The Kennebunk Select Board gave Town Manager Mike Pardue the go-ahead to explore the costs and other issues associated with a public-private partnership on video surveillance cameras that could assist local law enforcement. Tammy Wells photo
KENNEBUNK – The select board gave a tentative go-ahead for staff to explore the cost and benefits of potential public-private partnerships that could see the municipality participate in the acquisition of video surveillance cameras for installation in some locations.
The benefit to the town, said Town Manager Mike Pardue, is the ability for law enforcement to identify vehicles and their route of departure from a location and provide other footage in the event of a crime or a vehicle crash. The cameras would allow for observation in real time and after-the-fact footage.
Pardue told the board he had been in conversation with Paul Gosselin, the owner of the Shoppers Village complex at 45 Portland Road, about the proposal and was looking for direction from the board.
The board indicated interest in exploring the matter in a broader way that looks at where the needs are.
Pardue referred to the conversations he has had with Gosselin, who has video cameras at Shoppers Village, but are due for an upgrade. The complex currently has video cameras, but cannot provide real-time footage.
Pardue said he does not have firm costs but believes a camera upgrade would be $20,000 to $25,000. Under the proposal, Gosselin would pay maintenance, power costs and upgrades going forward, with the town paying for the cameras from a Tax Increment Financing account.
Real time video allows public safety agencies to respond more quickly to crimes in progress and creates an exchange of information and intelligence that can aid in keeping citizens and officers safer, town officials said.
Pardue said there was a recent situation of assault and police used existing video to bring the matter to a resolution, and that a scam situation was also resolved.
“Are we going to be seeking partnerships with Hannaford and downtown,” asked board member Bill Ward.
“I think this is a great idea,” said board member Kortney Nedeau, who also spoke of potential partnerships with others.
“This is a toe-in-the-water concept,” said Pardue. He said any agreement would require a strong memorandum of understanding between the parties.
“I hesitate to spend $20,000 to $25,000 on a single location unless police have identified it as an area of need, “said vice chair Shiloh Schulte, who led the discussion. “I’d like to know if the area is identified as a higher crime area where real-time would make a difference. I hesitate to jump in both feet.”
“I never want to suggest that Shoppers Village is a crime area,” said Pardue.
Schulte said if there is a need at Shoppers Village there may be in other, similar areas of town.
“It doesn’t seem fair to give preference to one location,” said resident Miriam Whitehouse.
“I think increasing surveillance is creepy and I strongly object to spending taxpayer funds,” said resident Rachel Phipps. “I feel plenty surveilled, and I don’t want Kennebunk to be surveilled any more. Where does this need come from? Is this a solution looking for a problem?”
Blake Baldwin had recused himself in his capacity as board chair because his business is located at Shoppers Village, but provided information as a tenant.
He said Town Clerk Merton Brown had his vehicle “clocked” by someone who had denied responsibility, and a man who had been shopping in the plaza came out of a store and punched his dog, and video surveillance was provided.
“Shoppers Village is not a crime-ridden part of town,” said Baldwin, but noted there have been traffic accidents over the years, road rage incidents and other issues.
“I understand what Rachel says, but no one has a reasonable expectation of privacy in public,” said Baldwin. “I’m not advocating one way or the other.” Baldwin went on to say that when the Black Lives Matter flag was stolen from the Unitarian Universalist Church, he was asked by the police chief to set up a camera and did so, at his own expense.
Nedeau said she understood people’s feeling about being on camera but “for us to remain safe we have to move forward with what’s happening.” She pointed out that the bathrooms at Waterhouse Center are closed to the public after 4 p.m. because of prior incidents there.
“Then let the businesses cover it,” said Phipps of the associated costs.
Schulte said he was not hearing “full steam ahead” from the board and suggested examining costs and looking at the matter more broadly, with an eye toward benefitting the community.
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