Security upgrades planned at several Jackson locations

JACKSON - Big Brother will soon be watching township athletic fields, the Department of Public Works, the Jackson Police Department and other buildings in the municipality.

Members of the Township Council voted on June 24 to award a contract for the purchase and installation of a video surveillance system at a cost of $539,919. The contract was award to Niscayah of Rutherford.

"We approved the resolution because we wanted to protect a $4 million investment," Councilman Scott Martin said, explaining that the council's goal is to protect municipal facilities against vandalism. "The surveillance equipment will be put in (at) the artificial turf fields we just made an investment in."

The artificial turf fields are in the Jackson Justice Complex, off Veterans Highway.

Business Administrator Phil Del Turco said, "We need to protect that investment over there."

Martin said surveillance cameras were also needed at police headquarters.

Del Turco said there are requirements made by the state regarding the jail facilities.

"We had to fulfill those requirements," he said.

At the Department of Public Works the aim of the surveillance cameras will be to protect against theft and vandalism. Del Turco said there have already been some circumstances of vandalism.

He said Mayor Mark Seda also thought it would be wise to have security cameras in the public works garage, the fuel facilities and the recycling facility.

"We've had some vandalism and thefts over there also," Del Turco said.

Martin said sometimes a municipality has to spend money to save money down the line.

"We just invested a big chunk of money," the councilman said. "It's the taxpayers' dollars and we want to make sure we protect that [field]. We look at this as an investment."

Martin said that as soon as a playing field is entered, the security equipment will identify whether it is a person or an animal and the police will be notified that someone or something is on the field.

"At the very least, the police will be alerted that someone is on the field after hours and they will go there," the councilman said.

Del Turco said there may be other municipal facilities that officials will consider for upgraded security measures.