Ruling: Police should man security cameras | Reading Eagle

11/8/2009 By Don Spatz In a ruling that puts the city's year-old downtown security cameras in jeopardy, a state official has preliminarily ordered the city to use $48-an-hour police officers to monitor the $14.8 million system, not $10-an-hour civilians.

[ImTiredOf_It]

This could be Tamaqua. Are we planning to staff some sort of monitoring room? Of course.
That translates to more payroll hours, right?
Check out Reading: They are being FORCED to staff with police department personnel.

They are also looking to expand the system. Can anyone assure the community that we ours will not also expand? Next, there's it maintenance and upgrading. Imagine, in a few years they will scrap the whole system and buy a new one.

We are Tamaqua, a little town of modest means.
We don't need to keep up with the Jones'.
Now AND IN THE FUTURE, we must cut our costs to the bare minimum.

If I'm wrong, say so but elaborate.

[COOL DOWN]

You are right Tamaqua is not Reading. The Tamaqua Police Department could hire a security professional to monitor the cameras instead of taking certified officers off the streets. You just have to find the right person or persons with the right background and training to do it. Look at the people who work in casino security they are not police by any means but are trained in video surveillance.

[ImTiredOf_It]

Ahhhh, I wasn't thinking about hiring anyone.
I think the whole idea is beginning to look not so good.
This is a very big undertaking that, anyone with half a brain, can see will amount to much more than just start-up costs.
If they want cameras, buy 2 outdoor ones and put them at the 5 points. Better yet, buy 5--one for each point and use an antenna device to connect them to a dvd recorder. No manning necessary!
This is a joke. Here in Tamaqua, we need an official "monitor room" with pricey monitors, AND someone to man the monitor room 24/7? Are you kidding? Tamaqua is not a crime hub. No way. No how. When the the extremist Muslims bring their dirty bombs, trust me, we are safe 'cause we aren't on their map of key targets.
This is wrong.
Has anyone notice that the only acceptable people in today's world are those who blindly comply, or offer praise even when it is undeserved (which in reality is a liar).
I make lots of sense, but I'm always everybody's enemy. Hmmm.

[hometown ruled]

The cameras are coming because they are already paid for. The system they are getting, from what I understand, does not need to be manned. They were talking about a system that involved license plate recognition, but I think they will only be in cars and are not part of the original system they planned for.

And to say we are not a key target... I hate to be the one to tell you this but bad things can happen ANYWHERE, ANYTIME and ANY PLACE.

[ImTiredOf_It]

My eye is on costs, not and in the future.
We can agree to disagree that the probability of "bad things," as in dirty bombs and Muslim extremists, coming to this town/county is highly unlikely.

[ImTiredOf_It]

I have been a very observant American citizen for a very long time, and I DO have a great memory.
What I have seen is a pattern in government whereby they will bring something to the People, along with a basic list of "palatable" features. Thereafter, when everything plays out, people discover that there were....strings attached, and "other things" that should have been revealed/discussed.

Firmly, I believe this camera project DOES have strings attached. I, also, believe that someone/s inside the borough know the project IS a lot more than just a few cameras, and they have no stomach for telling the public everything.

THe ONLY way I'd go for this deal is IF it is a once and done thing, not something that occupies a space in the yearly budget.

If we're going to be FAIR, and the Borough REALLY IS there to SERVE rather than RULE, then tell the People everything! WHen I hear government officials/personnel speak nowadays, I really hate when they ...cover they butts by prefacing everything with "As far as I know..." , "In my opinion..." or "I HOPE....."

Give US ALL of the raw facts, and say it this way:
"We are going to do this and this.." and "It WILL cost this much to maintain" and "Looking forward, I can, reasonably, foresee additional costs of...." "A reasonable (not conservative) estimate would be...."
They should put everything in writing to EARN/RETAIN our trust and, most of all, SIGN IT.
If the plan is good, the People will bite. If they have to leave things out to fluff it up, that's deceit..a part of lying.

One of our elected servants needs to write something very comprehensive for the community to read and hold on to.

If my outlook is overbearing in anyone's view, great. Show me where I have been unreasonable.

[ImTiredOf_It]

No, I am not a live wire, I am truly concerned about my town's course and rebuilding the community spirit.
Argall was here praising facades and improvements assets like the Train Station
**By the way, my vision of the 5 points and those nifty street lights were talked about, by me, with more than one person within the Borough at least 20 years ago, and I quite pleased with the train station, sidewalks and lights. And no, I'm not taking credit for anything, just stating a fact.

Business leaders as politicians (not taking cheap shots at anyone) have business interests, which are not necessarily in the best interests of a community. After all, check out Washington where corporate (money)interests/lobbies have implanted greed and corruption, with very little emphasis on social values, much less "the family".

[cue the cameras]

Tamaqua's proposed camera system, the one that has been funded, will NOT need to be monitored by ANYONE. They will simply be a resource for officers to review in the event there is a crime committed in the area of a camera. No new employees, civilian or otherwise, will be needed. License plate recognition cameras are another story, especially in light of this ruling, but they would be a second or third phase of the security plan and would need serious discussion.

[ImTiredOf_It]

cue the cameras wrote:

Tamaqua's proposed camera system, the one that has been funded, will NOT need to be monitored by ANYONE. They will simply be a resource for officers to review in the event there is a crime committed in the area of a camera. No new employees, civilian or otherwise, will be needed. License plate recognition cameras are another story, especially in light of this ruling, but they would be a second or third phase of the security plan and would need serious discussion.

We need out elected officials to find a way to effectively tell us what they are going to do, and exactly what it will cost now and in the future. They need to tell us, in writing, that it will not be manned and promise (again, in writing) that it won't ever be manned.

This is the fair and honorable way the elected (an all of the employees of the borough) should act on the People's behalf. Unfortunately and sadly, most everything I say is going to provoke someone.

[Not confused]

You want promises, in writing, concerning something that could or could not occur in the future. I don't think any of the borough employees or officials can see into the future. Things change, no matter how well planned. Even if they did provide such written assurances, future councils wouldn't be held to such agreements.

[ImTiredOf_It]

No commitments? Haha

Okay, I'll make a few predictions. Our nifty camera system will have a permanent place on the budget within 5 years (maybe sooner). It will also be manned, so the payroll layout in itself will be significant, but nobody is going to talk about it unless the public brings it up.
There will also be significant maintenance/upgrading costs.

We do not need it.

[challenger99]

Appropriated Funds in the amount of $200K for Tamaqua Police Security Camera System are in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill H.R. 3288 under the Dept of Justice Conference Report. The House has passed the Conferenced Bill and the Senate is debating it now and should vote and pass the Bill tomorrow.

[challenger99]

Senate passed H.R. 3288 and sent it to the President for signing into law. Your $200K is Appropriated for distribution and spending.

[ImTiredOf_It]

...I feel safer already.....

[Northern NY]

My opinion about Reading, PA & surrounding areas need to clean of the state. I have visited a few different times to see my daughter & was appalled. Reading being the worst. There needs to be a bigger Police force to control the drugs on the streets.(shaking my head in disbelief) I've seen for myself. It's a terrible thing I wasn't there no more than 1 hr & all went to bed, my daughters vehicle got broken into. What's up with that?? With all the people in that city you'd think there would be enough money to improve such a disgusting city. The only thing I enjoyed was the Pagoda, the park with the Military tribute, Gettysburg, & York Harley Davidson corporation. Oh and here in Northern NY we already have cameras in our firetrucks & Police cars. Don't be afraid of change because the world is changing all around us right in front of your eyes.