Waltham city councilors discussed the recent concerns about student behavior off campus, as well as Brandeis' recent request for a lodging license for the Ridgewood Residence Halls, in the License and Franchising Committee meeting last night, according to Waltham City Council Vice President Paul Brasco.The request for the Ridgewood lodging license was deemed controversial at last week's City Council meeting. During that meeting, several councilors objected to the fact that Brandeis waited until Ridgewood's construction was nearly complete before requesting a lodging license. The objections transitioned into complaints about recent behavior by Brandeis students living off-campus.

"At last week's council meeting, I expressed frustration to [Brandeis representatives] about [students living off-campus]," Brasco said. "It needs to be dealt with. And this is not just regarding Brandeis; it's Bentley students too."

Ward 7 Councilor Joe Giordano, the representative for Brandeis' ward, explained to the Justice, "The problem is mainly from late-night parties, especially because students live next door to families or elderly couples who obviously have very different lifestyles. We used to get complaints all the time, which is why I was a great advocate when Brandeis wanted to increase on-campus housing so that we could avoid problems off campus."

Brasco said to the Justice, "I'm not trying to discourage or destroy any of the college behavior or college years from the young people. I was the same way when I was in college but not to the detriment of people who lived around me. I'm just asking if students can come to this community with respect and responsibility and to be courteous to their neighbors and the police and abide by what they are told to do."

Brasco said that a lieutenant from the Waltham police department contacted Brasco after the initial council meeting and told him that the number of calls from residents complaining about Brandeis students off-campus has gone down in recent years.

Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins was present at last night's meeting to represent Brandeis.

Prior to last night's meeting Brasco wanted to tell the Brandeis representative, "I want to see disciplinary actions taken against someone who's disruptive to the community. We want to encourage [students] to enjoy the college years but be respectful."

Before the meeting, Brasco also hoped to see Brandeis' "future plans for bringing the students back on campus so that we don't have off-campus housing. In years past, Bentley College has made a big attempt to bring housing completely on campus. Brandeis, to their credit, has been trying to do the same now."

The lodging license for the Ridgewood Residence Halls was also discussed at the meeting last night.

In an e-mail to the Justice, Vice President for Capital Projects Dan Feldman wrote, "Typically a lodging license is applied for after construction has begun, as this allows for the inspection of the project by members of the City Council and/or the Licenses and Franchises Committee, if they so desire."

However, Giordano said that "applying for a lodging license is done at the beginning of the process."

Waltham City Clerk Ross Malone explained, "The decision [to grant a lodging license] comes to the full Waltham City Council, where it's read aloud. It then goes to the Licenses and Franchises Committee, where it is discussed by committee members. Then it has to go back to the City Council for a vote. It also has to be signed off by the Waltham Building Department and the Waltham Fire Department to make sure everything is in compliance for safety issues."

Deputy Richardson of the Waltham Fire Department explained that the fire department needs to complete a safety inspection, including inspection of the sprinkler system, fire alarms, fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment. "If those all pass muster, the council or clerk's office forwards us the license application, and we either approve or deny," he said.

Feldman wrote, "The University followed this procedure strictly, and plans were reviewed with [the Waltham Fire Department and the Waltham Building Department] in February 2007."

Giordano said, "Other councilors felt that Brandeis 'just does what they want to do.' I don't see it that way. I work very closely with Brandeis, and I just don't see it that way. I do believe it was just an oversight. I've never had a problem with their projects."

Collins said, "The University is prepared to do whatever it is that the Council instructs us to do.