Following little discussion last night, the Beaver Canyon surveillance cameras were given another year to record the activities of downtown State College, despite controversy over their effectiveness as crime deterrents or investigative tools.

The State College Borough Council voted 5-0, with two members absent, to approve the recommendations of a citizens' advisory committee, which included moving one camera to the intersection of East Calder Way and McAllister Alley. That move will not occur until council also approves the funds for it.

Council member Janet Knauer raised concern over the budget implications of moving a camera to Calder Way.

"There is a cost to doing that," she said.

Prior to the meeting, Off-Campus Student Union President Kristen Kofmehl said moving a camera to Calder Way could deter sexual assaults in the alley.

"People never used to talk about rape, and now they are," Kofmehl said.

Police Chief Tom King said the State College Police Department will get a price estimate of moving a camera and deliver its findings to council by January or February. Council then has the final vote in approving the cost of the move. King said he hopes the camera will be moved by March.

"We'll have to identify where that money will come from," he said.

Borough Manager Tom Fountaine estimated that the cost will be minor.

Cameras are currently located at the intersections of Beaver Avenue and McAllister Street, Beaver Avenue and Hiester Street, and Beaver Avenue and Locust Lane. They were installed last September.

Last night, council also voted to publicize the cameras' existence and to purchase an annual maintenance agreement for the cameras, which will cost about $2,500 for 2005.

Because a new set of students moves into State College each semester, the borough needs to publicize the cameras to increase awareness, Council Member James Meyer said.

This could be done through newspaper advertisements or signs, although both options require money, Meyer said.

King said the camera at Beaver and Hiester was not helpful in identifying participants in a fight early Sunday morning in which 22-year-old Penn State student David Pimentel was stabbed.

A Garner Street building blocked the camera's view, King said.