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Residents press council on Bethel Gardens safety, public‑works pay and data‑privacy concerns
Summary
During general citizen comments at the Oct. 28 Hagerstown council meeting, multiple residents urged increased police visibility in Bethel Gardens, public‑works staff requested a wage study and better retention, and a resident raised privacy concerns about a Flock Safety device seen in a neighborhood.
Multiple residents used the Oct. 28 general citizen comment period to press the mayor and council on neighborhood safety, staffing and privacy issues.
Kathy Santiago, who said she lives at 356 Henry Avenue, told the council residents in Bethel Gardens and nearby blocks see drug activity and vehicle stripping at night and asked for increased police presence — specifically walking patrols or deployment of bike officers — during evening hours to reassure residents. Several council members responded that they support additional visible patrols and discussed the possibility of a town‑hall meeting in Bethel Gardens so residents could speak directly with officers.
Matt Siebold, who identified himself as a public works employee, urged the council to prioritize a wage study and to make the city’s pay scales more competitive to avoid losing staff to neighboring jurisdictions. Siebold said public‑works, water, and wastewater employees perform essential public‑safety and infrastructure tasks and that retention has grown more difficult without competitive pay.
Carrillo Barrios raised concerns about a Flock Safety device observed near his home, describing it as an audio‑capable device and citing litigation and data‑sharing concerns in other jurisdictions. He urged the council not to substitute automated sensing devices for traditional police presence and expressed privacy and civil‑liberties worries.
Alvin (Alba) Moses and others praised Bill Gertner and Gatekeepers and suggested the council consider a peer‑recovery specialist to work with police and the council as a liaison for people experiencing addiction and reentry needs.
Provenance: Bethel Gardens remarks (Kathy Santiago), 00:52:06; public works comments (Matt Siebold), 00:54:33; Flock Safety concerns (Carrillo Barrios), 00:59:49; reentry and peer recovery mention (Alvin Moses), 01:01:11.
