Editor:

Big Brother has arrived in Shelby. The Town Supervisor’s new surveillance system in the Town Clerk’s office, complete with audio recording, is not just a watchful eye—it’s a listening ear too.

The installation of a surveillance camera with microphone in a government building, such as the situation in Shelby’s clerk’s office, raises several legal and ethical considerations.

Under New York law, video recording in public areas of government buildings is generally permissible, especially if notices are posted and the cameras are overt. However, audio recording introduces more complex legal issues.

New York is a one-party consent state for audio recordings, meaning that at least one party involved in a conversation must consent to being recorded. This rule applies unless the conversation occurs in an environment where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy​.

The installation of a surveillance system with a microphone targeting a specific department, such as the Town Clerk’s office, could raise concerns about selective monitoring and potential privacy violations, especially if other departments are not similarly monitored.

Such actions may also be seen as targeting a specific individual or department, which could raise ethical questions and potentially lead to legal scrutiny if the surveillance is deemed to violate reasonable expectations of privacy or is used for purposes other than security.

While the Town Supervisor may have the legal authority to install additional surveillance cameras, including those with microphones, the decision to do so should be carefully considered in light of privacy concerns, legal implications, and the perception of fairness and equal treatment among government departments and employees.

Shrouded in secrecy, the supervisor’s decision to install a surveillance system with audio capabilities in the Town Clerk’s office was not only done without the knowledge of the employees and residents but also without any immediate disclosure to those it directly impacts.

Andina Barone

Mindful Media Group

New York, New York

Editor:

To the Village of Albion residents, it is an honor to serve on your board for the last year and half and I am looking forward to the remaining two and a half left on my term. With that being said I am asking that any of you with comments, questions or concerns to please reach out to us formally as a board so things can be addressed.

We live in a small community and it is easy to fall subject to “things will never change” or “no one cares so why even bring it up.” However, I am telling you that is not the case. Every fire needs a spark, so why not let yourself be that spark?

We need you to bring issues forward in meetings (simply call or email the Village Clerk’s office to be added on the agenda) or send the entire board an email so that we have something formal to work with and can start the necessary communication to address things.

Sidebar conversations and comments on Facebook do nothing but stir up animosity and don’t allow for healthy dialogue to happen which feeds into resentment of each other along with local officials and further restricts change.

Please remember that you voted us in to serve as your voice and to do what’s best for our village. Accountability can only be had when communication is established between the people and their representatives and that is what helps progress happen.

It is our duty to help and provide assistance when and how we can as your representatives, but we need you to come forward with the initial ask. Thank you for your time in reading this and I look forward to seeing you in future meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month (typically) or hearing from you by email. My email address is Tmcmurray@villageofalbionny.com.

Tim McMurray

Village of Albion Trustee

Editor:

Tuesday’s state and local elections offered many reasons for optimism in my opinion. In Irondequoit, a teenager – Isaiah Santiago – got elected to the school board. And he is Hispanic!

When Republican Mark Assini lost his bid to unseat Adam Bello for Monroe County executive, he gave a superb concession speech. In it, Assini swallowed his disappointment, sincerely congratulated Bello, and firmly advised his followers to get behind the incumbent for the good of the community and forget political animosity to get things done for the well being of all. His speech had class written all over it.

Statewide candidates in places such as Kentucky and Virginia won decisively whether endorsed by Donald or not.

There were more encouraging indicators, but in the interest of brevity I chose to keep this short.

Sincerely,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

While out on the campaign trail I reconnected with some old friends and met some new friends.  I enjoyed our conversations, and your concerns and thoughts on our Town.

All of your words of encouragement kept me motivated to reach as many homes in Shelby as I could. I really appreciate all of you that asked me to place signs in your yard and I want to thank everyone that supported me by writing my name in on the ballot.

Even though I came up short,  I was overwhelmed by the number of people that came to vote and wrote my name in. Hopefully some of you will come and meet me at the board meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

John Pratt

Town of Shelby Councilman

Editor:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved in the election by either volunteering or exercising their right to vote.

