Camera Installation At Two Busy Intersections Irks Some Enfield Officials

ENFIELD, CT — Surveillance cameras were recently installed at a pair of busy intersections in Enfield, but some town officials are saying it was done without their knowledge.

Mounted on white poles, the cameras have been installed at Washington and Brainard roads, and at Post Office and Raffia roads. At Monday night's town council meeting, Mayor Ken Nelson said the "absolutely ugly hideous cameras" were not approved by the council or the town manager.

"I don't know who approved them, they were not in front of planning and zoning, they were not in front of a building department, and this council never approved putting up cameras like that in the middle of a field that are so blatant obvious," Nelson said. "I think the whole council is okay with having them in strategic areas, inconspicuous, but to stick a huge white pole up with four cameras staring in your face with this giant guardrail around it is not anything that I know myself and several other council members agreed to."

Police Chief Alaric Fox told Patch, "These cameras were fully funded by the town. These locations were approved by the town manager. We have heard the community's concerns about the appearance of these poles, and we are looking into that now."

"The police's motivation is to help," Town Manager Chris Bromson told Patch. "I trust and love our police; they have the best intentions in their mission to solve crimes."

Bromson said discussions are underway to explore possible ways to camouflage the poles. "We are still working on it with public works and the police department," he said.