WORK SESSION OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held Monday, March 19, 2007, for the purpose of meeting with representatives of the Avrio Group to discuss their proposal for a system of surveillance cameras for Roosevelt Center.  

Mayor Pro Tem Roberts called the meeting to order at about 8:05 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.  

PRESENT WERE: Councilmembers Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, Edward V. J. Putens, and Mayor Pro Tem Rodney M. Roberts. Mayor Judith F. Davis was out of town.  

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael McLaughlin, City Manager; Beverly Palau, Public Information and Communications Coordinator; Sgt. David Buerger, Police Department; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.  

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Darrin Lipscomb, President, and Betsy Chupek, Business Development Manager, Avrio Group; and resident Bill Cornett.  

Following introductions, Mayor Pro Tem Roberts explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review a proposal from Avrio to install and maintain a four-camera, wireless camera system in Roosevelt Center to replace the older, dysfunctional cameras that are in place there.  

Ms. Palau gave an overview of the situation, noting that because the old system was connected with coaxial cable, it was stationary, and even when working properly, it functioned more like closed-circuit t.v. She said at one time, the City had expected to be able to upgrade the system by using the I-Net fiber, but it turned out that it would have been very expensive. In the meantime, the cameras themselves became too old to be worth repairing or upgrading. She said the Avrio system, in comparison, would be very flexible – it would be portable and expandable.  

Ms. Chupek and Mr. Lipscomb gave a slide presentation and demonstration on the cameras, followed by questions and answers.  

There was discussion of the physical appearance of the cameras and other equipment. One aspect of the flexibility of the system is that it is software based and uses universal standards, which allows for use of different types and styles of cameras. The system is thus not limited to particular hardware.  

Mr. Cornett asked about interference between the wireless system frequencies and other electronics in the vicinity. Mr. Lipscomb said they analyze what is already in the area and work around it.  

Mr. Putens asked who had recommended the camera locations proposed. Ms. Palau said the Police Department had participated in selecting the locations and that they, staff, and Avrio had scoped out where the best viewing angles were.  

Mayor Pro Tem Roberts asked the cost of the proposed system, which worked out to be about $38,000.  

Mr. Herling asked about the impact of lighting. Mr. Lipscomb said the cameras do rely upon having at least some illumination but that the new digital cameras are vastly more effective than the old analog cameras in exploiting whatever light is available. He said the locations in question do have some nighttime light, which could always been enhanced if need be. He said he did not anticipate a problem in these locations but that the cameras “can’t see in the dark.”  

Ms. Mach said she liked the add-on capability of the system and thought the City should include a camera at the underpass at the Center when it was financially doable. She asked how far away one could go and still add on. Mr. Lipscomb said that depended on a number of factors but that often all that had to be done to extend the area was add a node.  

Mr. Putens said he wanted to be careful not to simply move the crime to a new location and that he liked the idea that the cameras could be moved. He said he was a strong proponent of having such a system and was glad the City was finally moving on this.  

In response to a question from Mr. Putens, it was clarified that a private organization, such as condo complex, could pay to be added on to the system but have its own security officers be the monitor for its cameras. That is, different parts of the system, though connected, can be monitored by different people.  

In response to a question from Mr. Cornett about moving a camera to follow a particular incident, Ms. Chupek said that any camera can be made motion-sensitive or be set to patrol.  

Mayor Pro Tem Roberts asked if staff had developed a policy on who would monitor or have access to the cameras. Mr. McLaughlin said he thought that could be developed at the staff level at the appropriate time. He said staff had looked at various packages and that with Council’s agreement would bring this one forward at a regular Council meeting for approval.  

Other Business  

Mr. McLaughlin said the House McMansion bill had been pulled and that Park & Planning had sent out an announcement of a meeting to explain the non-legislative approach they preferred to take in dealing with this problem. He said learned from College Park that they still wished to pursue legislation via the Senate side. He also asked that Council agree to meet in executive session at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, to be briefed on the collective bargaining agreement. Council agreed to do so.  

The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,  

Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

 

 

 

 

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248