Ayer orders Flock cameras taken down immediately
Ayer's Select Board voted unanimously to disable and remove the town's Flock Safety license-plate cameras and cancel the contract.
Select Board · Meeting of August 31, 2026
Ayer's Select Board voted unanimously to disable and remove the town's Flock Safety license-plate cameras and cancel the contract. Nearly a dozen residents spoke against the $25,000 program, with William Barnes of Pleasant Street alleging Police Chief Gill and Town Manager Robert Pontbriand authorized the grant and a $25,000 payment without required board approval under state law. Resident Kristen Feeney said a camera facing Columbia Street left her feeling "surveilled" every time she left home.
Chair Chris Tavares said he reviewed the Supreme Judicial Court's Commonwealth v. McCarthy ruling before concluding he was "not comfortable" with the cameras' constitutionality, while stressing support for Ayer police. The board also voted to refer an aquifer protection zoning amendment to the Planning Board for a September 8 hearing and approved three construction change orders totaling roughly $57,000.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,326 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of August 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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