Bylaw panel starts review of surveillance tech rules

Bylaw Sub Committee · Meeting of October 9, 2026

PLAINVILLE — The Bylaw Sub Committee began reviewing how other communities govern surveillance technology. A speaker said the group gathered material from North Attleborough, other communities and the American Civil Liberties Union, and stressed it was a reference, not a template. The speaker noted the charter makes the town manager chief procurement officer and that the police chief has operational control of the department, so policies can address data tracking and audits but not camera placement.

Another speaker said residents largely trust police but worry about the data, and that the technology "needs the appropriate guardrails." Members were asked to review a booklet before the next meeting, with a bylaw possible within 90 days.

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• Plainville's community access TV: Bylaw Sub Committee meeting, October 9, 2026
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Source: the Bylaw Sub Committee meeting of October 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.