The city of Troy’s contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate reader cameras was automatically renewed Tuesday for at least another year. But the City Council says the contract is still not valid.
The renewal comes after many residents voiced their opposition to the cameras at a March 19 City Council meeting. Many cited concerns about surveillance and First Amendment rights violations.
At that meeting, members of the all-Democratic City Council said they had not been given enough notice ahead of the contract’s automatic renewal, which was set for March 31.
Now, after the city’s Republican Mayor Carmella Mantello on Tuesday announced the contract’s automatic renewal, Council President Sue Steele told WAMC the board plans to take action.
“I will be directing the city auditor to not make any payments to Flock,” said Steele. “I would hope that we would sit down at the table with the administration and the police department and work out next steps.”
In a statement issued March 31, Mayor Mantello said she is working to clarify data security policies with Flock, writing “From the very beginning, I made it a priority to bring this contract forward publicly to ensure transparency and accountability.”
The city has 26 Flock ALPR cameras placed throughout the municipality.
