Council discusses camera rollout for dumping and investigations in business corridor

Yeaton Borough leaders discussed expanding camera systems at dumping hotspots and in the business district during the July 17 meeting, saying cameras would aid forensic work and investigations.

Mayor Rowan Hopkins noted illegal dumping near Whitby and said grants and resources are being pursued to retrofit cameras at documented dump sites and in the business district. “We do believe the rollout of a camera system is going to really help us especially more with forensics,” a staff member, Raffy, said, adding that cameras “don’t prevent crimes and incidents but it does help our police and our investigative team.”

Code Director Lamont Collins reported active code enforcement at the McDade Shopping Center parking lot and said the borough had issued citations for pavement, striping and fire-lane marking problems. Collins said private property owners remain primarily responsible for towing contracts and on-site monitoring and that cameras help investigations and citations when owners cooperate.

Councilors asked whether property owners had been contacted to install cameras and Collins said the borough had communicated requirements but owners had not completed installations. One councilor said if apartment complexes will not monitor illegal dumping, the property owner remains responsible to “cure” the nuisance.

No ordinance or new contract was adopted at the meeting. Council directed staff to continue pursuing grants, work with property owners on required camera installations, and to coordinate code and fire inspections at problem sites. The discussion linked public-safety camera plans with ongoing code enforcement actions at a local shopping center.