Resident urges council review of Flock Safety cameras and asks for later meeting time

Santina Deming, a Perry resident, used the public-comment period at the June 9 council meeting to press elected officials for transparency about automated license-plate readers and other surveillance systems deployed in the city. Deming said she is concerned that agreements may have been made and cameras installed without public review and urged the council to disclose what data are collected, how long they are retained and what safeguards prevent unauthorized access.

“Decisions involving surveillance technology should be made transparently with appropriate public oversight,” Deming told the council, adding that she understands law enforcement staffing pressures but that privacy and constitutional protections require public scrutiny before continuing or expanding such programs. She referenced the Fourth Amendment and pointed to documented instances elsewhere of misuse, unauthorized access and wide-ranging tracking by similar systems.

Deming also urged the council to reconsider holding meetings at 4 p.m., saying a later meeting time would enable working residents to engage. “A meeting held at 4 p.m. significantly limits public participation,” she said, noting she took time off work to attend.

Council members acknowledged the comments and the public-comment period concluded with staff noting the concerns would be received and the meeting moving on to the next agenda item. The transcript does not record an immediate staff response describing specific contracts or data-retention policies; Deming asked the council to review any executed agreements with Flock Safety or other vendors and to consider terminating participation if oversight is inadequate.