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Residents urge caution on Flock Safety cameras; one warns of litigation over East End Village
Summary
During public comment July 15, Paige Rearing urged the commission to reject Flock Safety automated license-plate readers over privacy and cost concerns; James Giuliani said developers bypassed him on a parcel transfer and warned he would file actions to cloud property titles unless a claimed $2.4 million debt is paid by Oct. 1.
Two residents used the public-comment period at the Monongalia County Commission’s July 15 meeting to press the commission on separate concerns: one urged the county not to invest in Flock Safety license-plate readers, and another warned of imminent litigation tied to the East End Village project.
"Flock allows police to skip around those guardrails... Flock hoards data on people, 99% of whom are innocent and unrelated to any crime," Paige Rearing told commissioners. Rearing said she had been contacted anonymously by a law-enforcement officer who argued the county already has access to a government-operated license-plate reader system (NCIC) that provides real‑time plate checks with privacy protections. She said installation of Flock-style systems raises privacy and cost concerns and suggested opioid‑settlement funds could be better used for prevention programs.
Later in public comment, James Giuliani identified himself as a property claimant in the East End Village matter and accused the development authority and private interests of bypassing him on a transfer affecting 142 Richwood Avenue. Giuliani said his signature was legally required for transfers but that the parcel was carved out and flipped to private interests for profit. He said he has prepared formal complaints for the West Virginia State Police and the county prosecutor and gave the commission an ultimatum:
"If I am not paid in full by October 1, my restraint ends. I will immediately file to cloud the property titles, freeze the entire development, and completely paralyze construction," Giuliani said, adding that the development authority allegedly owes him $2,400,000.
Giuliani told the commission he had tried in good faith to resolve the matter and accused named local figures of refusing to meet; no county official recorded in the meeting responded to those allegations during public comment. He said he has not yet filed litigation but described formal complaints he said were prepared.
Commissioners did not take any action on the claims during the meeting. President Boone closed the public-comment period and the commission proceeded with the agenda.
