At a glance
The Columbia County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday and passed 42 resolutions in a block vote. The board heard two proclamations: one marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, another recognizing Oxford House of Columbia County for supporting individuals in recovery. The meeting was dominated by public comment on Flock automated license plate reader cameras, which the sheriff's office installed earlier this year using a state law enforcement technology grant. Sheriff Jackie Salvatore defended the cameras, saying they are forward-facing license plate readers with no facial recognition and are only accessed by law enforcement with a case number and reason. Roughly 20 residents spoke against the cameras, citing privacy concerns, the risk of data breaches, and distrust of Flock as a company. Board members expressed divided opinions: Chairman Matt Murell and one supervisor defended the sheriff's use of the technology, while at least two supervisors (including one who moved to waive executive session confidentiality) said they oppose Flock cameras and do not trust the company with resident data. The Town of New Lebanon passed a resolution opposing Flock cameras the night before this meeting.
Committee meetings and resolutions
The board convened two special committee meetings (Economic Development and Finance), each passing one resolution. The full board then passed resolutions 302 through 343 of 2026 in a block vote.
Key points
- Economic Development Committee passed resolution 343 authorizing a second public hearing on a New York State community development program.
- Finance Committee passed resolution 343206 (exact number garbled in transcript).
- The full board passed 42 resolutions (302-343 of 2026) with a single motion, all in favor.
Proclamation: 25th anniversary of 9/11
Supervisor PJ Keeler read a proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. He spoke about his role organizing EMS strike teams that deployed to New York City after the attacks.
Key points
- The proclamation honored the victims, first responders, and families affected by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- Keeler, an EMT and firefighter, was at the 911 center at 610 State Street on September 11, 2001.
- He worked with the New York State Bureau of EMS that day to organize strike teams of five ambulances each, sent on a regular basis to support New York City.
- The board recognized the continued service of firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and military members who protect communities.
Hudson hosts a ceremony at 6:30 PM at the elementary school on Harry Howard Avenue. Germantown's ceremony starts at 8:46 AM with a fire department procession. The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse will ring bells from 8:46 AM until 10:03 AM, and the public is invited.
Proclamation: Oxford House of Columbia County
Supervisor Collins read a proclamation recognizing Oxford House of Columbia County, a peer-supported housing network for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.
Key points
- Oxford House provides safe, stable, and supportive housing for people in recovery.
- The proclamation recognized the importance of reducing stigma associated with addiction and supporting programs that promote recovery, independence, and dignity.
- Collins thanked Dan Almasi, director of the county's mental health services, who brought the program before the health and human services committee and secured the board's support.
Executive session on Flock cameras
The board moved into executive session to discuss contractual issues with Sheriff Jackie Salvatore. After reopening, a supervisor moved to waive confidentiality so supervisors could discuss the session publicly.
Key points
- The meeting was cleared for executive session to discuss contractual matters with the sheriff.
- One audience member interrupted, shouting and identifying as a veteran of 9/11.
- After returning to open session, a supervisor moved to waive the confidentiality of the executive session so members could discuss what was said with the public. The motion passed.
The transcript contains expletives and disruption during the transition to executive session. The exchange that followed is incomplete.
Sheriff's statement on Flock cameras
Sheriff Jackie Salvatore addressed public concerns about Flock automated license plate reader cameras. She said the cameras were purchased with a state law enforcement technology grant after the public safety committee approved the grant in 2024. She defended the cameras as an assistive tool with no facial recognition, emphasizing that only law enforcement can access plate data and only with a case number and reason.
Key points
- In 2023, the sheriff's office proposed Flock cameras to the public safety committee. The proposal was not approved because it was to be funded by private individuals.
- In 2024, the sheriff's office received a $279,000 state law enforcement technology grant, approved by the public safety committee. The grant funded 10 Flock cameras.
- Eight cameras are currently up. One is down because someone removed it. One is down because a family received death threats.
- The cameras are forward-facing license plate readers, not facial recognition. The sheriff's office has had license plate readers in marked vehicles for 20 years.
- Flock as a company cannot access information tied to a license plate. Only law enforcement can, and every user must log in, provide a case number, and state a reason for looking up a plate.
- The sheriff's office conducts self-audits with two administrators who check use without a set schedule. Flock also audits and flags if a plate is run multiple times.
