Council plans 'no sleeping' signage, monitoring after people slept in borough building entrance

Council members told the meeting they found people sleeping in the vestibule/elevator area near the borough food pantry and discussed short‑term steps to prevent overnight stays and loitering.

Council and staff said the pantry area is public and that the borough will initially use posted signs saying no sleeping/no overnight stays and increased monitoring as a first step. "If they return or they won't leave, that's where it gets... we can pursue trespass," a council member said.

Staff and the police chief said the elevator is kept locked and that keeping it secured and monitoring cameras can reduce instances of people sleeping inside the building. The borough already offers transport to an area homeless shelter for people who accept it, but staff noted the shelter has check‑in requirements (residents must arrive by 8 p.m., according to staff), which can limit its usefulness for some people.

Council discussed balancing access to the food pantry — which is available to the public — with the safety and maintenance needs of borough facilities. Options raised included better signage in the building entrance, daily checks of the area, ensuring the elevator remains locked, and revisiting policy with legal advice if the problem persisted.

Council did not adopt a formal ordinance at the meeting but directed staff to prepare signs and to monitor the site; if the conduct continued, council said it would consider stronger measures including trespass notices or a future resolution.