Public works director seeks sole-source award for traffic-sensing devices; committee to send item to full council

Public Works Director Dave Phelan asked the committee to approve a sole-source procurement for Miovision traffic-sensing devices and explained the equipment is intended to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety by providing intersection timing data rather than recorded images.

Phelan said the devices are not surveillance cameras: “These cameras do not record or take pictures or when you facial recognition, lights places for the recognition in any manner. They are primarily for determining timing of lighted intersections.” He told the committee the purchase covers 16 intersections to complete corridor coverage and that MaineDOT is rolling similar equipment out across the state; the city already operates some of the system. Phelan said Coastal is the regional distributor and the funding was previously approved in the adopted budget.

Councilors raised privacy concerns and questions about vendor dependence when a single distributor is the only regional source; Phelan said buying from the regional distributor avoids expensive out-of-region resellers and that joint mobilization with another contractor could yield savings. The committee approved the staff recommendation and will refer the contract award to full council for final action.