A Summit Hill resident complained to borough council on Monday night about a neighbor’s chickens and ducks, but she was informed they are legal in her neighborhood.

Karen Evans of East Mountaintop Road said she has lived there a long time, but a neighbor now has 23 chickens and three roosters. There are also ducks, she said.

Daniel Matika, the borough’s zoning officer, said East Mountaintop Road is zoned R-1, a type of residential district. Despite its residential status, the chickens and ducks, as well as horses, are permitted in these areas. He said the White Bear sector of town is also zoned R-1.

There was brief discussion on whether the noise from the ducks might be a violation of the Quality of Life Ordinance. Police Sgt. Jeff Ohl said the Quality of Life Ordinance only addresses barking dogs as a nuisance.

Council member David Wargo said he feels the ordinance should be changed to include noise from any animal.

Michael Alabovitz, a council member, said the borough is in the process of rewriting its zoning ordinance. He said hearings will be held, during which time residents can request the change of zoning status for neighborhoods.

Attorney Robert Frycklund, borough solicitor, told Evans the council presently has no jurisdiction in the matter. “This is a zoning issue,” he said.

In other business

• The council approved the resignation of John Orsulak as a part-time police officer effective Oct. 1.

• Wargo, who recently wrote the book “Mysteries on the Mountain” about incidents in Summit Hill, was authorized to use the gazebo in Ludlow Park for a book-signing on Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The book can be purchased through Amazon.

• A letter was received from David Horvath, superintendent of Mauch Chunk Lake Park, asking for a letter from the council supporting a grant request to have the Boat Launch B parking lot repaved, existing restrooms replaced and the entrance to the park repaved.

The grant is being sought from the Fish and Boat Commission.

No other obligation is intended for the borough except for the letter endorsing the grant request.

• The borough received a counterproposal from the Summit Hill Water Authority for leasing office space.

The council approved a two-year lease with the authority to continue using space in the Municipal Building at a rate of $900 per month.

Last month, the council said it wanted an $1,100 a month lease from the authority. The authority presented its counter request of $900 per month on Monday.

The lease includes maintenance and electric.

Until now, the borough has given free space to the authority in the borough hall.

• The council agreed to purchase a credit card machine to accept credit and debit card payments for garbage and some other borough bills. The machine will cost $225 from Leading Edge Payment and is part of the Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank Merchant Program. There will also be a monthly fee to the borough of $18.95 for each of the borough’s two accounts.

A 3.25 percent fee will be attached to bills when paid with credit or debit cards.