Video surveillance cameras could track activity downtown and in the town’s parks if the police department receives a federal grant.
Christine Battis, the town grants coordinator, said the police department will apply for a $30,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant through the state Office of Policy and Management.
The Justice Assistance Grant Program is funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, assisting states with the prevention and control of crime and improvement of the criminal justice system. She plans to talk with Police Chief Mike Metzler next week in order to start the application process.
She expects the application will be completed by no later than July 30.
The town applied unsuccessfully last year to the Katharine Matthies Foundation for a grant to buy cameras to monitor three town parks that had been heavily vandalized. Four cameras would have cost $10,000, she said.
Howard Simpson, a member of the police commission, endorses purchasing the cameras as a way to help officers prevent and solve crimes.
“I’m all for it. I do think they should [get the cameras]. A lot of areas are being vandalized and destroyed,” Simpson said. With the cameras, “law enforcement can monitor this stuff.”
Although police have mentioned surveillance cameras as a possible expenditure, Lt. Paul Satkowski said the department may decide the money could be used in other areas, such as a new patrol car, radios or overtime pay.
“Nothing has been finalized,” Satkowski said. “It has not been decided on how or what we’d used the money for. Cameras are one possible use.”
Public Works Director Dennis Rozum endorses the cameras in the parks to combat vandalism over the spring and summer, most prominently at French Park, where doors and fences have been damaged.
“I think the cameras are a good idea, as long as they’re being monitored,” Rozum said.
Merchants React
Several downtown merchants don’t mind cameras in the main shopping district, although some believe that the money would be better used elsewhere.
Robert Voss, owner of Yesterday’s Luxuries and Antiques at 27 Bank St., said camera surveillance downtown is not a priority. He’d like to see money used to better promote town businesses in a difficult economy.
“I don’t think it’s necessary here,” he said, noting that he’s mistakenly left some items outside his store without incident. “The parks might be a different story. The parks might be a good idea.”
Sharon Tancreti, owner of the antique store Sher’s Bounty at 36 Bank St., said she’d support the cameras, although she is not aware of major security worries downtown.
“I don’t have any objections to it,” Tancreti said.
Gus Hasiotis, owner of Haroula’s Coffee Shop at 29 Bank St., said he’d like to see parking meters or police officers enforcing the two-hour parking limit on most downtown parking places.
“I want more parking and we need meters,” he said. “We don’t need cameras.”
