Oneonta aldermen, here’s your assignment: Pass a law to regulate short-term rentals.

This assignment means you’ll need to do some homework to prepare yourself to vote.

The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee recently presented a draft ordinance regulating short-term rentals to the Common Council. Aldermen had questions and sent the proposal back to committee for more work, including addressing questions about language.

We don’t really understand why, aldermen, you weren’t ready to vote.

Writing legislation for short-term rentals has been a time-consuming task and has sparked some emotional opposition to the use of residential properties, based on the actual or perceived negative impact of short-term rentals on center city neighborhoods.

In December, more than 200 residents submitted petitions requesting the city take a "comprehensive look at the present situation regarding student rentals and baseball rentals located within and around our residential neighborhoods.’’

The current law expires Oct. 31, and it isn’t clear what would happen if another one isn’t approved to replace it.

The IGA has wrestled with density guidelines and whether they could be basis for a denial or would specifically prohibit a use. Need it be said that the law passed must have clear language to define what is permissible and what are the application and the appeals processes?

The system is designed to allow for evaluation and changes, and this law certainly will need reviewing. Landlords need time to meet code and other city requirements, not to mention marketing properties. And without a law, an underground market will grow.

To postpone passing an ordinance only encourages chaos to enter an already-confusing, and for some

-upsetting, situation.

The council has had more than enough time to take action on this issue and pass a law.

{"Headline24"/}Welcome, college students

{"Body Text Edit"/}Thousands of students are arriving in Oneonta, Delhi and Cobleskill to attend college, and we welcome them to our communities.

College years can be exciting times of learning, making friends and self-discovery.

For some students, however, the experiences also include misbehaving.

We know because we publish the blotter from area police departments.

Residents are attuned to the late-night wanderings of students leaving bars or parties, and sometimes they call authorities. Local courts also anticipate an increase in business with the arrival of the college population.

We discourage behavior that results in disturbing the neighborhood, being arrested and injuries to people or damage to property.

Also, bad behavior that seems fun today could become a haunting issue in later personal and professional life, as the blotter listings remain on our website for all to see in the future.

We do encourage making the most of academic and social opportunities during college years here, and we wish the students success.