SUNY Geneseo and Village sign enforcement agreement

GENESEO — SUNY Geneseo and the Village of Geneseo have jointly signed a village/college compact renewing a commitment to a high quality of life for all who live, work and study in the village.
 
College President Christopher C. Dahl and village Mayor Richard B. Hatheway signed the compact Dec. 5, the result of recommendations from a task force convened last January to examine areas of mutual concern with the intention of strengthening existing strong town-gown relations.
 
Co-chairing the Task Force on Town Gown Relations were retired Livingston County Court Judge Jerry Alonzo and Chief Sal Simonetti from University Police. Also represented on the task force were representatives from village government, the village Police Department, the SUNY Geneseo student body and administration, the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office and local landlords.
 
“The college’s relationship with the village and community has always been a point of pride for Geneseo and I commend all who served on the task force,” said Dahl. “Reinforcing mutual cooperation among all organizations on quality of life matters can only result in positive relationships and we’re pleased to be sharing this responsibility.”
 
Simonetti also had praise for task force members, emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness.
 
“What makes this compact strong is the collaboration among the task force members who made sure all interests were fully represented,” said Simonetti. “The college and village have always enjoyed a professional, respectful relationship and the compact provides clear guidelines on making sure that continues into the future.”
 
Alonzo noted in his remarks that he and his wife chose to live in Geneseo because of the vitality and opportunities the college offers to the community.  
 
“There were occasional challenges as well,” said Alonzo.  “For instance, we lived for 28 years next to a fraternity house.  But direct communication worked well – to make the young men feel welcome in the neighborhood and to keep us in touch with their lives.  There are other things I would have liked to see in the compact, such as a statement welcoming students to community events, but this is a good start and certainly strengthens the lines of communication.”
 
 
The Geneseo Town-Gown Relations Compact reads:
 
 
 
·   Violations of the SUNY Geneseo Code of Conduct that affect the quality of life in the Village of Geneseo will be adjudicated through the procedures established in the code.
 

 
 
·   The President of the college will communicate to all students and parents the expected standards of conduct in the community.
 

 
 
·   The college will continue to mandate that students living off campus provide complete and accurate contact information, to include local address, phone numbers and emergency contact information.
 

 
 
·   The Village of Geneseo will continue to provide landlord and property manager information upon request of the college.