Lehigh University

, will move back into their apartments and homes in Bethlehem — something code enforcement officers dread.

With their arrival comes a week of discarded red Solo cups, greasy pizza boxes, tattered chairs and mounds of move-in garbage.

In preparation for the onslaught of students, the city and Lehigh University are teaming up to crack down on move-in trash.

Mayor John Callahan and Lehigh administrator Dale Kochard announced Thursday that a city housing inspector will be trolling the south side's student-heavy streets this weekend to cut down on the amount of garbage and noise complaints.

"This week is usually a disaster," said Mike Palos, Bethlehem's chief code and housing officer. "Students have to take some responsibility."

Palos will be rescheduling all weekend plans because he'll be walking the streets most concentrated with off-campus students — including Fifth and Hillside avenues — to knock on doors, warning students of over-flowing garbage.

This is the first year tenants, not just landlords, of a residence can be cited for garbage violations. Typically the city gets between 20 and 40 trash complaints every year on move-in weekend, Palos said.

Palos said his main function will be to warn, not cite, students this weekend. But if things get out of hand at a certain residence, he will be handing down fines. Citations range from $200 to $1,000, Palos said.

"It's important to set a high bar at the front end so expectations are clear what student behavior should be moving forward," Callahan said.

Callahan also said that Bethlehem and Lehigh University police will be beefing up car and bike patrols of the neighborhood as is usual during the first weekend of school.

Lehigh University will also provide two large trash receptacles and recycling containers at either end of campus, said Kochard, the assistant vice president of community and regional affairs.

Lehigh University Student Senate President Mary Nunley, who was helping students move in to their dorms Thursday, said she commends the city and the university for working together to tackle the issue.

"They aren't just putting on a show," Nunley, an off-campus student, said. She has witnessed the mess of garbage lining the streets during these weekends. "I don't think students will see this as a bad thing."

Lehigh and Bethlehem have teamed up before to help smooth over town-gown relations. In past years, police received a grant from the state Liquor Control Board to patrol off-campus neighborhoods to target out-of-control partying.

In 2005, the city and university launched a sticker campaign, delineating rental homes of three to five residents that have passed annual inspections. The stickers were meant to serve as a badge of honor for a student home that was in tip-top shape and free of noise complaints.

Palos said there are many longtime residents of South Side Bethlehem who usually just grin and bear nuisance neighbors. But now it's time "to give them the respect that they are due," he said.

Marc Davis of 534 Montclair Ave. said he hopes the initiative works. He spends far too much time cleaning up his front porch and sidewalk, he said.

"Look at that bag in the tree," the 57-year-old said, pointing to a dingy black bag hanging in the small tree in front of his house. "What is that?"

Source: http://www.mcall.com