Oakmont Council Divided on Security Surveillance Equipment Procedures

By Akasha Brandt
Patch Intern

While Oakmont borough’s video surveillance system has previously been monitored by police in the borough station, a committee has proposed to move the equipment under lock and key.

This proposal, which included giving Assistant Borough Secretary Ryan Jeroski exclusive access to the surveillance equipment, was a point of contention for Councilwoman Elena Colianni, Mayor Robert Fescemyer and Police Chief David DiSanti.

“I totally think that camera system should stay within the confines of the police department,” Fescemyer said in an interview after the meeting. 

Councilman Tim Favo helped create the proposal on a committee with fellow councilman Ronald Scott and Jeroski. The committee met with an surveillance expert from Eltech Security Systems. 

Favo said during the meeting that he believed that giving police exclusive  access to the tapes, which could be later use during prosecution, caused a liability for the borough. He said if someone were asked to produce a tape and couldn’t for some reason, there is a legal issue. 

Previously, there has only been one incident where the cameras malfunctioned and shut off, according to Fescemyer. Moving the equipment will not protect it from shorting out and experiencing the occasional bugs like all technologies face, Fescemyer said.

“Because one time it fails and now there’s a semblance of mistrust,” Fescemyer said. 

Favo said in an interview after the meeting that everyone else has a “gatekeeper” on their computer system. To him, the restrictions are matter of professionalism and security.

“This is part of any checks and balances you try to have,” Favo said. 
Colianni said she sees no reason for having a gatekeeper, and voiced her opinion against the proposal during the meeting.

“I’m very, very troubled by this. What it’s saying is that someone doesn’t trust the police department to handle our security surveillance system,” Colianni said during last week’s meeting.

DiSanti said he was against a civilian having access to the tapes, and said this would be even more of a liability to the borough.

Fescemyer echoed DiSanti’s opinion, “This isn’t for anybody else’s eyes except the police department.”

Favo’s motion did not receive a second. The council agreed to meet with an Eltech representative to clear up questions and concerns.