After a roller coaster ride of discussion and debate among borough officials, the public was finally able to give input on the proposed Nuisance Gathering Ordinance at Monday's State College Borough Council meeting -- and they had plenty to say.

The ordinance, which was first proposed in July, is designed to penalize hosts of parties if their guests become uncontrollable and commit criminal acts. To do this, the ordinance would fine the host a minimum $300 fine and a possible 30 days in jail on the first offense.

"It's overly broad, and that will lead to confusion and miscommunication," State College resident David Lapiniski said.

Lapiniski, 408 E. Fairmount Ave., said he is a property owner who rents out to students and is mainly concerned about what would happen if several units were involved with a "nuisance gathering."

"If there are multiple properties involved, who owns that?" he said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni Corporation President Jim Edwards, 801 S. Garner St., said, as a member of the Highland community, he knows how residents feel about students and understands their concerns. But he still doesn't support the ordinance.

"I've had my home invaded by drunken students, too ... I share your goals," he said. "But I don't necessarily agree with the means proposed."

Edwards said more alumni involvement and higher standards is the best way to deal with the alcohol issues for fraternities.

"I think that's a much better mechanism than the Nuisance Gathering Ordinance," he said. "I wish my undergraduate chapter could hear the feedback ... It's important for them to know how they're perceived ... the solution is better communication.

But not everyone was against the ordinance. State College resident Tony D'Augelli, 403 S. Allen St., said he thought it was a great way to bring a sense of community back to the borough.

"There is a creation of fear -- people are really afraid to leave their home," he said. "I'd like to see more of a police presence. The intensity and scope of this problem are beyond the current resources."

D'Augelli complained the amount of noise generated by students has made it difficult to sleep.

"I developed my own method of sleeping," he said. "I close the window, put on a fan, medicate myself, put a pillow over my head and then maybe I can sleep. But not always."

Penn State student and borough council candidate Brett Fisher, who has opposed the ordinance in the past, also spoke at the meeting. Fisher (senior-science) said the ordinance was unprecedented and has "never been done before."

"It is clearly unconstitutional," he said. "You are literally charging one person for the crimes of others."

Fisher also spoke against the second ordinance discussed at Monday's meeting -- the State College Zoning Ordinance. There were three amendments council was asked to consider: student home definition, the definition of fraternity and the University planned district. The main problem Fisher had with the ordinance was it currently does not allow two or more students to live together in a student-owned home.

"It's discriminatory to students," he said. "I think it's basically the same thing as denying two women or minorities to live together. I would urge you to consider not passing this."

Edwards also spoke against the ordinance. He said of the 50 fraternities at Penn State, only four have active alumni associations, and they all need to "return to the ideals" the fraternities were founded upon.

"We want to encourage our chapters, maybe more than encourage, to be better neighbors," he said. "We need to share our best practices between our entities."

To help combat the growing alcohol problems in the borough, Edwards said he and the alumni associations are developing leadership programs so fraternity members "have something to do other than drink."

The council will make a final decision for both ordinances at its Dec. 7 meeting.