Council cuts Community Centre Cameras as budget gets closer

After weeks of budget discussion, council has finally approved the 2024 budget.

Not include in this year’s budget? Proposed new cameras at the Community Centre and golf course.

At the April 16 meeting of council, a request was made for more details on the proposed upgrade to the cameras at the Community Centre and golf course. According to Denis Bento, Director of Community Services & Facilities, the project would see the 42 cameras currently at the Community Centre unified into a single system.

Additionally, staff is hoping to install 16 cameras at the golf course to monitor that area.

Finally, a cell phone booster needs to be installed near the reception desk to cover a dead zone in that area. “This would help managers and staff who are unable to access their phone lines when they are out of the office to receive better cell phone reception,” says Bento. “As a result, staff would no longer have to find other areas in the building, usually by the main door, to answer work cell phone calls.”

The cost of the new cameras at the Community Centre would be $25,250. The cost of a cell phone booster would be $2,385 and the cost of 16 new cameras at the golf course would be $7,250.

Add that all up, and add in projected labour costs of $14,600, and you’re looking at a $64,000 project.

That proved too rich for council’s blood, at least for this year. “The intention was to look at this to see if there was an opportunity to ensure the safety of our community with these cameras, but it is quite a large expense,” says Councillor Norbury. “I think this is something we could probably push off until next year.”

He says he wants to see further reductions in the proposed budget, and would prefer to see that come from proposed capital projects than at the expense of people. “We have cameras in the Community Centre. We have people watching. Poor cell phone? People can just step outside.”

However, not all of council was against the proposal. Councillor Gulick says she doesn’t think there are enough cameras in the Community Centre. “For the safety of staff and kids there, I think it’s a necessary expense.”

The budget was passed at the May 6 meeting of council.