Town mulls video monitoring at transfer station

The town is considering whether to spend up to $2,500 for closed-circuit video monitoring and recording of activity at the Rhinebeck transfer station.

The Town Board took up the matter lat week but delayed taking a vote until members are certain what protocols will be in place for accessing the recordings.

Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia said the system should be available for town officials to watch at locations other than the transfer station office.

“What good does that do if we can’t watch it?” she said.

“This just seems archaic to me to have to go to the transfer station to watch a digital recording,” Spinzia said. “Don’t we just want to be able to log on?”

Town Board members noted there is no internet connection at the transfer station, which would limit the ability to copy and videos to a portable device.

“It can’t be [in] the cloud without a computer,” Councilman Ed Roberts said.

The surveillance system is being considered as a way to monitor any vandalism at the transfer station and identify people who drive off without paying.

Spinzia said video monitoring also should be considered for the town’s Thompson-Mazzarella Park.

“There was some graffiti down at the town park ... and we may have to get cameras for there as well,” she said.

In a related matter, town officials said equipment at the former town landfill has been damaged by drivers of all-terrain vehicles.

“We have a very large capped landfill up on Stone Church [Road], and there are about ... nine vents on it,” Spinzia said. “People are ATV’ing around there, and all of our vents have been broken.”

The vents are used to release methane that otherwise could build up and cause an explosion.

“We may have to fence off the area,” Spinzia said. “Certainly we have to post ... ‘No Trespassing’ signs, and anybody caught up there, please know that you’re not only breaking the law, but you’re putting in danger our capped landfill and safety of water because of it.”