Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Foia Redaction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Manhattan approves computer and software to speed FOIA video redactions, first-year cost $6,923.35
Summary
The Village Board approved a $6,923.35 purchase of a computer and video-redaction software needed to comply with Illinois FOIA and Attorney General guidance for body-worn and in-car camera footage. Staff described the current manual process as time-consuming and an unfunded state mandate.
The Manhattan Village Board on Nov. 4 approved the purchase of a computer and video-redaction software to assist with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for officer-worn and vehicle-mounted video.
Staff explained the software will allow the village to redact protected information (for example, juvenile identities, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and certain indoor images) in compliance with Illinois statutes and Attorney General guidance. Police staff described the current process as largely manual; they said fulfilling some requests required many staff hours (one example cited: a sergeant spending about 80 manpower hours redacting four body-camera files for a single request).
The total first-year cost presented to the board was $6,923.35 (computer plus software). Staff estimated annual costs thereafter in the range of $4,000 for maintenance/subscriptions. The police department characterized the requirement as an unfunded state mandate and said the software uses automated tools (including AI-assisted redaction) to reduce manpower and speed response times.
A motion to approve the purchase for $6,923.35 passed on a roll-call vote.
