According to a report released last month, disorderly behavior at Fairfield beach plummeted over the past year. From August 2002 to August 2003, there were 25 arrests at the beach, compared to 112 arrests from September 2001 to August 2002.
Sgt. Edward Greene of the Fairfield Police Department said that the town’s “disorderly conduct ordinance” enacted in Sept. 2000 played a role in curtailing bad behavior at the beach.
“The ordinance has reduced the number of noise-related complaints we’ve received in the Fairfield beach area,” Greene said.
According to Greene, the fine for creating a public disturbance is $88, payable by mail.
The ordinance lets the town recoup the cost of sending police to the same property on noise complaints.
For the ordinance to take effect, police would have to respond to the same property at least two times within six months.
Police are allowed to issue a warning after the first response, and an arrest and conviction are required after the second response before the town can bill the landlord.
Dean of Students Mark Reed downplayed the effect of the ordinance. “To be honest, I don’t think it has had much impact on students,” he said in an e-mail. “What I do think the ordinance did, however, was focus attention and generate discussion about what is appropriate behavior and what is truly inappropriate or disrespectful, and I don’t think that is a bad thing.”
Reed also said that the university was not involved when the town adopted the ordinance.
“The University was not involved in the writing or adoption of the ordinance, as it was a local town government issue,” he said. “To the best of my knowledge, our opinion was not sought during the ordinance discussion and debate.”
Student beach residents interviewed by The Mirror seemed skeptical about the ordinance and its effects.
“Pretty soon nobody will come here to party anymore, and we will just turn into one big calculator club,” said Sarah Posnick, ’04.
Both Sandra Costa, ’04 and Dana Warzenski, ’04 said they weren’t aware of the ordinance, but added that they do not think it will help relations.
“If they will not respect us, then we will not respect them,” said Warzenski.
“It wouldn’t affect partying,” said Costa. “Torture me with fines and I’ll torture you with noise.”
Reed added that the university is still taking steps to improve “town-gown” relations.
“At this time, we are working with our students to educate them about the responsibilities that come along with the right to live where they choose,” he said. “The efforts we have taken in the past few years-the opening meeting of beach students with Father Kelley and others, the efforts of the Coordinator for Off-campus students, and open dialog with students-have all been helpful and we will continue with them.”
Reed also took issue with the university being billed as having bad town-gown relations.
“Unfortunately, we do have students whose behavior is unacceptable and unreasonable,” he said. “However, we also have a large number of students who are great neighbors and responsible young adults.”
“The biggest change in the past couple of years that has had the most positive impact, in my opinion, is that landlords are no longer invisible players in this situation,” Reed added. “Rather, they have been more proactive in making clear their expectations of their tenants and what will be tolerated and what will not be.”
Greene said as long as students are responsible, they can still have fun living at the beach. “Enjoy yourselves and the company of your friends, but just respect your neighbors,” he said. “Keep the windows closed if you’re going to stay up late with friends, things like that.”
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