Although Tuesday’s meeting of Summit Hill Borough Council was primarily for filling a vacant council seat, two other topics were discussed.

One was that a rat problem is occurring one because of a neglected property.

The other is a plea that a school bus stop across the street from the Summit Hill Post Office be moved to another location.

In one other matter, the council said it will advertise to hire a full-time police officer. Applications for the position will be accepted until Aug. 24.

The issue of rodents was raised by resident Timothy Yarnall, who lives in the unit block of East Walter Street.

Yarnall said that he has killed 61 rats. Recently, he said, his son went into the kitchen and two ran past him.

He feels a reason for the problem is a vacant house next to his, which he labeled “atrocious.” He said grass in the yard of that property “has got to be 3-feet high.”

“I’m begging for help,” he said, adding that he has been paying an exterminator.

Joe Weber, council president, said the owner has been cited for the high grass.

Regarding the rats, Weber said, “Unfortunately, what we do for one resident we’ve got to do for everybody,” indicating it is up to the property owner to remedy the situation.

Yarnall said he spoke with the property maintenance official of the borough who told him the problem is his.

“You’re not the only one having this problem,” Weber said. “It’s kind of mutating through the town.”

Last month, the council received a complaint of rats being an issue in the unit block of West Holland Street.

And last year, a property owner in the unit block of East Ludlow Street voiced complaints about rat infestation to the council.

“Let me see what we can do by reaching out to the property owner,” Weber said.

Mayor Karen Ruzicka said the borough addresses vector issues in its ordinance and suggested enforcement might occur through this means.

On the bus stop matter, a letter was received from Summit Hill Postmaster Eamon Lenahan asking council to move the stop.

He said individuals park in front of the post office at the bus stop sometimes for more than an hour, thereby depriving postal customers of parking spaces.

There was an instance where a customer was hit by a football from youngsters waiting for a bus.

Parents are smoking here and trash is strewn, Lenahan wrote in the letter to council, and last year a postal employee was verbally abused by a parent at the bus stop.

Vehicles also have sustained dents, he said.

Council member Sherri Buzik said she often visits the post office in the morning. There were instances she couldn’t get to a post office box because of people leaning against it.

“I got attitude from parents,” she said, adding, “I can’t even park at the post office.”

Kira Steber, secretary/treasurer of the council, said she contacted the school district and was advised that the borough determines where school bus stops will be located.

Weber said the council will “look into it.”