State College Borough Council will soon review a fair housing ordinance that may be acceptable to most members of the community -- something they have been trying to do for nearly 15 years.

Council President Gary Wiser said the borough staff is currently writing a final draft of a new ordinance proposal presented by the Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Committee.

Ted Vallance, chairman for the CDBG committee, said this fair housing proposal differs from its predecessors because it does not specify the groups to be protected from discrimination when seeking housing.

Instead the ordinance states that financial standing is the only reason one can be denied housing, he said.

"It eliminates the long list of groups that can't be discriminated against," Vallance said, adding, "It does not have all the red flags that aroused people last time."

Last summer some members of council came under attack when they narrowly passed a fair housing ordinance which mirrored federal laws and failed to provide protection for gay men and lesbians. The ordinance was vetoed by Mayor Arnold Addison for that reason.

The proposed ordinance also provides for a local arbitration board which could save time and money in settling landlord-tenant disputes, Vallance said.

Some community leaders who supported an all-inclusive ordinance said they would be happy to see the new proposal pass but were upset that one of the earlier, stronger proposals were not pursued.

Ron Marlow, Undergraduate Student Government Senate President, also said he was unsatisfied with the proposal.

"I am a little disappointed that people would back down from providing the protection that were in the some of the other ordinances," he said.

"It sounds too simple to be as effective as the others presented," Marlow said, but added, "If this is able to provide the protection needed then I am for it."

Lesbian Gay Student Alliance officers said they had mixed thoughts about the new proposal and would prefer to see a more detailed ordinance passed.

"I realize that this version has a better chance of being accepted by the council," said Jeff McCarty, co-director of LGSA.

McCarty said the effectiveness of this ordinance would depend on who is in charge of enforcement.

"It is just kind of a fishy way to do it. It is fostering people's prejudices," he said.

The new ordinance has a good chance of passing through the council because of the addition of Bill Welch to the seven member body. During his campaign, Welch said he supported an ordinance similar to the one now proposed.

Welch said yesterday he has not had a chance to review the new proposal but that he supports the principles of it.

"The focus (of leasing apartments) should be on the business aspect, everything else is irrelevant," he said.

The bill will not be in danger of a veto from Mayor Addison if passed by the council.

"I'm in favor of the revised ordinance as long as there is an understanding of who is included," he said.

Addison said when the bill comes before council he will ask for the protective groups to be listed so it will be put in the records.

Other members of council refused to comment saying they have not yet seen the proposal. Wiser said the council is currently consulting with its solicitor to see if a public hearing on the ordinance is necessary.