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Committee advances plan to curb unruly private gatherings, seeks university partnership
Summary
The public safety committee reviewed a draft ordinance to define and hold hosts accountable for unruly private gatherings, discussed updates to a short‑term rental point system and sought closer university-resident coordination. Staff will produce a narrower V2 and consult the district attorney before proceeding.
The Westchester Public Safety Quality of Life Committee on June 9 advanced work on an ordinance aimed at controlling large private parties and unruly gatherings that place heavy demands on police and emergency services. Chair Brian Travis said the draft would apply to short‑term rentals, long‑term rentals, student rentals and owner‑occupied homes and would allow civil penalties and recovery of police service costs from hosts or property owners.
“Large private gatherings have become a huge resource drain on the police department,” Chair Brian Travis said, presenting the committee’s list of proposed actions including permit‑parking timing adjustments and better communications with Westchester University. He said the committee is testing several measures because “the old systems just doesn’t seem to be working the way that we wanted to.”
Committee members discussed consolidating scattered code sections and making the draft enforceable. The proposed criteria include underage drinking, disorderly intoxication, obstruction of public ways, excessive noise and litter accumulation. The draft would deem a gathering “unruly” if three or more listed disturbances occur and would attach civil penalties to the event host; some models also escalate penalties against property owners after repeat events.
Police Chief Josh Lee advised careful legal review. “As much as we could recover costs, I’d be supportive of that, but I don’t know the legality of that,” he said, noting that the department currently charges for a narrow set of responses (for example, false‑alarm fees) and that recovery rules should be vetted by the district attorney.
University and community stakeholders urged inclusion in drafting. Amber Decker Haynes, director of student connection and belonging at Westchester University, told the committee she wants university staff included in conversations and warned of legal limits on what the university can require of students. Stephen Hopson, associate director who advises fraternities, recommended involving students directly in co‑creation to improve adherence to any new rules.
Travis said staff will produce a streamlined Version 2 of the ordinance reflecting committee and public feedback, forward it to the borough solicitor, and request advice from the Chester County District Attorney about abatement and recoverability of police costs. The committee did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting; it will return for further drafting and legal review before any public hearing or formal vote.
The committee also reported complementary short‑term rental discussions — including possible point‑system revisions — and emphasized non‑regulatory measures such as clearer communication with student organizations and targeted enforcement in identified hotspots. The committee seeks to complete further drafts ahead of the fall semester.
