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Cameras to discourage littering at Ogdensburg’s Greenbelt under consideration

Posted 7/26/15

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council has directed the city manager to investigate costs of camera installation at the Greenbelt following a discussion on littering. With a consensus …

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Cameras to discourage littering at Ogdensburg’s Greenbelt under consideration

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council has directed the city manager to investigate costs of camera installation at the Greenbelt following a discussion on littering.

With a consensus of the council, they asked manager John Pinkerton to look into the costs of installing cameras to monitor the city’s Greenbelt that includes a skate park, city docks, a playground and Kids Kingdom park.

The discussion arose after Councilor Dan Skamperle complained about the large amount of litter and debris he noticed in the Greenbelt.

“It’s disgusting,” he said.

Skamperle questioned what the current fine for littering was and suggested in be raised to $500 in an attempt to deter people from tossing their trash on the ground.

Pinkerton said the major problem is enforcement rather than the fine itself. He said catching people in the act of littering is tricky with the city’s relatively small police force.

Skamperle said he would like to see the bike patrols in the park more frequently as a deterrent.

Councilor William Hosmer suggested cameras might be a better solution. Hosmer said vandals have hit the city’s skate park, parks and other areas over the past year and cameras might help the city identify those responsible in future crimes.

Councilors Jennifer Stevenson and Wayne Ashley also supported the idea. Skamperle who opposed them in the past said he might be supportive of cameras if the council would consider raising littering fines to the $500 mark.

Following a consensus of the board, Pinkerton said he would investigate the costs.