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At first Bath village officials thought they were getting a wireless camera surveillance service at no cost. Now, they’re not so sure.
Village trustees said Tuesday they want to revisit the current use of a WiFi camera after Village Police Chief David Rouse said Jeremy Fields Construction, of Canandaigua, has changed the terms of their donation.
“They said the cameras are going to cost us,” Rouse told the board. “They said they meant the installation was free … I’m not comfortable with the pace of this.”
So far, the police department has set up one camera to increase surveillance through the WiFi connection in the area of Pulteney Square.
Rouse said there is no contract for service or equipment, and added the actual cost to the village has not been discussed.
“I just know we’re starting to look at a difficult budget, and I don’t think now is the time to entertain this,” Rouse told the board.
The idea of using WiFi cameras for village business and police surveillance was first raised last fall when Fields representative Jim Wurzer told the board a contract the firm had to supply a large number of WiFi cameras had gone sour. The agency decided to give the equipment to the village for its use, Wurzer told the board in October.
So far, the wireless system has been used by the police department. Village officials are also looking at setting up connections to allow meter readings by the village-owned utility Bath Electric Gas and Water System.
Village officials said if the initial use was successful, the wireless Internet connection could be offered to residents for a fee. The fee would be split by the Bath utility and Fields Construction, according to Village Mayor David Wallace.
But charging for the cameras has led trustees to rethink the current set-up.
Village Trustee Donna Simonson said Tuesday the board should require a plan and timeline in writing by Fields Construction. If the board decides to pursue wireless Internet connections at the village’s expense, the project should be then bid out to competitors, Simonson said.
At first Bath village officials thought they were getting a wireless camera surveillance service at no cost. Now, they’re not so sure.
Village trustees said Tuesday they want to revisit the current use of a WiFi camera after Village Police Chief David Rouse said Jeremy Fields Construction, of Canandaigua, has changed the terms of their donation.
“They said the cameras are going to cost us,” Rouse told the board. “They said they meant the installation was free … I’m not comfortable with the pace of this.”
So far, the police department has set up one camera to increase surveillance through the WiFi connection in the area of Pulteney Square.
Rouse said there is no contract for service or equipment, and added the actual cost to the village has not been discussed.
“I just know we’re starting to look at a difficult budget, and I don’t think now is the time to entertain this,” Rouse told the board.
The idea of using WiFi cameras for village business and police surveillance was first raised last fall when Fields representative Jim Wurzer told the board a contract the firm had to supply a large number of WiFi cameras had gone sour. The agency decided to give the equipment to the village for its use, Wurzer told the board in October.
So far, the wireless system has been used by the police department. Village officials are also looking at setting up connections to allow meter readings by the village-owned utility Bath Electric Gas and Water System.
Village officials said if the initial use was successful, the wireless Internet connection could be offered to residents for a fee. The fee would be split by the Bath utility and Fields Construction, according to Village Mayor David Wallace.
But charging for the cameras has led trustees to rethink the current set-up.
Village Trustee Donna Simonson said Tuesday the board should require a plan and timeline in writing by Fields Construction. If the board decides to pursue wireless Internet connections at the village’s expense, the project should be then bid out to competitors, Simonson said.
