Charleroi agrees to hire firm to reinstall security cameras

The cameras were removed when traffic signals were taken down, but will be reinstalled by Emerick Security Systems.

Leaders in Charleroi might not always see eye to eye, but when it comes to public safety, everyone is usually on the same page.

In the past few months, officials have not always agreed how to proceed with an upgrade to their downtown camera systems, but after forming a committee and sitting down together to hash out the budget, council came to a decision.

During Wednesday’s voting meeting, council unanimously agreed, without much discussion, to pay $47,453 to Emerick Security Systems to install cameras throughout the downtown business district.

The committee to pick a company to install the cameras was formed in February and comprised Councilmen Jerry Jericho and Larry Celaschi, Borough Manager Joe Manning, Charleroi Regional Police Chief Chad Zelinsky and Artie Romito, the borough’s IT professional.

In February, requests for proposals were sought, but last week only one proposal had been submitted by the required deadline.

The committee decided last week to meet with the company before making a decision, but was reminded by Council President Kristin Hopkins-Calcek that a vote would be taken for the project to move forward.

Cameras have been an ongoing discussion in the borough for months, as a project to replace traffic signals in the borough wrapped up last fall.

As that project was completed, cameras were removed from existing poles.

Those cameras were kept, but as part of the contract to replace the traffic signals, it did not include reinstalling the cameras throughout the downtown area.

Some of the cameras that were removed, purchased by the borough several years ago, were damaged.

Others were in working order and could be reinstalled, but officials needed to decide on the best option to move forward.

The company that originally supplied the cameras went out of business, so other options had to be considered.

Despite some cameras being removed, the borough has not been without security.

On Monday, the designated committee met with the proposed company for an interview before bringing a recommendation to council to award the project, and it went smoothly, Manning said.

Jericho said there will be multiple cameras at every major intersection, and plate readers will be installed at intersections coming into or leaving the borough.

Cameras in working order that were removed will be reinstalled.

The money wasn’t in this year’s budget, but the borough has enough to cover the cost without grants.

“We had a meeting, it was quick and a lot of questions were answered,” Jericho said. “I think the answers we got, they sounded professional and were satisfactory.”

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“I think the borough will really benefit from this. This is an increase in public safety, we went from a $20,000 bid for a lot less to more coverage that will protect everyone in the community at a higher level.”

LARRY CELASCHI

CHARLEROI COUNCILMAN Hopkins-Calcek thanked the committee for coming together and coming to an agreement.

“They put their heads together, sat down and really were partners in this,” she said. “So I want to thank the committee.”

Celaschi said he thinks the project is a step in the right direction.

“I think the borough will really benefit from this,” Celaschi said. “This is an increase in public safety, we went from a $20,000 bid for a lot less to more coverage that will protect everyone in the community at a higher level. Hopefully, we can get the entire town done in the next year or so, whatever it takes.”

Jericho said the committee agreed it was best to complete the project in phases, particularly because there are working cameras currently installed and to allow to budget for the second phase of the project.

“I would like to start what we are calling phase 2 of this by the end of the year,” Jericho said. “I would have voted to spend $100,000 to get this done, but we’ve decided to take it on in phases. There are a lot of other places we want to make sure are covered.”

Work could start as soon as next week.