House bill may affect off-campus housing
Delegate Aumann seeks increased code enforcement near college towns
Carrie Wood
News | 2/7/08
Members of the Maryland General Assembly have introduced a bill that would provide increased funding to enforce housing codes, specifically around state public colleges and universities.
Delegate Susan Aumann of the 42nd district, which includes Towson, is the lead sponsor of the bill that also includes delegates Steven Deboy, Pat McDonogh and Nancy Stocksdale.
According to Aumann, there are laws in place that concern how many non-related individuals may live together in a house, but not in an apartment.
House Bill 184 is meant to address this and other issues in college towns.
"Some problems occur when there are more than the regulated amount of students living in apartments," Aumann said. "You have increased traffic and parking problems and sometimes you get other issues that aren't so pleasant."
The Baltimore County Division of Code Enforcement is only open until 4 p.m. on weekdays, leaving the county police department responsible for answering any calls concerning housing code violations later in the evening.
The bill proposes required code enforcement officials be on call past 4 p.m.
"What I'm trying to do with this bill is have a part-time individual be available for [the evening]," Aumann said. "If issues arise, the communities will have someone to contact."
First introduced on Jan. 21, the bill aims to determine what communities are "affected by the student population of a public senior higher education institution." If a district fits the standards set forth by the state, funding would be provided to increase code enforcement.
The Towson University Student Government Association has expressed opposition to the bill, stating that it unfairly aims code enforcement toward college students.
"I understand the need to enforce housing codes and the need to enforce the law, but I don't agree that they write legislation that specifically targets students," SGA president Jenny Haley said. "If they are going to create legislation like this, they should do it for all of Maryland, not just the areas surrounding [universities]."
Delegate Susan Aumann of the 42nd district, which includes Towson, is the lead sponsor of the bill that also includes delegates Steven Deboy, Pat McDonogh and Nancy Stocksdale.
According to Aumann, there are laws in place that concern how many non-related individuals may live together in a house, but not in an apartment.
House Bill 184 is meant to address this and other issues in college towns.
"Some problems occur when there are more than the regulated amount of students living in apartments," Aumann said. "You have increased traffic and parking problems and sometimes you get other issues that aren't so pleasant."
The Baltimore County Division of Code Enforcement is only open until 4 p.m. on weekdays, leaving the county police department responsible for answering any calls concerning housing code violations later in the evening.
The bill proposes required code enforcement officials be on call past 4 p.m.
"What I'm trying to do with this bill is have a part-time individual be available for [the evening]," Aumann said. "If issues arise, the communities will have someone to contact."
First introduced on Jan. 21, the bill aims to determine what communities are "affected by the student population of a public senior higher education institution." If a district fits the standards set forth by the state, funding would be provided to increase code enforcement.
The Towson University Student Government Association has expressed opposition to the bill, stating that it unfairly aims code enforcement toward college students.
"I understand the need to enforce housing codes and the need to enforce the law, but I don't agree that they write legislation that specifically targets students," SGA president Jenny Haley said. "If they are going to create legislation like this, they should do it for all of Maryland, not just the areas surrounding [universities]."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
anonymous
posted 2/07/08 @ 10:16 AM EST
I don't see why the SGA is complaining that students are being "targeted". Aumann has a good reason to provide this assistance around the state's large universities. (Continued…)
AGVKrioni
Stephen Absalom
posted 2/08/08 @ 12:24 PM EST
Man, I used to go to a very small art school that was literally a block away from Arizona State University. The apartment complexes were PACKED with ASU students and every freaking night there was loud music pumping out from block after block of apartment buildings where parties were constantly raging. (Continued…)
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