NORTHAMPTON — After another lengthy public comment period, and additional commentary from the councilors themselves, the City Council passed an ordinance Thursday greatly restricting the city’s ability to put additional permanent municipal surveillance cameras downtown.
The vote was 7-2, with Ward 2 Councilor Dennis Bidwell and Ward 5 Councilor David Murphy providing the no votes. The final passage provoked applause and cheers from many of the people who had stayed past 10 p.m. to see the vote.
Most of those who spoke on the issue before the council were supportive of the ordinance and opposed the installation of additional municipally operated security cameras downtown, a state of affairs that has held true for most of the meetings since Police Chief Jody Kasper first floated the idea in a community meeting in September. The city currently operates surveillance cameras at the police station on Center Street and in some parking areas downtown.
“I’ve not seen any evidence that this is going to make our community safer,” said Dan Chard.
“We need a public space that everyone can feel comfortable in,” said Dana Goldblatt.
“You cannot be safe if you have no privacy,” said Chris Kitzmiller.
There were also a number of people who voiced their opposition to the ordinance.
“I urge you to vote no,” said Charles DeRose, who said that the council had the unenviable task of balancing safety and civil liberties
“We want everyone to feel safe,” said Henry Hephy, who noted the safety and security of those who worked, shopped, hung out and owned property downtown. “Why do we have to rush this issue?”
Mayor David Narkewicz told to the Gazette before the ordinance’s passage on second reading that he would veto it. Should he follow through with this, the council will have to take up the measure again shortly after the veto, which will come with a written explanation as to why Narkewicz is against the legislation. A two-thirds vote of the council would be able to override the mayor’s action.
That Narkewicz brought the veto up to the press rather than going to the councilors about it was a concern that Ward 6 Councilor Marianne LaBarge.
“Why did our mayor only tell the Gazette?” she said.