Milford alders vote to gatekeep new city cameras

The Milford Board of Alders unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday that places new checks on how the city deploys surveillance technology. The measure responds to months of public criticism regarding the use of Flock license plate readers and other monitoring systems.

Under the new rules, the Board must approve any expansion or initial use of surveillance tools, with a set period for public comment. Contract renewals for existing systems must also go before the alders. For other new technologies, the administration must provide 30 days of advance notice.

The resolution orders Police Chief to deliver a comprehensive inventory of all active surveillance equipment within 90 days. This list must detail the cost of each system and identify the vendors involved.

The vote follows a pause in operations that began in August after residents voiced strong opposition. The city stopped using nearly all surveillance cameras during that period. Condor cameras were specifically paused on October 5. A technology review committee is currently examining the various systems.

During the Thursday session, residents pressed city leaders on transparency and the original installation process. Tracy Ambrosecchio, a Milford resident, said, "There’s no public place where this information can live and when people can’t get straight answers, they stop trusting the answers they do get."

Sarah Wood, another resident, urged alders to protect public rights. She stated, "You're responsible for protecting our rights and making decisions you can defend to the people who elected you." Both Democratic and Republican alders supported the resolution, noting it creates a review process while giving residents a voice. The board voted unanimously to approve the measure despite ongoing debates over whether Flock cameras should be removed entirely.