Twenty minors were arrested for underage drinking Monday night in the new Mont Alto student apartment complex that the developer assured town residents and officials would not be a community problem.
A news release issued by Pennsylvania State Police in Chambersburg stated that police were called to Apex Housing in Mont Alto about 11:10 p.m.
According to stories in Public Opinion’s archives, Apex is a housing complex primarily for students of Penn State Mont Alto that opened in the summer of 2009. It is off Slabtown Road, behind University Drive.
Troopers were notified Monday night about a party at the apartments, according to Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Tom Pinkerton.
"PSP Chambersburg had received complaints from the Chief of Police-Penn State Mont Alto, and the mayor of Mont Alto about noise and disorderly behavior since the start of school last Monday," Pinkerton wrote in an e-mail.
Mont Alto Mayor John Esser said he does not live immediately by the apartments, but he and several borough council members received complaints from other residents over the past week.
"I did hear the noise on several occasions when I went outside, though," he said.
Police did not release names, ages and any other identifying information about the 20 people who were cited Monday.
The press release stated that charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock. A representative of Rock’s office said Tuesday afternoon that
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charging papers had not been delivered by police.
Mont Alto Borough Council President Dennis Monn said concerns about student behavior were discussed during town hall meetings before the apartment complex was built.
"This was a big concern when it was first talked about, and we were assured that these kind of things weren’t going to happen. They said they were going to have on-site supervision," he said.
Monn declined to discuss the issue further, since he did not know all the details about the Monday night incident.
"We run a clean and very nice complex. We certainly don’t want it to be an ‘animal house,’ and we work hard to make sure it’s not," said Greg Pellathy, the owner of Apex, during a phone interview Tuesday.
He said complex staff "work diligently to ensure that these incidents are minimized to the best our ability."
Pellathy added that alcohol-free events are sponsored regularly at the complex to provide residents with alternatives to drinking parties.
"We try to protect our investment by discouraging these types of incidents," he said.
According to an archived story, the $8 million complex consists of 59 housing units for as many as 170 students. Students pay around $635 a month for a 10-month lease or $595 a month for a 12-month lease.
"Any illegal action is a violation of our lease provisions as well as the Penn State code of conduct," Pellathy said.
Kristie Fry, Penn State Mont Alto spokesperson, said the alleged incident is out of the university’s jurisdiction because it took place off campus.
"Of course we don’t condone that type of behavior at all. We believe that responsible behavior is an expectation for all our students, but what happens in society happens here, too," she said.
She said all incoming Penn State freshmen are required to complete an online alcohol education course months before they arrive on campus, and other programs are offered throughout the school year.
Mayor Esser said he has had several recent conversations about student behavior with Apex management.
"They’ve promised me that they’re going to work harder to try and prevent this kind of thing from happening," he said. "I think we can get by these issues and make it a more enjoyable place to work, live and go to school."
Without its own police force, Mont Alto relies on state police to enforce the law. According to the 2000 census, the borough’s population is less than 1,400.
"We all just want to co-exist, that’s all I’m asking. Be respectful about your neighbors’ rights. Residents need to be respectful of the students, too," Esser said.
Chambersburg Public Opinion