PLATTSBURGH — City of Plattsburgh officials hope changes in law will ease problems with drunken college students.

The Common Council will hold public hearings soon to give residents an opportunity to offer their two cents on proposed changes to city ordinances. The Common Council is considering altering noise ordinances and the definition of what constitutes a family.

Once the hearings are held, city officials will vote on whether to adopt the law changes that were recommended by a commission formed to curb problems often caused by college students, especially in the Center City area.

“There is a game plan,” said Plattsburgh City Mayor Donald Kasprzak.

REPORT SETS COURSE

For years, Plattsburgh residents, largely in the Center City area, have complained about problems caused by drunken college students who urinate on public property, shout during the middle of the night while stumbling home from downtown, destroy property and sometimes enter residences.

Kasprzak and Plattsburgh State President Dr. John Ettling formed a commission last April, headed by Dr. Edward Miller of Plattsburgh State, to examine the situation and present recommendations to help with Center City issues.

The July report contained 39 recommendations, including changes to the city noise ordinance and the definition of family housing, nuisance ordinances to ensure landlords maintain properties, civil penalties resulting from hosting parties and stings, increased enforcement and stricter guidelines for renting college housing.

The commission also suggested the city require registration, inspection and permitting of properties rented to college students.

COLLEGE CHANGES

So far, Plattsburgh State has lowered the level for violations committed by off-campus students that the college will become involved with, from felony to misdemeanor; is searching for a coordinator of alcohol and other drugs; and began changes to make athletic teams responsible for their behavior, in a fashion similar to other college groups.

The university has also established a committee of students and faculty to discuss college-community relations and is looking to create the position of college-community liaison.