While recent headlines in national publications have underscored aggressive tactics by individual police officers, some officials in Summit Hill feel police in that borough should be a little more assertive.

Council President Michael Kokinda was asked to meet with Mayor Paul McArdle and Sgt. Jeff Ohl of the police department to discuss the matter.

Council member Karen Ruzicka, chairwoman of the emergency services committee, said the monthly report by the police department for May shows officers responded to 290 calls for service, made just four criminal arrests (misdemeanors/felonies) and issued six nontraffic citations.

“They’re not doing their job,” Ruzicka said.

The report showed there were no traffic citations or warnings given in May. Throughout May, Carbon County was in a lockdown mode because of COVID-19, which likely reduced the number of motorists.

The report does not break down how many of the calls were for possible criminal activity and how many might have been for citizen assists, suspicious activity, ambulance assists or other general calls.

Council member Greg Kosciolek joined the discussion, saying there is a car parked on a street with no engine and nothing was done about it.

The borough’s zoning officer, Dan Matika, said there are locations in the town in violation of the Quality of Life Ordinance which could be cited, but no citations occurred.

Matika told the council he saw a location where grass was 15 inches high. He said police have the ability to cite such property owners but “they’re not doing it.”

In Summit Hill, although the zoning officer does inspections and enforcement, citations must be given by the police.

In another zoning related matter, Matika expressed his concern about a rental property that has no heat.

He said an inspection showed the only source of heat was a hot water heater and not a regular furnace.

“The property was inspected and people are living there,” he told the council. “What’s my next step?”

Attorney Robert Frycklund, borough’s solicitor, said, “That’s a civil issue.

“There’s only so much you can do as a zoning officer,” he said.

Matika said he has the option to give the landlord 30 days to bring the property up to standards. “Do you give the landlord 30 days and then kick the tenants out on the street?”

The family which he referenced also has children.

Councilman David Wargo said the borough’s regulations state the landlord can be fined if he doesn’t make the repairs.