City Hall Security Cameras

The question of privacy versus security is being debated by city council.

Director of Corporate Services for the City, Jack Kler, says council should consider having video cameras installed around City Hall.

"We are experiencing an increase of vandalism to city-owned vehicles which get left overnight behind City Hall. Also, vehicles parked at the meters in front of City Hall have been targeted by vandals," says Kler.

He says the cameras wouldn't be monitored, and the footage would only be reviewed after a crime has been committed.

"There will be no live monitoring of the images, no personal information will be transmitted. The video cameras will at least allow us to capture an image of someone in the act of vandalism," says Kler.

He says the city's vandalism costs are in the 10's of thousands of dollars.

Councilor Joanne Grimaldi says it would be better to have the cameras monitored to catch criminals in the act.

"I'd like to see us get down to the nitty-gritty on this. We shouldn't hesitate to use this type of security device because we are worried about someone's reaction if the camera happens to catch them holding hands with the wrong person," says Grimaldi.

The cameras being proposed would be placed behind City Hall to monitor the parking lot and in front of City Hall to capture images of the 100-block of Main Street.

Kler estimates the cost of the cameras will only be around $2,000 as City Hall already has it's own fibre optics network.

Council has approved the recommendation and the matter will be discussed further at a future meeting.