After a controversial end to the spring semester when the State College Borough Council approved surveillance cameras for Beaver Avenue, the summer brought several quieter months of activity for the council.

The cameras, approved by a 4-3 decision in April, should be installed and operational by the time students return, State College Police Chief Tom King said.

Wacor Electronic Systems, Inc., of Lancaster, was scheduled to work on the installation during the first part of August. King said the entire system would be operational by Aug. 15.

The cameras were originally to be installed within 90 days of the council awarding the bid for the work on May 5.

The council also continued creation of an ordinance to require sprinklers in fraternity houses, an issue first looked at this spring.

A public hearing was held where the council discussed the issue and they decided to postpone any decision until more information can be gathered.

Most involved have expressed support for the idea, but the time given before the requirement goes into effect and the installation cost have been points of contention.

Council also took action at its July 21 meeting to implement a training program for servers of alcohol in the borough.

Under the program, two representatives from each alcohol-serving establishment in State College would be required to attend a training course and then share the information with other employees.

Topics covered would include recognizing fake IDs and intoxication, and the course will be administered by State College police officers.

Restaurant and bar owners expressed support for the program and the cooperation between themselves and the borough in setting it up.

As the summer came to a close, the council also said goodbye to one of the borough's longest-serving and most dependable employees -- borough manager Peter Marshall.

Marshall served 17 years in the position, one at which his co-workers said he excelled. He will officially retire on Sept. 15, though he is currently on vacation.

"We're going to miss Peter," Mayor Bill Welch said. "He's one of those individuals where you don't talk about a replacement. You talk about a successor."

The council did name a successor at its Aug. 4 meeting, offering the position to Thomas J. Fountaine II, borough manager for Hollidaysburg, with a unanimous vote. Council President Richard McCarl said Fountaine would assume the manager's position on Nov. 5.