The Beaver Canyon cameras' durability, effectiveness and upkeep costs dominated a State College Borough Council discussion with a citizens advisory committee Friday.
This was the council's last opportunity to debate the Beaver Canyon surveillance cameras before voting on their future on Dec. 6.
The council will decide whether to keep the cameras and, if they are retained, what the upkeep costs will be and whether one camera should be moved to Calder Way.
Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham asked how long the cameras would remain functional.
The advisory committee explained that paying an annual maintenance agreement would suffice in making changes and updates with camera software.
The advisory committee also suggested that the council develop and implement a public camera-monitoring plan for 2005 to show the cameras' effectiveness.
State College Police Chief Tom King said the images from a public camera near Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave., could aid in a recent DUI accident.
However, council member Craig Humphrey said a police officer on duty could be more helpful in similar situations. "A policeman on the street may be better than a camera because they can actually see the incidents," he said.
There are costs involved in the new implementation for the cameras' maintenance, adjusting the cameras' location and their memory storage capacity.
The annual maintenance agreement would cost about $2,500 per year. There would also be a cost for moving one of the three cameras located on East Beaver Avenue to the intersection of East Calder Way and McAllister Street. "We know of two costs -- the $2,500 maintenance agreement fee and a $3,000 storage capacity fee," King said.
However, some members feel the costs already invested in the cameras outweigh any additional costs involved in bettering their overall use.
Cameras are currently located at the intersections of Beaver Avenue and McAllister Street, Beaver Avenue and Hiester Street, and Beaver Avenue and Locust Lane.
The council voted 4-3 for installation of the cameras, which occurred in September 2003. Their cost was $24,409.05.
