A member of Summit Hill Borough Council has proposed offering permits to property owners for a parking space in front of their residence.

Karen Ruzicka, who initially proposed the borough paint parking lines throughout the town, said she will put together a presentation for the council on how parking permits could be utilized.

She said members of the public have been approaching her about potentially defining parking areas. “I’m just taking what the public brings to me,” she said.

She initially brought up the parking spaces topic several months ago. On Monday, she told the council she has personally measured some specific blocks in the town. She said a block 500 feet in length, with 8-foot by 21-foot parking spaces, could have 24 designated parking spaces.

While she was working on the project, she said she has discovered inconsistencies of corner line sizes throughout the town. “Every block is a different size,” she said.

Councilman Michael Alabovitz voiced skepticism that either painting parking spaces or issuing parking permits would be practical solutions.

Regarding painting spaces, he said it would cost the borough a lot of money and take a lot of time for employees to measure and paint each spot. In addition, they would have to continue the painting project each year.

He also contended it might result in the loss of parking space.

Regarding issuing permits for personal parking spaces in front of residences, Ruzicka said, “A lot of places do it and it’s really beneficial.”

She said it might be applied on just specific blocks and that only the property owner could obtain such a permit.

“I’m against it,” Alabovitz said.

Council member David Wargo asked Ruzicka to put together a more specific proposal.

Other business

• Alabovitz said the police committee has interviewed seven candidates for the position of chief of police. He said the committee hopes to make a decision soon and present a recommendation to the council. Joseph Fittos Jr. resigned as chief of police earlier this year.

• The Summit Hill Heritage Center is in the process of completing a financial grant application. Dave Krajnak, representing the center, said for the application to be submitted to the proper state agency, a cooperation agreement must be drawn up with the borough. Attorney Robert Frycklund, borough’s solicitor, said he will work on completing such an agreement.

• Matthew Keer of West Lehigh Street said he has a problem with water runoff causing damage to his property. The council said it will refer the matter to its engineer.

• Adrian Bennett said he is the operator of a day care center at 100 East Ludlow Street and wants to expand it. In addition, he would like to see a school bus stop in front of his property because children must walk to the site from the closest bus stop several blocks away. He said this presents “an unnecessary danger.”

Alabovitz said, “I don’t have a problem (with a bus stop there), but it’s up to the school district.

The borough’s zoning officer, Dan Matika, said he feels there should be a bus stop added. He said he will present the matter to the business manager of the Panther Valley School District.

Matika said he is also looking into whether the day care center can be expanded without having to get a zoning variance.

• Kathy Gieniec, chairman of the borough’s recreation commission, was granted permission for the commission to host weekly exercise classes at the Hilltop Community Center.

Gieniec said the classes, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. on August 19, will be open for all age groups, and both beginners and advanced. They will be taught by Shelly Macenka, a former local resident who is moving back to the area.

• Wargo said a codification project is nearly complete. He said all the borough’s ordinances will be included in one code book.

A copy of the code book will not only be given to borough officials, but to each police officer. No formal action was taken on the matter at the present time.