At a Friday afternoon work session, State College Borough Council members asked the borough manager to assess the possibility and legality of requiring all student apartment buildings in the borough to to have live-in resident assistants and 24-hour, on-site security. Council members requested this information as part of a discussion of how to reduce the number of police calls to downtown apartment complexes.
Though the possibility of such an ordinance is still being investigated, council member Don Hahn suggested that, if it turns out to not be an option, the borough could offer an incentive to encourage building owners to cooperate.
Borough Manager Tom Fountaine pointed out that, statistically, single-family renter-occupied homes in the borough account for the most calls to the State College Police Department, despite the problems caused by high-rise apartment buildings downtown. It was these properties that prompted the point system the borough now utilizes to keep rental permit properties in check.
The Council expressed that their main hope was to hold property-owners accountable, particularly with an eye on several fires that have recently occurred at rental properties.
Council will discuss the matter further at a future meeting after receiving more detailed information.
