Templeton Select Board members and staff debate cameras in select-board office; staff removed cameras pending review

Select Board members and staff raised privacy and legal concerns over security cameras that had been installed in the Select Board office.

Assistant Town Administrator Holly told the board she had installed cameras because of office security concerns and later removed them; she said the office holds confidential documents and that the system's video would be archived. "I had installed cameras in the office after confirming to the town council that I could do so," Holly said, and later told the board she removed the cameras and would maintain archived copies of recordings.

Select Board member Robert May said he considered the cameras "a gross invasion of privacy and a violation of the law," and said he told staff he did not consent to being recorded. Another board member cited Massachusetts law (chapter 272, section 99 of the Massachusetts General Laws) and federal statutes on recording, warning that nonconsensual audio/video of private discussions can carry criminal penalties. The board repeatedly discussed the line between building security (corridor and exterior cameras) and cameras placed inside an office used by elected officials.

Holly and other staff said the building already has exterior and hallway cameras for security; the contested cameras were inside the Select Board office. Holly said she removed the internal cameras and archived the recordings and that the chief of police said the cameras did not feed to the police. Board members asked for notice about camera location, recording times, and where recordings are stored. There was no formal vote to restore cameras; board members said they expect the cameras to remain removed pending further legal review and clearer policy guidance.

Ending: The board directed staff to ensure cameras and recording policies comply with applicable law and to return to the board with recommended policies if internal recording is proposed in the future.