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Council refers proposed municipal-surveillance ordinance after Chief defends license-plate readers
Summary
Councilors proposed a municipal-surveillance ordinance that would pause or remove Flock ALPR cameras and create a local regulatory chapter; Police Chief told the council the devices provide investigative value under strict audit rules and recommended committee review; the council referred the measures to Rules and Procedures.
Councilors put forward an ordinance to establish a municipal-surveillance-technology chapter that would pause the town's use of automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) and require formal oversight rules. Councilor Kennedy said the ordinance aims to protect privacy and ensure any surveillance technology is locally governed.
Police Chief (identified in the meeting only by office) addressed the council after the referral motion and defended the department's limited use of the ALPR system, describing an internal audit process, a 30-day data-retention limit and the investigative value the department observed. "I am a convert," the chief said, noting he initially had reservations but now finds the limited use and guardrails provide investigative benefits. Councilors and the chief agreed the measure should be examined at committee; the council voted to send the proposed ordinance to Rules and Procedures for detailed review and redlining before any possible adoption.
The council also discussed the security and cloud-based storage of plate-reader data and asked staff and police to provide examples of how the technology had aided local investigations while preserving confidentiality and prosecutorial integrity. The referral sends the draft language to committee where councilors asked for comparisons with other jurisdictions and suggested that a clear public packet be included before any committee hearing.
