The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has called a meeting regarding sewerage systems in the Panther Valley, and it wants representatives of Coaldale, Lansford and Summit Hill borough councils to attend, as well as members of the Coaldale-Lansford-Summit Hill Joint Sewer Authority.

The meeting will be held Wednesday and councilman Jesse Walck will represent Summit Hill.Some members of Summit Hill Borough Council indicated concern that DEP might be considering imposing a fine on the borough for not taking a more proactive stance on upgrading its sewerage system.At a meeting of Summit Hill Borough Council last week, council Vice President John O'Gurek suggested a sewage transmission fee for borough residents.Last year Walck had suggested a $100 per year sewer transmission fee per household but the proposal never passed.O'Gurek said, "In light of the letter from DEP, I suggest we do that."However, he said such a sewer transmission fee should start at $50 per year.The council agreed it wouldn't take action on O'Gurek's proposal until after the meeting with DEP.The letter from the DEP wasn't presented at the meeting, but councilman Billy O'Gurek said it hinted Summit Hill might be penalized since it took the least amount of action of the three communities on improving its sewage collection system.DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly cited several concerns, including leaky, old sewers.Combined sewers in Lansford (sewage waste and stormwater) result in overflows when there are heavy rains, Connolly said.The plant is old and needs upgrades.Connolly said inadequately treated sewage is an issue. "At times raw sewage gets into nearby creek," she said.DEP is looking for the boroughs to develop a plan to address the issues and move forward, Connolly said.Lansford has replaced some of its sewer lines since a previous directive was handed to the three communities several years ago. Bill O'Gurek said, "Summit Hill hasn't done anything to its sewer lines."During the meeting, O'Gurek lashed out at council members who had wanted to take over the borough's water authority, saying that the council criticized the water authority for not having an improvement plan, but hasn't said anything about the Sewer Authority existing without one.Councilman Mike Alabovitz agreed, saying, "Now we're in trouble."Alabovitz has stated numerous times in the past he feels a contingency fund should exist for updating the water and sewage systems in the borough.