Summit Hill Borough Council tabled action on a tentative budget that would have increased the borough’s real estate tax by one mill.

During Wednesday’s meeting, council listed a proposed one mill increase on the 2023 budget, with income and expenses totaling $1,603,218.

On a motion by councilman Bill O’Gurek and seconded by Karen Ruzicka, action on the matter was tabled and a special meeting will be called about the matter. No date was set for the special meeting.

O’Gurek said he hopes a budget can be adopted without a tax increase.

The borough has not had an increase since the 2020 budget, a 1.4 mill increase.

The 2022 budget has a tax rate of 18.5 mills - 16.5 mills for general purposes, 1.5 mills for street lighting and a half mill for fire protection.

In other business:

• The borough hired Colton Black as an equipment operator, replacing John Poko who resigned two months ago to take a job in private industry. Poko said he will continue helping the borough on an as-needed basis such as snow plowing.

There were five applicants for the position and Black was hired after the candidates were interviewed by council.

• The council unanimously approved a vector control ordinance that will aid in efforts to combat a reported rodent problem in some parts of the borough. The ordinance mandates, among other things, prohibiting accumulating trash on property or storing dilapidated vehicles or machinery.

All refuse for trash pickup must be placed in containers with a tight-fitting lid when in use.

In addition, every occupant of a dwelling is responsible for extermination of insects and/or rodents on the premises.

The borough may require structures to be vector-proofed when they are found to be providing a harbor for rats, flies, mosquitoes or other vectors.

Penalties for violators can range up to $600 plus costs.

• Council approved a handicap parking application for the occupants of 115 West Fell St. by a 5-2 margin. Council members Michael Alabovitz and David Wargo were opposed.

• A handicap parking application for the occupant of 223 E. McMurtrie St. was opposed by a 6-1 vote. Only O’Gurek cast a “yes” vote.

• Council agreed to have Joseph Collura, auditor, audit the borough’s financial statements for the year ending Dec. 31, 2022 at a cost not to exceed $5,300.

• In his monthly police report, Chief of Police Todd Woodward reported his department handled 330 calls in October. Officers made five criminal arrests, one juvenile arrest, issued four non-traffic citations and issued two traffic citations.

There were two burglaries reported and one vehicle theft, with the vehicle recovered.