Lewiston Town Board discusses Flock cameras

Waechter voices concerns about privacy issues

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

At the Lewiston Town Board meeting Monday evening, newly elected councilman William Burg reported on new request from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office for installation of an additional vehicle-monitoring Flock Safety camera at Military and Annover roads.

NCSO had already received town approval to install four similar devices on town roadways. It indicated the units would merely function for speed/traffic monitoring and not record any vehicle/driver information.

Lewiston Police Department Chief Michael Salada informed the board that NCSO initially requested up to 11 such units for installation in the town, “but with the changing from state roads to town roads, they reduced it.”

Salada said NCSO requested the new location after initial placements were set.

As the board moved to action on resolution from Burg, Councilwoman Sarah Waechter said she wanted further explanation from the installer of the Flock cameras: Namely, what type of information the cameras record.

“Just from doing some research into the flock organization itself, I have questions about the data that they collect and how they utilize that data, not on our police department, but their end – as far as working with training AI and also with different components as far as side door and back door access (of) the information,” Waechter said.

Supervisor Steve Broderick asked Building Code/Enforcement Officer Tim Masters, “Didn’t you talk to somebody about that?”

“I talked to the flock company representative and asked them who had access to the data,” Masters replied. “They said Flock would have access and the Niagara County Sheriff would have access. But I didn’t ask what Sarah is asking.”

He continued, “According to their representative, they told me it was just Flock and Niagara County.”

Salada concurred with Masters’ explanation and said he was in favor of the arrangement: “We have access today as a partner agency; (we) can access them. We can use them on several of our own parole investigations to narrow down cars. …

“My understanding … is that Flock only has the access (of data). … As far as I know, they (Flock) were not using the data outside of that. … In terms of access, it’s our access and other partner state and local agencies. It is not shared anything federally.”

Waechter responded, “And that’s where I don’t have any problems with the information being used internally as far as with our police department and as far as criminal investigations for those matters. However, as you take a deeper dive into what Flock is about, from what my reading – and I’ll give you a general scenario – is that, I think, you take information as far as me driving around to the places that I frequent, they can analyze the … data through an AI model and then they can determine … where I’m (going) to the doctor, where I may do my grocery shopping, which addresses I frequent to.”

She went on to convey her reservations on approving the camera: “I really had hoped to be able to speak with that representative prior to any vote on the matter,” Waechter said.

“I don’t know if people are familiar with the (Flock) organization,” she said. “I’m just worried as far as the data capture and the violation of individual privacy here in Lewiston.”

Town Board members would go on to approve the camera by a 3-1 measure. Waechter cast the lone no vote in opposition. Councilman Jason Myers was absent.

In other news:

•The board voted to lower the speed limit on Langdon Road from 55 mph to 40 mph. Broderick said he received a petition from area residents requesting the change.

“I think pretty much we had every neighbor sign a petition to have it reduced. So, here’s a situation where the neighbors all got together, reached out and it was successful,” he said.

•The board approved a tentative agreement for collective bargaining with Teamsters Local 264 at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

•The town announced AARP tax preparation services will again be offered at the Lewiston Senior Center, beginning Friday, Feb. 13. The town also announced a meeting of its new comprehensive plan committee for Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Senior Center.