On the agenda: Springfield Public Safety Committee Meeting — Automated License Plate (Nov 4)
Past ⚠ Agenda Watch Springfield, Massachusetts · Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — 1 week ago
About this record
The published agenda for the November 4, 2026 meeting contains: "Automated License Plate", "Flock Camera", "ALPR", "Flock camera". The meeting has passed. The agenda stays here as a permanent public record.
Check the agenda document for the meeting time.
The agenda, word for word
Government public record — the full text of the published document, archived November 12, 2026. Gold highlighting of key terms is ours, not the original’s. Read the original document ↗
City Council
Public Safety Committee
Meeting
~Final~
November 4, 2026
4:30 PM
36 Court Street
Springfield, MA 01103
http://www.springfieldcityhall.com
Counciklor Gerry Martin (Chair)
City Hall - Room 200
Call To Order
4:30 PM Meeting called to order on November 4, 2026, in Room 200 (HYBRID), 36 Court
Street, Springfield, MA 01103.
Roll Call
In Person
Councilor Martin
Councilor Govan
Superintendent Chief Akers
Deputy Chief Jeff Martucci
Lieutenant Rick Burwett
Kat Howland, Real-time Crime Analysis Director
Nathan Albright
Alex Tracy-D'Unger
Janet Burderwik
Ken Averatt
Jonathan Jeffrey Froy
Clay Aaryn
Dillan Vrins
Derek Sherry
Gretchen Dee
William Connelly
DeeDee Lowoski
Press: The Reminder, 22 News & Republican
Virtual
Council President Tracye Whitfield
Councilor Santaniello
Councilor Walsh
Councilor Davila
Atty Shea
Hans Albright
Kathy Brown
Megan
Indivisible
Nick
Juan Latorre
Brendan Hutchings
Max Weinstein
Joe
Elya
Terry Owens
Erica Cruz
Darleen
Thom Powers
Mass Appeal
Teniel's iPhone
Michael Jones
Attendee Name
Title
Status
Brian Santaniello
City Councilor At Large
Virtual
Gerry Martin
City Councilor — Ward 7
Present
Maria Perez
City Councilor — Ward 1
Excused
Malo Brown
City Councilor — Ward 4
Absent
Zaida Govan
City Councilor — Ward 8
Present
Kateri Walsh
City Councilor At Large
Virtual
Justin Hurst
City Councilor At Large
Excused
Victor Davila
City Councilor — Ward 6
Virtual
Michael Fenton
City Councilor — Ward 2
Excused
Jose Delgado
City Councilor At Large
Excused
Lavar Click-Bruce
City Councilor — Ward 5
Excused
Melvin Edwards
City Councilor — Ward 3
Excused
Tracye Whitfield
City Councilor At Large
Virtual
Arrived
Public Portion
1.
Review and Discussion of the Draft Ordinance Prohibiting Automated License Plate
Reader Systems (Flock Cameras).
On November 4, 2026, the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Councilor Gerry Martin, met to
review and discuss the proposed ordinance prohibiting Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR)
systems, commonly known as Flock cameras. Councilor Zaida Govan, sponsor of the proposed
ordinance, outlined concerns regarding individual privacy, surveillance, data security, and
potential misuse of information collected through the technology. Springfield Police
Superintendent Lawrence Akers, accompanied by Police Department representatives, explained
the department's current use of ALPR technology in investigations involving stolen vehicles,
violent crimes, missing persons, and other public safety matters. Police officials described
existing departmental policies, access restrictions, auditing procedures, and oversight measures
intended to prevent unauthorized use.
A representative from Flock Safety addressed questions regarding data ownership, storage,
retention, cybersecurity, and information-sharing practices. Councilors and residents raised
concerns about potential access by outside agencies, unauthorized surveillance, the distribution
of cameras throughout Springfield neighborhoods, and the transparency of the City's contracting
and implementation process. Police officials maintained that Springfield's system is subject to
restrictive policies and that searches require an authorized investigative purpose and
corresponding case or service number. Discussion also addressed the effectiveness of ALPR
technology in criminal investigations, the distinction between license plate readers and other
surveillance cameras, and the importance of balancing public safety with constitutional privacy
protections. Residents expressed differing perspectives regarding the benefits and risks of
continued use.
Councilor Martin emphasized the importance of continued public discussion and indicated that
the committee would further examine the proposed ordinance and its potential implementation.
A tentative follow-up Public Safety Committee meeting was discussed for Tuesday, November
17, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., to focus more specifically on the ordinance and allow additional public
input. Councilor Martin also expressed interest in visiting the Police Department to better
understand the technology and its operation. No formal vote or recommendation to the full City
Council was recorded, and the proposed ordinance remained under committee review. The
meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
[MIN_SIGNATURES]
The government’s own published record — read it yourself, then decide what to do about it.
The cameras, the coverage, and the local record for this community.
Not yet recorded. The record stays open — outcomes are added as minutes and vote results are published.
Provenance
Where this record came from. Every source is listed, permanently.
- Agenda Watch · Nov 12, 2026
Permanent ID DKT-2026-002597 — this record is never deleted.
Record history
Every change to this record, logged as it happened.
- Nov 12, 2026 Filed on the Docket
- Nov 12, 2026 Full document archived — public record
← The full Docket · every meeting, vote, and action on the permanent record · also in the National Record Index.