How much would it cost to install and maintain security cameras or alarms at local ballfields, and would that exceed the cost of repairing future vandalism?

The answer to that question is still coming into focus for members of the Barrington Town Council who discussed the topic at their meeting on Sept. 14. 

The issue actually surfaced more than a month ago, when members of the Barrington Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that the town install security cameras at some local athletic fields and parks. They said the town was spending a lot of money to renovate the facilities — more than $1 million went into the recent upgrades at Haines Park — and they did not want to see vandals ruin the field improvements. 

At the Sept. 14 meeting, Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said the administration was not sure the benefits of security cameras systems were worth the cost. He said it would cost between $2,000 and $2,500 to install a new security camera and have the recordings kept on the cloud, as it would be part of public records. Hervey said the existing Legion Way security camera — it is currently off-line — might cost a bit less because there is already electrical infrastructure in place, but installing surveillance systems at other parks, such as Haines or Sherwood, would require new electrical. 

“These costs could add up,” Hervey said. 

The town manager wanted to look at the issue of security for public sites through a more holistic lens. He also cautioned that the cost of installing, operating and maintaining security cameras would probably exceed the cost of addressing any acts of vandalism. Hervey said town officials could revisit the security camera option in a site specific approach. 

We can come back with a more concrete plan, Hervey said. 

Not exempt

Barrington, like most communities, is no stranger to vandalism. 

Police are regularly called for incidents of graffiti spray-painted on public or private buildings. A few years ago, vandals targeted Sherwood Park Little League field and concession stand. The vandals marked the outside of the concrete building with antisemitic and racist graffiti. They damaged the plumbing and pipes in the concession stand. They smashed equipment owned by Barrington Little League that was kept inside the building. They shredded the windscreen hanging from the backstop behind home plate. 

During the recent council meeting, Hervey mentioned the Sherwood Park vandalism. But despite the level of damage, officials still believe that the cost to make repairs would be less than the cost of installing new security cameras and maintaining the system on the cloud. Hervey praised the work done by the Barrington Department of Public Works and Barrington Police in response to the vandalism incidents. 

Worth pursuing?

Barrington Town Council President Braxton Cloutier asked Hervey if it would be possible to complete some of the work “in-house,” using town departments and employees to install the security cameras. 

Hervey said that was an option, referencing the on-call electrician used by the town and the municipal government’s IT department. 

“We wouldn’t have to spend much money or any money to get estimates,” he said. 

Cloutier also surveyed his fellow councilors on the security cameras proposal. Not all of them support the initiative. 

Jordan Jancosek, who attended the Barrington Parks and Recreation Commission meeting where the idea was first discussed, agreed with some of the commission members who shared concerns about legal issues that might surface with the cameras. She said one of the bigger concerns was focused on using the cameras at parks where there are a lot of children present. 

Jancosek said she was not interested in moving the security camera proposal forward, even if there was a significant need. 

Kerry O’Neill asked about using a different type of security system, such as an alarm. A short time later, O’Neill made a motion to have the town manager evaluate the request to install security cameras at town fields and look into other security systems. The motion also called for the manager to examine the cost effectiveness of the security systems weighed against the cost of future vandalism. 

Liana Cassar seconded the motion, which passed 3-1, with Jancosek voting in opposition.