That is what is great about our election process. Opposing viewpoints, ideas, and maybe even ideologies, can crop up during elections, then we vote, and after the dust settles we move on with our daily struggles.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s move forward together, work together and maybe we can make life a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Respectfully,

Scott Wengewicz

Shelby Town Supervisor

Editor:

Even though I was unopposed for Shelby Town Justice after my appointment in June, I would like to thank everyone in Shelby who came out and exercised their right to vote.

I also appreciate those who took and displayed my yard signs, the backing of the Shelby Republican Committee, the Orleans County Republican Committee, and the Orleans County Conservative Committee, as well as the parties for their support.

Often overlooked are the poll workers who spend an extremely long day and night helping voters. A big thank you to them – we all appreciate your time making our democratic process work.

Respectfully,

Edward J. Grabowski, Esq.

Shelby Town Justice

Editor:

We would like to thank all the Yates voters that came out and voted for Steve Colon and Paul Lauricella. We thank you for acknowledging the Conservative Party platform to government.

Hopefully the Town Board will adopt some of these restraints in their approach to unnecessary spending and government overreach, which would be good for all of us.

While we won’t be able to make any decisions for you, we will continue to hold government accountable the best way we can by staying involved. That’s the American way.

Please attend meetings and workshops where you get the bigger picture. It’s your money.

Paul Lauricella Jr.

Steven A. Colon

Yates

Editor:

We truly appreciate the support of voters in the Town of Yates. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to continue to serve you.

We acknowledge that our opponents, and those who voted for them, hoped for a different electoral outcome. We will do our best to serve you as well.

We thank Tom Rivers and the Orleans Hub for once again providing an important public forum for debate – well done.

God bless America!

Jim Simon, John Riggi, Susan Hrovat

Town of Yates

Editor:

Veterans Day…November 11 at 11 a.m., 1918, the war that was to end all wars came to an end. The Germans surrendered…the battle field that had been smoke ridden by gun fire and the smell of death, cries of wounded fell to an eerie silence.

Cries filled the air, “It is over!” Yes, it was over. It did not end all wars. We still have wars…take a good look at the world today.

Not long after the end of World War I, Congress made November 11 to be Veterans Day, the day that we honor veterans, living and deceased. We pay them respect, honor them. Thank them for our freedoms and service to this country. Thank a vet!

It is sad that we are not able to have parades to honor the living and deceased veterans. Veterans’ organizations have been declining in membership. They are getting older, public interest is declining. It is time the younger veterans get off their butts (military term) and

rise up and join a veterans’ organization. You owe it to them as they are the ones that have lobbied for many of veterans’ benefits.

The citizens of this country need to wake up and show patriotism to the veterans so they will not feel serving their beloved country was in vain.

Thank a vet!

Carl Boyle

American Legion Post 1603 in Lyndonville

U.S. Army, 3rd Armored Div.

Editor:

I’m sure many of you who live in the Town of Barre, or its outlying areas, are aware of the ongoing political conflicts stemming from the alternative Wind Turbine Project.

Assuming the people who run for and are in these positions, are supposed to be educated, impartial problem-solvers, then why is it, Mr. Pogue thinks he’s entitled to verbally intimidate, and be outwardly argumentative towards the people he works with?

The body language displayed at the Barre Town Board meetings clearly shows he is not deserving of a leadership role. When a community member comes to a board meeting, to express their concerns about something that is important to them, it should also become important to the town officials.

On several occasions, I have witnessed a member of the community trying to get answers for an ongoing problem, outside of the wind project, only to be given some sort of “tell them what they want to hear response,” from the Town Supervisor.

It is not a matter of whom we like or dislike, but who has good leadership qualities. In closing, I would like to ask that the Town of Barre residents think long and hard before they vote.

Thank you,

Cindy Confer

Barre