The State College borough housing task force met yesterday to discuss violations committed by two fraternities but did not make a decision about their future rental status.

Phi Kappa Tau, 408 E. Fairmount Ave., and Tau Kappa Epsilon, 346 E. Prospect Ave., are in danger of having their rental permits suspended, borough officials said earlier this week.

Yesterday, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said a final determination about the future of the houses will be made within the next few weeks.

"We reviewed the various charges that had been brought against these properties and either verified the charges or determined that more information was needed, and we talked about the process that needs to be followed," Fountaine said. "We also discussed the frats' rights to appeal."

He said the task force is composed of members of the State College Police Department, the zoning department, the Centre Region code office and borough staff.

Rental properties in the borough are evaluated on a point system, with points being awarded for every violation a property receives. Violations such as not shoveling a sidewalk or leaving garbage out are worth fewer points than furnishing alcohol to a minor or disorderly conduct. Once a property reaches five points, they receive a formal notice. When a property reaches 10 points, tenants face permit suspension.

If the fraternities have their permits suspended, they will have until the end of the lease period on the house to move out, and they will have to be out of the house for six months.

Fountaine said the housing task force is an administrative body and no members from the fraternities were present at the meetings. Although no members from either fraternity were present at yesterday's meeting, Fountaine said both were notified when they achieved a five-point status. He added that the borough housing department has had previous communication with both fraternities.

Vito Pugliano, Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity president, declined to comment and Eugene Corradetti, Phi Kappa Tau fraternity president, did not return phone calls for comment by press time yesterday.

Fountaine said more discussions would occur should the houses receive formal suspensions.

"They have a right of appeal and as a part of that process, there might be an opportunity for discussion about the nature of problems and how to fix them," he said.

Fountaine added that before making its final determination, the task force will meet with members from Student Affairs to keep them updated on the suspension process.

"The purpose is to brief student affairs because the frats are Penn State-recognized student organizations," he said. "Penn State is not involved in the decision-making process."

Fountaine said the exact nature of the violations made by each house would not be released just yet, but the violations ranged from disorderly conduct, fire code violations, furnishing alcohol to minors and refuse violations. He said the full details would be released when a final determination is made.

Fountaine said the violations have occurred within a one-year period, beginning at some point last fall, although it is possible to rack up 10 points of violations within a span less than a full year.

"It could have taken a full year to get to that point; it depends on nature of violations," Fountaine said.

Fountaine said there was another property in the borough that previously reached 10 points and had its permit revoked.

The property was located on Adams Alley, and Fountaine said it was a case where a landlord had a number of violations over a year and ceased renting the property and let it fall into disarray.

Other properties have come close to achieving 10 points, but most fixed their problems before reaching that point, Fountaine said.