- Flock has had zero data breaches, according to the sheriff.
- The sheriff said she knows some people's minds will never change about Flock cameras and is not interested in changing them. Her purpose was to answer questions about how the cameras work and are used.
- The sheriff announced plans for a series of community conversations around the county where residents can ask questions about Flock cameras and other concerns.
The sheriff said 10 cameras were purchased, 8 are up, and 2 are down. One public commenter asked if there is an 11th camera not accounted for; the transcript does not record an answer.
Chairman's statement on Flock cameras
Chairman Matt Murell said the sheriff's office did not break any rules in acquiring the cameras, but the 2024 grant resolution did not explicitly say Flock cameras, so the board will tighten that process. He said he disagrees with the sheriff on Flock cameras but supports her and the sheriff's office.
Key points
- In 2023, a contract conversation about Flock cameras happened, but the sheriff's office did not break any rules to reach the current situation.
- The 2024 grant resolution did not explicitly name Flock cameras. The board will tighten that gap.
- Murell said he is one of the people the sheriff will never change about Flock cameras. He does not believe the sheriff's office should use them.
- He said he still thinks the sheriff does a wonderful job and supports her 100 percent, but disagrees on this issue.
- In the executive session, Murell raised a 2025 incident where 404 Media found Flock had left at least 60 AI-enabled Condor PTZ cameras live-streaming and exposed to the open internet, accessible without login. Flock clarified the SIM card was set to public, not a hack.
- Murell's concern is not the sheriff's office but Flock. He does not trust Flock. He wants to change the contract wording to ensure Flock cannot access data except to fix technical issues.
Supervisor proposes state legislation on camera regulation
A supervisor said Senator Hinchey's office introduced a bill in the New York State Senate offering stricter regulations for all camera-reading programs. The supervisor asked the public safety committee to consider a resolution supporting the bill.
Key points
- The county has little control over cameras in the community; most are privately owned.
- Senator Hinchey's bill would impose stricter regulations and controls on all camera-reading programs in New York State.
- The supervisor asked the public safety committee to draft a resolution supporting the bill and move it forward soon.
- The bill addresses concerns about data collection, storage, and management. It is in committee but has a sponsor in the assembly.
Public comment: residents oppose Flock cameras
Roughly 20 residents spoke against Flock cameras, citing privacy concerns, the risk of data breaches or misuse, distrust of Flock as a company, and opposition to dragnet surveillance. Several cited the Fourth Amendment and compared the cameras to systems in authoritarian states. One resident presented a resolution from the East Chatham Grange opposing Flock and related technologies.
Key points
- Peter James Stalling, Nyraville, said anything can be hacked and the cameras violate privacy. He cited examples of officers using similar cameras to track ex-lovers.
- Jolene Baron, East Chatham, presented a sealed resolution from the East Chatham Grange opposing Flock cameras. She said the technology has gone too far and too fast, and prior court rulings on plain view do not apply to 24/7 dragnet surveillance.
- A speaker cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling (U.S. v. Jones) that installing a GPS device on a suspect's vehicle is a search under the Fourth Amendment. Justice Scalia wrote that electronic tracking without trespass may also be unconstitutional. The speaker said the Founders did not intend for the government to track people everywhere they go.
- James Borne, North Chatham, said a lot has changed in two years, especially with AI. He questioned the county's relationships with other law enforcement agencies, specifically ICE and states restricting reproductive rights, and asked if the data could be shared.
- Chris Bishop, Hudson, said private individuals can purchase Flock cameras and surveil neighbors, and the sheriff's transparency website is created by Flock.
- Brian McCormack, co-executive director of Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, said the primary concern is using the data to track and seize immigrants. He said the 2023 objection was not just about cost but about surveillance itself. He said Flock's motive is profit, not safety, and the company trains users to track people by what protests they attend.
- A speaker said even some of the most conservative governors (Texas, Florida) are issuing moratoriums on Flock and uninstalling cameras.
- Another speaker said the founding fathers did not intend for the government to fly over houses or track people everywhere, and called the system disgusting and reprehensible.
- A speaker said the world has changed since 2006 and the PATRIOT Act, and it is not better. He compared the technology to the atomic bomb and said the human nature is not up to handling it.
