An off-campus fraternity house in Gorham was seized over the summer for failing to pay taxes, and another is in jeopardy of foreclosure, while USM officials say the new behavioral guidelines continue to have a positive impact on relations between Greek organizations and neighbors.
The Phi Kappa Sigma house at 27 Preble Street was seized in June due to failure to pay back taxes on the property. In addition to tax delinquency, Gorham Town Manager David Cole said police had been called to the property 149 times since 2005, and it had numerous code violations.
With the maturation of several tax liens — an order to pay back taxes — on the house, and rising complaints from neighbors, the town decided to act. “We had been abundantly patient with that particular property,” said Cole. “After extensive complaints by neighbors about the behavior of the folks at that property, we decided it was time to go ahead and take the property.”
Phi Kappa Sigma is not the only Greek organization with property woes. According to The Portland Press Herald, Delta Chi owes $6,463 in property taxes, and Cole said a tax lien matures on the property in February 2011.
According to Chris O’Connor, Assistant Dean of Student Life, Delta Chi has worked out a payment plan with the town of Gorham.
Phi Kappa Sigma could not be reached for comment and Delta Chi declined to comment.
Compounding the issues faced by off-campus Greek organizations, a proposal was brought before the Gorham Town Council that would prevent any new sororities and fraternities from acquiring property by removing them from permitted land use under the zoning ordinance. That proposal is currently being reviewed by the Gorham Planning Board, and there will be a public meeting on Sept. 13.
O’Connor noted that tensions between off-campus Greek organizations and neighbors tend to rise and fall in a cyclical manner, and are especially aggravated during warmer months. “When the issues come, there is then a period of improved relations. And as things get better and the issues go away, people get a bit complacent,” he said. “And then as a result, we forget, and all of a sudden the issues come up again.”
In an effort to break out of this cycle and not allow the same issues to repeatedly arise, and to make sure tensions do not again boil over, O’Connor said the off-campus organizations plan on having regular meetings once a semester with the neighbors.
Meetings between neighbors and off-campus fraternities and sororities held in September 2009, the beginning of spring semester, and after spring break, resulted in a set of behavioral guidelines approved by the university, neighbors and Greek organizations. Among other things, the new guidelines call for “quiet hours” from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays, and remind groups that all hours are “courtesy hours.” Additionally, groups hosting events are required to notify neighbors and Gorham and University Police prior to hosting events.
According to USM spokesman Bob Caswell, the new guidelines seem to be working. “[The guidelines] have only been in place for one semester, but early feedback is that those guidelines are having a positive impact on the situation,” said Caswell.
The status of off-campus fraternities has yet to be seen, but O’Connor is optimistic about improving relations with neighbors. “What’s great is that we’ve heard nothing but positive things from the neighbors. It’s gotten a lot better,” he said.
Town:Gown relationships are always intertwined with a residential college and are even ranked by Princeton Review.What is the definition of fraternity and sorority used by the town of Gorham in the proposed ordinance? I am a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Technically that is a greek organization… It is a professional/academic society. It is national. If Phi Kappa Phi or Psi Chi wants to purchase a house in Gorham would these organizations be denied that right as well? I am also a member of Gamma Xi, a Hamilton College based sorority, and if my sisters and I chose to purchase a house together would we be similarly denied even though we are not connected to USM? If the zoning change occurs what will happen when groups of fraternity members rent houses and wish to display their letters like a flag?
I am curious how many Gorham house owners owed similar amounts in back taxes at the time the house was seized and if they had the same penalty.
I am well aware of the history and lawsuits in the mid-90’s when universities across the nation kicked greeks out of their houses on campus. Nights in dank basements painted with Tide, lit by black lite and w/ kegs of Ol’ Mil’ were mourned by all as parties became legislated to specific on-campus sites. Obviously, there were University liability problems. Yet it was also an issue of affordability. A student could sometimes have free rent by living in a Frat house. Will this impact any USM students’ ability to afford college? Do students currently pay rent to live in off-campus Greek housing?
This is what you get when the reporter only talks to one side…Everything rosey and great according to the University……..Well I’m here to tell you as a neighbor that it is not great…The 2nd day after the guidelines went into effect they were violated and a fraternity was put on probation for it. If thats what the University wants to call good then we may have a bigger problem than i realized. The only reason it’s been better is school has not been in session and it is usually quiet during this period…..Now that it’s back in session we will see…………
Great reporting!