The Daily News on Thursday asked leaders in six Greater Newburyport communities whether their city or town halls were equipped with security cameras.
"I think they're a good thing to have," Merrimac Finance Director Carol McLeod said.
On June 24, the Newburyport City Council approved spending an estimated $247,000 to buy 25 security cameras and systems equipment to better secure buildings. For the first time ever, 15 cameras would be installed inside City Hall. The rest would be split up between the Senior/Community Center, as well as the harbormaster's office.
But the board wouldn't officially release the funds until Mayor Sean Reardon's staff provides details on camera locations, as well as a policy for their use. That information has been provided and the matter is up for review by the council's Public Works & Safety subcommittee. The three-member group will next meet on Aug. 19. It will need to recommend the spending request back to the full council before a final vote could take place.
Earlier this week, Mayoral Chief of Staff Andrew Levine said city employees have been concerned about their security. The cameras, he added, are a way to beef that up.
Making town employees feel safer was a big reason why Merrimac officials decided to install them, according to McLeod, who said threats made to Merrimac Town Hall about 10 years ago prompted the move.
Although she declined to disclose how many cameras are in use, McLeod said there are enough to cover all of Town Hall's hallways, entrances and exits.
"They shoot down the halls, so you can see pretty good," she said.
In Amesbury, communications director William Donohue said four cameras were installed inside City Hall within the last month.
One camera is located in the auditorium, another is in the main hallway, pointing out at Friend Street. A pair of cameras also cover the two stairways leading to the lobby. Signs have also been posted, letting people know video surveillance is in use.
Donahue said the cameras are not the result of employee concerns. They are instead being used to safeguard much of the city's information technology equipment.
"We also have a lot of artwork from the Cultural Council on display in the hall," he said. "This is about protecting the city's assets. There's really been no controversy behind it and no complaints."
Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington said in an email his town doesn't have any security cameras at Town Hall.
There is a security camera on the roof of the Department of Public Works facility on Lafayette Road which scans the adjacent parking lot for the Council on Aging, Harrington added.
"Also, our library has three cameras — one at the front entrance, one at the back entrance, and one in the corridor that leads to the bathrooms and meeting room on the first floor," he said. "Since the library is less than 10 years old, so are their cameras."
Georgetown Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco said in an email, Georgetown Town Hall has five security cameras.
One of those cameras is in the basement while two cover public areas adjacent to town offices on the first floor. Another two cameras do the same on the second floor. There are no signs letting people know they are being surveilled. ( Merrimac also does not have signs.)
"Nothing in actual workplaces," Pacheco said.
The third floor, where public meetings are held has no security cameras.
But Pacheco pointed out many meetings are recorded by the Channel 9 cable access TV station.
The Daily News also reached out to municipal leaders in Newbury and Rowley but did not hear back from them by deadline.
When asked if West Newbury has equipped its town office building with security cameras, Town Manager Angus McFadden said he would not comment.
But he did say staff has access to panic buttons and are provided with regular CPR, as well as incident-response training from public safety officials.
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