The week ahead: Ordinances and Rules Committee to further discuss Flock cameras

Update (Dec. 1): This article has been updated to include the meetings of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust on Tuesday, the School Committee on Wednesday and the Library Building Committee on Thursday.

This week, the City Council’s Ordinances and Rules Committee will take over in a discussion about the use of license plate readers by Waltham’s law enforcement.

Flock Safety is a surveillance technology company that signed a contract with the Waltham Police Department in June to provide 16 cameras with licence plate reader technology. The contract has recently stirred up controversy among some residents and at the City Council surrounding concerns about privacy rights, security and a lack of public transparency around the WPD’s initial adoption of the cameras. 

At previous meetings, the City Council’s Committee of the Whole has heard from Police Chief Kevin O’Connell and the Law Department about details of the contract and how the WPD uses the cameras.

The police department has recently issued a set of guidelines on the use of license plate recognition technology, but councilors asked the Law Department at the council’s Nov. 17 meeting further questions about the cameras and how it could implement additional guidelines on their use. 

At that meeting, Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan moved to forward the matter to the Ordinances and Rules Committee for discussion this week.

City Council committees

In other business, City Council’s Committee of the Whole will discuss plans for the upcoming redesign of the Waltham Public Library and consider two new appointments to the Conservation Commission. 

The Licenses and Franchises Committee will discuss a handful of license renewals for extended business licenses, a MassPort permit application, and two street opening requests from Eversource. The Public Works and Public Safety Committee will discuss street repaving permits for National Grid, and the Finances Committee will consider accepting grants for the city’s Council on Aging and Department of Public Works.

Committees will meet at City Hall starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1.

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is a board charged by city ordinance to oversee the city’s affordable housing trust fund.

This week, members of the board will be discussing updates around the Hardy Residences and the former Fernald State School’s Cardinal Cottage.

Its next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the basement conference room of City Hall.

Board of Survey and Planning

The Board of Survey and Planning regulates public and private ways and makes decisions on the status and boundaries of lots in the city.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the auditorium of the Clark Government Center.

School Committee

The Waltham School Committee is an elected six-member committee chaired by Mayor McCarthy that makes policy and oversight decisions for the Waltham School District Board.

This week, among other items of business, the School Committee will go over a School Improvement Plan for Waltham High School. It will also discuss the district’s staffing needs for the new school year and introduce a potential policy concerning emotional support dogs.

The committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, in the James J. Cannon Lecture Hall of the old high school at 617 Lexington St. 

Library Building Committee

The Library Building Committee is a group specially convened to consult on the upcoming WPL building redesign. Committee members will meet at 1 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 4 to discuss updates to the project’s timeline and design since its last meeting.

The committee will hold the meeting over Zoom and in person at the Trustees Room of the Waltham Public Library. Zoom details can be found in the meeting agenda.

Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission is a volunteer board charged with overseeing environmental planning in Waltham. The commission reviews certain types of construction on or around wetlands to ensure they comply with the Wetlands Protection Act and the Department of Environmental Protection stormwater standards.

It will hold a meeting over Zoom at 7 p.m. on Thursday. A link for the meeting will be provided on the commission’s page on the city website at least 48 hours in advance.

Disability Services Commission

The Disability Services Commission is a seven-person board that works to make Waltham more accessible for residents with disabilities. It advocates and distributes funds for projects related to physical accessibility, signage, interpretation services and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

The commission meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 over Zoom. Participants can request meeting information from the DSC Chairperson Mark Johnson at markj@walhouse.org.