Fitchburg council votes to end Flock Safety contract, orders 120‑day phase‑out

The Fitchburg Common Council voted to discontinue its contract with Flock Safety and the use of the company’s license‑plate‑reading cameras, adding an amendment that sets a 120‑day timetable and requires disabling the nationwide‑search feature during that period.

Council action, reported in a city meeting recap, followed discussion of public‑safety technology and privacy tradeoffs. The council’s amendment establishes a 120‑day timeline to end the contract and specifically orders the city to eliminate the nationwide‑search capability within that window.

The hosts said the police department and city staff will determine whether to pursue alternate license‑plate‑reader systems or other technologies. The recap noted council members were open to “alternate license plate recognition technology” but did not identify a preferred vendor or replacement system.

The action is a formal resolution recorded by the council; the recap did not include roll‑call vote tallies or the names of mover and seconder. The council’s directive shifts implementation work to city staff and the police department, which the hosts said will need to determine any next steps and timelines for replacement or further procurement.

The resolution leaves open operational questions — for example, whether any historical data will be retained, how long data previously collected by the cameras will be preserved, or what oversight will govern future use — and the recap did not provide specifics on those points. Council staff and the police department were identified as the responsible parties for follow‑up.