The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council voted to authorize a temporary security presence at council meetings beginning Nov. 6 and directed the town manager to request a no-cost physical security assessment through a federal protective services program (referred to in the meeting as CISSA) coordinated with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. The council asked staff to return within 60 days with assessment findings and a tiered security policy that defines baseline security measures and law-enforcement objectives.

The motion to start the security firm at the council meeting on Nov. 6, for a temporary period not to exceed the end of the fiscal year, was seconded and approved by voice vote. A friendly amendment — accepted by the seconder — added the request for the no-cost security assessment and a 60-day return timeline.

Council members debated the legal and procedural limits of private security. The town attorney told council that a private security guard is a private citizen and generally does not have the power of arrest, though a private citizen may detain someone under certain breach-of-the-peace provisions. The attorney cited a statutory reference discussed in the meeting concerning municipal posting authority for concealed weapons and the criminal-procedure statute covering citizen detentions.

Council members who supported the motion said a short-term security presence is a modest cost that could deter disruptions and make residents and staff feel safer during public meetings. Council member Stone said the proposal “is rightly intended to provide safety and security for the citizens” and described it as “a minimal cost with maximum impact.” Council member Greason said he “fully supports the security guard being here at the town council meetings” and recommended also studying staff training.

Several council members asked staff to develop written operating policies and procedures for private security — what the guard may do, how to summon law enforcement, and how to vet training and qualifications — before the town engages a firm. The council also discussed whether concealed carry is allowed on municipal property; the town attorney said the town may adopt an ordinance to post municipal properties to prohibit concealed weapons, and that parks may be handled differently under the statute referenced.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: Start a security firm at the council meeting beginning Nov. 6 for a temporary period not to exceed the fiscal year; direct town manager to request a no-cost physical security assessment and return within 60 days with a tiered security policy. Outcome: Approved (voice vote).

The council’s action directed staff to pursue the assessment and to return with recommended baseline measures and a tiered policy; no specific private security contract was approved tonight and council members said the sheriff’s office had warned the town the department is unlikely to provide a deputy consistently for meetings.