Council approves $40,000 grant for mobile message trailer; debate continues over camera policies

The South Kingstown Town Council on Feb. 26 approved two grants: a $37,950 Office of Highway Safety grant to continue highway-safety messaging with a vendor and a $40,000 Emergency Management grant to purchase a solar-powered mobile message trailer with a telescopic pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera and digital message board.

Chief Moynihan told the council the $40,000 grant would be combined with approximately $5,000 in forfeiture funds to cover an estimated $45,000 trailer price; the trailer would be used for public-safety messaging for events such as Fourth of July celebrations and to provide a temporary aerial view of crowded event areas. The chief stressed the trailer is not equipped to record license plates or collect speed data as a fixed automated enforcement camera.

Councilors pressed the chief on privacy and the town's one installed Flock-style camera, which the chief said is installed but not operational pending policy approval. The chief said he had circulated a draft policy to councilors and had worked with other municipalities and national guidance to craft rigorous standards; he invited feedback from council members.

Council approved continuation of the highway-safety contract and the request to purchase the trailer and fund it with the grant plus forfeiture funds. Several councilors asked for additional discussion of fleet/contracted camera arrangements and contracts with private firms before operational deployment.

What happens next: staff will finalize procurement, apply the forfeiture funds as budgeted, and return with any policy changes or additional guidance on fixed and mobile camera use.