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Erie resident group urges council to remove connected camera system, citing privacy concerns
Summary
During public comment at the Aug. 5 council meeting, Dom Colosino of Clear Skies Erie asked the town to consider taking Flock camera systems offline and pursue a resolution to protect residents from reported outside searches of connected camera databases.
A member of Clear Skies Erie used the public‑comment period at the Erie Town Council’s Aug. 5 special meeting to urge action on connected camera systems installed in and around town, saying recent press reports show federal and other authorities have queried linked databases.
"The absolute right choice is to take that entire system offline and remove the cameras from within our town's borders," said Dom Colosino, who identified himself as an Erie resident and part of the residents’ group. Colosino cited recent documented cases — including reports involving immigration enforcement and out‑of‑state tracking — and urged the council to consider a resolution to protect vulnerable neighbors.
Colosino framed the concern as both an immediate civil‑liberties risk and a preemptive step: "If you wait until they're at your doorstep, it's really already gonna be too late," he said. He asked the council to begin a discussion and suggested a resolution would be "barely called for in the very near future." No council action on camera policy or a resolution occurred at the meeting; the public comment was taken as input.
Staff did not provide a detailed response on camera policy during the meeting; the council proceeded with the main airport agenda. The public comment remains a recorded request for council consideration and possible future action.