- Hayes, Hudson area, said opening the door to Flock will lead to more surveillance, and referenced the master key analogy: you might trust this sheriff, but what about several administrations from now?
- Juliana Waltz, Greenport, said regardless of whether Flock has had a data breach, it is the marriage of Flock and police that compromises privacy. She said the department can do great police work without surveillance.
- Claire Cousin, 5th Ward councilmember (Hudson), said she opposes Flock not because she is opposed to safety but because she rejects the idea that surveillance is safety. She said an abolitionist politic asks whether police should have that power in the first place, and that Flock normalizes the idea that moving through your community makes you part of a law enforcement database.
- Eli Deluxe, Hudson, said giving up freedoms under the delusion of safety is stupid, shortsighted, and cowardly. He cited the Patriot Act and asked, do you feel safer now? Do you feel more free?
- Jonathan, Town of Chatham, said the board needs to do its homework on mass surveillance and keep up with tech news. He said the systems require continuous unapproved software updates and are funded by sneaking through backdoor state grants.
- Emett Bishop Hayes, 17, Chatham High School student, asked how residents can trust police when over 30,000 people have been killed by law enforcement since 2000, and when there are countless instances of officers using Flock to stalk ex-partners.
Several speakers were interrupted by crosstalk or time limits. One speaker's closing remarks were cut off when another audience member became argumentative with supervisors.
Supervisor Tistrunk said the New Lebanon Town Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing Flock cameras the night before this meeting. She asked fellow supervisors to bring the issue to their own town boards and to the county's public safety committee.
Supervisor comments and announcements
Supervisors recognized a 60-year fire service milestone, thanked the EMS director for work on a new chargeback system, and announced 9/11 memorial events. One supervisor thanked another for completing a four-year federal broadband grant that will serve several hundred residents.
Key points
- Supervisor Collins recognized Wayne Gearing for 60 years of service to the East Chatham Fire Company. Gearing is stepping down; his children and grandchildren are also firefighters.
- Collins thanked EMS Director BJ Hummer for work on a new EMS chargeback system and contracting process, developed with input from several town supervisors and providers.
- Chairman Murell thanked Hummer, saying the new system will fortify emergency medical services in the county for years.
- Supervisor Adams announced a 9/11 ceremony at 6:30 PM Friday at the elementary school on Harry Howard Avenue, open to the public.
- Supervisor Haughley announced a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Germantown starting at 8:46 AM Friday, with a fire department procession.
- Another supervisor announced the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse will ring bells from 8:46 AM to 10:03 AM Friday, and the community is invited.
- Supervisor Simmons thanked the sheriff and the task force for educating the board.
- Murell thanked the sheriff for briefing supervisors before public comment.
- Supervisor Adams thanked Supervisor Simmons for executing a four-year federal grant (secured by Congressman Delgado) that completed last-mile broadband buildout in Austerlitz, Ghent, New Lebanon, Chatham, and Canaan. Several hundred residents will now have high-speed internet.
- A supervisor thanked the crowd for organizing and encouraged residents to keep speaking and attending town meetings.
- Murell announced that former Hudson supervisor Gail Grandonetti, who served for 12 years, passed away. Her funeral was that day. The board held a moment of silence.
The buildout was funded by Congressman Delgado and executed by Supervisor Simmons and technology assistant Dave Berman. It serves Austerlitz, Ghent, New Lebanon, Chatham, and Canaan.
About this page
FUTURE HUDSON is an experiment in civic engagement: every public meeting of the City of Hudson since January 2026, transcribed and made readable, so any resident can follow what the city is deciding without attending every meeting. This page covers one meeting; see the full archive.
How it was made
The meeting video was transcribed automatically; the transcript was then organized into sections and summarized. The raw transcript is above, every claim can be checked against it.
What to be skeptical of
The transcript is automated and contains speech-recognition errors; names and numbers may be wrong. This page has not been reviewed by a human. Nothing here is an official record, the city's official minutes are authoritative.
About coverage of this body
The Columbia Economic Development Corporation is a county economic development corporation, not a City of Hudson body. Its meetings are in this archive because the City of Hudson Industrial Development Agency's business runs through CEDC, which staffs the agency and hosts its meetings. CEDC posts these recordings to its own YouTube channel. See the archive index for the full coverage note.