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Monday, September 20, 1999 OnCampus/News    THE NEIGHBORS    Committee works to improve relations   Jennifer Sciantarelli STAFF WRITER   The UK Neighborhoods Committee hasn't gone to the wayside this year. A proposal written by the UK Neighborhoods Committee found its way into the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting last month, to alleviate concerns by both students and neighborhood associations.   The proposal would create a permanent commission for the University and surrounding neighborhoods, said Joe Burch, vice president of University Relations and co-chair of the committee.   "Instead of just forgetting about it, we want to continue the work," he said.   The committee was initially created by Mayor Pam Miller to explore community concerns about the impact of students living in residential neighborhoods.   The original committee consisted of government officials, university faculty and students and residents of area neighborhoods.   It addressed a number of community concerns including parking, traffic, alcohol abuse and noise in residential areas, said David Stockham, Dean of Students.   The proposed commission would consist of officials from UK, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, UK faculty and students and representatives from neighborhoods surrounding UK.   Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council member Ellen Kershaw said the request for a permanent commission has not yet been approved. She said the committee is redrafting the proposal.   The need for the UK Neighborhoods Committee became apparent last November when Dick DeCamp, council representative for UK's surrounding neigborhoods, proposed a bill limiting the number of unrelated persons living in a single-family residence to three.   Students living in neighborhoods surrounding UK successfully fought the bill, but problems such as parking, litter and buildings in disrepair didn't disappear.   One issue the committee examined was the problem of absentee landlords, whom many blame for poor living conditions in the area surrounding campus.   Landlords have the responsibility to keep property in good condition, the city has the responsibility to inspect properties, and tenants have the responsibility to respect non-student neighbors, Burch said.   University members of the committee said they could see improvements in the communities around UK. Stockham said the metropolitan police seem to be providing more surveillance in the residential areas that surround the main campus.   Committee members stress that they are not anti-student. The committee was concerned with "behavior problems," excessive noise and trash usually associated with large parties, he said.   In an effort to educate students living off campus, Stockham's office distributed a flyer to student leaders and dormitories outlining the University's alcohol policy and the city's policy. A copy of the policy appeared in the Kernel.   "Students living in mixed (student and non-student) neighborhoods must be aware of the rights of others," Stockham said.   Students and non-students living in residential areas continue to communicate and are trying to better respect each other's rights, Stockham said. If the proposal for a permanent commission passes, the committee will continue to provide an outlet for communication between the community and the University.   "Good will is there to see it to a conclusion," Stockham said.   Current Headlines OnCampus/News

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