Skate boarders in Millersville have an ally in Kevin Weber — a new member of the park committee who wants to keep the borough's skate park open.

"(Freedom Memorial Park) really is an asset to the community, and the skate park is by far the biggest attraction," Weber told council members Tuesday.

Weber and a group of skate enthusiasts from Millersville University asked borough council for $400 to purchase two sections of fencing surrounding the skate park.

Until now, the fencing had been rented with funds raised by the original group of families that launched the skate park almost three years ago. Currently, the group is more than $300 behind in rent.

But the group is no longer as organized as it once was due to kids growing up and moving on, explained Weber. The solution, he suggested, may be to approach the Millersville University Landsurfers Longboarding Club for help.

Six members of the club accompanied Weber to the council meeting, answering questions from officials and vowing to help support the skate park.

Council member Linda Deal said one of the main problems that persists is kids using the park without helmets, a violation of the current rules. Other reported violations include riding bikes and scooters in the skate park, and using the park after hours.

"How do we enforce it?" Deal asked.

Weber responded that most skate parks across the country are skate-at-your-own-risk, and that having the park patrolled would actually increase the borough's liability. He offered to research how other communities operate skate parks under that type of policy.

Although there have been no serious accidents, Millersville police Chief John Rochat recommended having a proposed contract reviewed by the borough's insurance company and solicitor, due to vicarious liability.

Mayor Richard Moriarty said he would like to encourage the use of the skate park and foster an "amicable relationship" with the kids who use it.  The matter will be discussed at the safety committee's Feb. 8 meeting.

The safety committee has recently been looking into complaints from a North Duke Street resident who claims his landlord will not fix a carbon monoxide leak.

"How do you define a slumlord in Millersville?" asked Michael McGurl, who claims to have incurred $6,000 in medical bills for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the home's heating system.

McGurl told council members he suffers from headaches, confusion, tunnel vision and difficulty reading. He also claims his independent carbon monoxide readings in the home were between 200 and 220 parts-per-million.

While borough manager Ed Arnold reported that the zoning officer and building inspector didn't find a problem, council agreed to look into the matter further and take it into consideration when making changes to the rental property ordinance.

Also on Tuesday, council unanimously approved a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with Student Lodging, which has $19 million of assessed property in the borough.

Student Lodging recently informed borough officials of their plan to file an assessment appeal as a non-profit organization. Arnold said Tuesday he expects the company to prevail and recommended council accept its offer to pay an amount equal to the current tax rate for as long as it owns the properties.

"That preserves our revenue, which is about $100,000 annually," Arnold stated.

In other business,

• Council unanimously agreed to join Manor Township in establishing an emergency management zone and an emergency management coordinator, effective March 1. These duties are now overseen by the borough's streets superintendent.

Arnold said the township's manager, Barry Smith, and Blue Rock Fire District Commissioner Duane Hagelgans are both on board with the plan to regionalize.

• Council directed Arnold to accept a 2-foot piece of I-beam from the World Trade Center to be used in a memorial display. The memorial location has not yet been decided.

"It would be an honor to accept a small part of something that was tragic and historic in this country," said council member Phil Lastowski.