Fire board to back public comment on targeted red-light camera plan

The Board of Fire Commissioners discussed whether to support the police commission’s study of targeted red‑light camera installations and agreed to prepare an official letter for the record and encourage public attendance at a scheduled public comment session. Mayor (speaker 1) said the police commission has reserved Tuesday, Feb. 17, for public comment and that any application to the state Department of Transportation will be based on crash data identifying the highest‑yield intersections.

“Right now, all we're looking at are the red light cameras,” Mayor (speaker 1) said, adding that the program would include staff to review flagged violations and that revenue would cover operating costs. The mayor said funds beyond operating costs would be used for improving traffic safety and would not go to the general fund.

A commissioner (speaker 4) urged precision in the board’s input and volunteered to draft a letter for circulation. Mayor (speaker 1) said the DOT requires sites to meet specific criteria and that the selection would be driven by the town’s crash data, with most candidate locations along Route 229, Route 6 and Mountain Road. The mayor said the effort was not intended as broad surveillance but to focus on intersections with documented safety problems.

The board did not vote to approve a DOT application at the meeting; members agreed only to prepare correspondence and participate in the Feb. 17 public comment session. The police commission will accept pro and con written comments collected by the town and will enter them into the record for consideration with any application to the DOT.