State College Borough Council reaffirms they are criminals

[t1m0thy]

State College meeting halted by gun brouhaha
Jessica VanderKolk
- jvanderk@centredaily.com
May 3, 2011 7:56am EDT

STATE COLLEGE — Mayor Elizabeth Goreham abruptly ended Monday’s Borough Council meeting just before 9:30 p.m. to stop an argument between Councilman Peter Morris and Tim Havener, president of the central chapter of Firearms Owners Against Crime.

Goreham did so before council was to recess for a work session, near the end of the agenda.

During the meeting’s earlier public hour, Goreham neglected to ask for audience comments, later recognizing Havener’s request to speak. He asked if council had changed its ordinance prohibiting firearms in parks. He visited all Centre Region municipalities with similar ordinances earlier this year, notifying officials they are in violation of state law and requesting a change.

Council voted in early April not to change the ordinance, but to ask the state League of Cities and Municipalities to support legislation prohibiting firearms in municipal parks and buildings.

Havener asked council members if they realized they were in direct violation of state law and committing a crime.

Morris asked Havener if he was armed, which he was.

“I don’t appreciate it,” Morris said. “You come in and you make threats and you’re armed. I voted not to repeal the ordinance and I would again and again and again.”

As Goreham ended the meeting, Morris asked if council could “do anything about that.” As Havener and others with him walked out, he said, “No, you can’t. This is America.”

Earlier in the meeting, council voted 5-2 to send an ordinance to the Planning Commission to consider changing the definition of “student.”

Council members Ron Filippelli and Silvi Lawrence opposed the motion, which asks the commission to consider differentiating between undergraduate and graduate students, based on a request by the three graduate students who were evicted from a house in violation of the student home ordinance.

Chelsey Zacherl, Cairsty Grassie and a third roommate not at the meeting are third-year doctoral students who work half-time as research assistants. They were evicted from their rental home, 1024 Metz Ave., last fall, when it was discovered their landlord could not rent to students according to the ordinance.

It states student homes must stand at least 225 feet apart, which the home does not. The students now live in Ferguson Township.

Filippelli said, and others agreed, that considering a change was a mistake, due to an eroding borough tax base.

“It’s about neighborhood stabilization,” he said. “It’s not about the difference between graduate and undergraduate students; we want to stop the transfer of full-time, permanent homes to rental properties.”

Councilwoman Theresa Lafer agreed, but said the women in question should have some form of protection and council should look at a way to enhance owner responsibility.

Zacherl told council she and her roommates may have paid less in taxes, but they were three individuals paying taxes, as opposed to one family.

“There are students here,” she said. “It's a college town. I don't know how you address that. This was a terrible situation for us. We felt discrimination.”

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/05/0...#ixzz1LIEeODJW

[Ten*K]

judge, warrant, arrest, then a repeal.

[t1m0thy]

I talked to the D.A.'s office and left a message with staff requesting prosecution under Title 18 6120 and 5103. Applicable M1 and M2 charges for each member of council as individuals.

[NikeBauer21]

I talked to the D.A.'s office and left a message with staff requesting prosecution under Title 18 6120 and 5103. Applicable M1 and M2 charges for each member of council as individuals.

I would be surprised if it goes anywhere, but props on the initiative and standing up for your, and other's carrying rights Tim.

Some people will just never get it...

[jshwak]

subscribed.. I want to watch this closely..

[streaker69]

I talked to the D.A.'s office and left a message with staff requesting prosecution under Title 18 6120 and 5103. Applicable M1 and M2 charges for each member of council as individuals.

So what happens if the DA refuses to press charges? Can you walk into the PD and file a criminal complaint?

[NikeBauer21]

So what happens if the DA refuses to press charges? Can you walk into the PD and file a criminal complaint?

I honestly wouldn't see why not? There's illegal activity going on, that is highlighted directly by the PA Constitution.

I don't know though, but I wouldn't see why not.

[nycems22]

So what happens if the DA refuses to press charges? Can you walk into the PD and file a criminal complaint?

would the Attorney General be an option?

[pahuntnfool]

So what happens if the DA refuses to press charges? Can you walk into the PD and file a criminal complaint?

I would think but I am no expert but next step if the DA doesn't do his job would be the Pa Attorny Generals office. But I am not sure.

[ChamberedRound]

There was another thread in which something similar was being discussed (I don't recall which). In short, some states allow individuals to file criminal charges against the government if the AG or DA won't, as to deny such is a violation of one's First Amendment rights to request a "redress of grievances".

Not sure how PA weighs in on this, however.