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Nelson council unanimously cancels Flock camera contract over privacy and cost concerns
Summary
Citing privacy concerns and reported misuse, Nelson’s council voted unanimously to cancel its contract with Flock (four cameras, $2,500 per camera per year), directing staff to notify the vendor and arrange removal.
The Nelson City Council voted unanimously on July 13 to cancel the city’s contract with Flock (the vendor that provides license‑plate/face‑oriented surveillance cameras), citing national privacy scrutiny, local allegations of misuse and recurring costs.
Mayor (S1) summarized concerns raised by council members and residents: “There’s 50 cities that have discontinued Flock cameras for Fourth Amendment violations…they use AI recognition for your face, and they track it for 30 days.” The mayor said Nelson’s contract amounts to $2,500 per camera per year; the town has four cameras on contract, or about $10,000 per year.
Council members said the recurring expense could be better spent on sidewalks and other quality‑of‑life projects. One member suggested an interim measure—covering cameras—if contractual removal could not be completed immediately. After discussion about removal timelines and any potential termination fees, the council moved and seconded a motion to cancel the contract; the motion passed unanimously and staff were instructed to notify the vendor and arrange camera removal.
What happens next: staff will review contract termination terms, notify Flock of the cancellation and arrange for camera removal. Council requested documentation on termination fees and any obligations for hardware removal to be presented at the next meeting.
