committee is because I would not have a personal meeting with you," directing his comments to Walck. He said he has emails to prove this, to which Walck said, "Prove it.""You did it for spite," John O'Gurek said to the chairman.Walck said he did it because O'Gurek can't handle the position.O'Gurek then accused Walck of making an illegal wood purchase to construct a wood shed.Hiles began interjecting comments and Walck ordered him removed from the meeting room.

Walck