Are you five?

I'm gonna get this ad hoc started.

Uh this ad hoc uh officially starting at 6.05 p.m.

is the adoption of the privacy policy for the automated traffic enforcement safety devices.

My name is Frank Salvatore.

I'm the chair with me.

I have Cheryl Wallace Smith and Candace Faye, the two uh city council persons who are on the ad hoc.

We have uh Deputy Chief Sturdevant here.

We have Tot O'Brien from the mayor's office.

We have Robin Edwards and Caitlin Grace from the Corporation Council.

In the room, we also have ex officio members, uh President Peter Bazade and Paul Rotello and uh members of the community.

Did I miss anybody?

See if I don't have my glasses on, I don't I don't see.

So I don't miss anybody.

Okay.

So we're going to start off by asking corporation counsel to do a presentation because actually this uh ad hoc and the next ad hoc are kind of linked together.

But we wanted to do the privacy policy first because that's uh probably the easiest one to go through before we get to the ordinance for the cameras.

So ladies, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Salvatore.

Good evening, everyone.

And I just have a few opening comments, and then we're going to we have a PowerPoint presentation for you this evening that actually covers the privacy policy as well as the ordinance, and we'll walk you through a few slides until we get to the privacy policy, and then we can stop and answer any questions that you have.

But just by way of brief background information, this ad hoc is convened for the purposes of discussing the privacy policy.

And the privacy policy, as Mr.

Salvatore just pointed out, is to be adopted if an ordinance that provides for the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices, ATE, SDs, as are known.

Um also people call them red light or speed cameras, is adopted by the city.

Um by way of very brief background information.

In 2023, the state of Connecticut enacted a public act, which is now codified, and it's enabling legislation that provides for allowing towns and cities to employ these devices.

Approximately 15 cities and towns throughout the state have adopted ordinances that provide for this at this time, and um which were actually approved by DOT.

There are five currently under consideration.

Adoption of such an ordinance represents a shift in traffic management.

You don't need to rely solely on police patrols.

Um the use of these devices provides for a more uniform oversight of high-risk areas.

The goal is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities by using these devices to monitor and enforce the running of red lights and speed in excess of 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

And you know, it's to improve traffic in school zones, pedestrian zones, and other high areas where there are safety concerns.

So the process begins tonight with the adoption of an ordinance and the privacy policy, which is required to be adopted as part of that.

And that's what we'll focus on tonight.

So at this point, we can turn to our PowerPoint presentation, and Caitlin will run you through the first few slides.

Um we hope it will be informative for you.

Okay.

Public Act 23116, which was codified as Connecticut General Statute sections 14307B through 1430H, allows municipalities to use ATSD, which is automatic traffic enforcement safety devices at locations within school zones, pedestrian safety zones, and other locations in such municipality.

As long as they adopt four specific things.

So first, it's the adoption of an ordinance in accordance with the statute's requirements.

Second is the adoption of a model privacy policy in accordance with the statutes requirements.

There also needs to be an adoption of a comprehensive safety action plan, which is currently being drafted by our planning and zoning department.

And a plan drafted by the Danbury Police Department and the city traffic engineer, which has to be approved by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

An automatic uh automatic traffic and enforcement safety device.

And if I will for the rest of the presentation be calling it an ATESD device.

Um, those are two things.

So they're either a red light camera or a speed camera, which are used interchangeably throughout the statutes.

And we're currently focusing this evening on the first two steps.

So what is an ATSD?

It's defined in Section 14307B1 of the state statute, which means a device designed to detect and collect evidence of alleged violations of an ordinance adopted under Section 14307C by recording images that capture the number, the license plate, date, time, and location of a motor vehicle that either exceeds the posted speed limit by 10 or more miles per hour, or fails to stop their vehicle when facing a steady red signal at a traffic control signal.

So disclosure of personally identifiable information.

So personally identifiable information, which is PII is defined under Section 14307B6 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and it's also defined in our ordinance definition section.

And this is information created or maintained by the city or a vendor that identifies or describes a motor vehicle owner.

This includes the owner's address, phone number, license plate, their photograph that was taken, bank account information, credit card number, debit card number, or the date, time, location, or direction of travel on a highway.

PII cannot be disclosed by the city or a vendor to any person or entity, including law enforcement units.

The only law enforcement officers who should have access to PII are trained operators if they are trained as an operator or a designated employee of the police department who is set up to review and approve the recorded images that are produced by the ATSD device vendor or operator.