St. Albans council approves finance items, authorizes bids for police body cameras under COPS grant

The St. Albans City Council on April 21 approved a package of finance and operations measures and completed an ordinance first reading that will affect contractor licensing.

Key finance and operations actions included approval of current invoices, a demolition payment, budget approvals for municipal utilities, an award for tree removal, and authorization to solicit sealed bids for police body cameras and a server hub to be paid by a $150,000 COPS grant.

Councilman Roe, presenting the Finance Committee report, asked the council to approve payment of current invoices totaling $31,666.85; the motion carried by voice vote. The council also approved payment of $7,000 to Rodney Loftus and Sons Contracting for demolition of property located at 613 And 1 Half Spring Street, to be paid from line item 441-459-02.

The council approved the MEC water, sewer and stormwater budgets for fiscal year 2026 (no line-item details were read into the record) and approved seeking sealed bids for body cameras and a server hub to be funded by a $150,000 COPS grant; council members said the purchase will protect officers and provide retained evidence storage, with a policy for camera retention to be developed.

Other approved items: awarding a quote to All Your Tree Needs in the amount of $5,400 for tree removal near the address cited in the meeting record; seeking sealed bids for street maintenance; and approving the request to seek sealed bids described above. The council also held a first reading of an ordinance amending Article 753 of the codified ordinances to add subsection 7-53.371 for contractors/handyman license fees; the first reading carried by voice vote and an amendment to an existing contractors/handyman ordinance also passed first reading. The council confirmed the appointment of Councilman Kutz to replace Councilman McKinney on the Parks and Recreation Committee, term to expire 06/30/2028.

Votes at a glance (voice votes; counts not recorded): - Approve payment of current invoices: $31,666.85 — approved. - Payment to Rodney Loftus and Sons Contracting: $7,000 (demolition of 613 And 1 Half Spring Street), line item 441-459-02 — approved. - Approve MEC water, sewer, stormwater budgets for FY2026 — approved. - Seek sealed bids for police body cameras and server hub (to be paid by $150,000 COPS grant) — authorized. - Award quote to All Your Tree Needs: $5,400 (tree removal) — approved. - Seek sealed bids for street maintenance — authorized. - Ordinance first reading: amend Article 753 to add contractors/handyman license fees (7-53.371) — first reading passed. - Amendment to existing contractors/handyman ordinance (17 o 5 lisonbee) — first reading passed. - Confirm appointment of Councilman Kutz to Parks & Recreation Committee (term to 06/30/2028) — approved.

Council members said a retention policy for camera footage will be drafted; one council member noted technical features of some body-camera systems that may capture limited pre-activation video and that staff will develop a policy and request bids reflecting local practices. Several motions were handled as routine business and carried by voice vote.