Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Automated Traffic Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee postpones vote on three‑year initial contract for automated traffic enforcement vendor Novoa Global
Summary
The committee postponed action on a proposed contract extension to three years for Novoa Global to install school‑zone speed cameras, citing questions about upfront costs, the $2,500 per‑month per‑camera fee and the need for additional contract comparisons and community input.
The Quality of Life & Public Safety Committee voted to keep a proposed initial contract for an automated traffic enforcement vendor in committee on May 8, delaying action while members requested additional information on costs and contracts in other Connecticut jurisdictions.
Acting Planning Director Owen Duich described the item as an initial contract following a competitive procurement for a vendor to study and install automated traffic enforcement devices (speed cameras in school zones). Duich said the request before the committee was to change the initial contract period from one year to three years because vendors typically require a longer initial term to recoup substantial upfront investment.
Duich said vendor Novoa Global is the selected respondent and that the administration expects initial installations "hopefully by this fall," subject to a location plan that must be approved by city council and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. He said the vendor and other respondents indicated an upfront per‑camera system cost of about $60,000 and that Connecticut statutes require the vendor charge the city a flat monthly amount (the amount discussed in committee was $2,500 per month per camera as a contractual cap).
Committee members raised questions about the number of cameras, vendor contracts in other cities (New Haven was mentioned), community input and whether the monthly contract fee was reasonable. Council President Shirley Surgeon said she preferred additional data before the item is moved to full council; the committee chair made a motion to postpone and the committee voted to keep the item in committee.
Duich said the next steps, if the contract is approved, include development of a location plan, coordination with HPD and the Department of Public Works, and CT DOT approval of locations. He said the initial rollout is focused on school zones because the city has four officially designated school zones at present and that a phased approach with broader community engagement is planned if the pilot is successful.
