Residents press supervisors on solicitation permits and license‑plate cameras during heated public comment

Upper Yoder residents used the meeting’s public‑participation slots on July 6 to challenge proposed changes to the solicitation ordinance and to raise privacy concerns about license‑plate readers in the county.

Hal Molinsky told the board he had reviewed 'Flock' camera deployments and said the devices "monitor everything anybody does" and raised concerns about who paid for them. Chief Newman and other officials responded that the camera near the police department was purchased with grant funds, that the department uses plate readers for police work and that, to their knowledge, the county/city deployments do not integrate cell‑phone data. The chief said the department would look into the specific devices and the public’s questions.

A different commenter (Speaker 5) challenged the proposed solicitation permit, calling solicitation "free speech" and warning that permit requirements could face a legal challenge. The speaker objected to a proposed 30‑day photo‑ID permit and argued the board should not follow neighboring Westmont’s model. The chair responded that the township has an existing solicitation ordinance and that the current effort is a revision to reflect present‑day policing arrangements; the solicitor will review the draft for an August vote.

Why it matters: the items touch on First Amendment concerns and community privacy expectations; the board is revising the ordinance and must balance public‑safety concerns, vendor accountability and constitutionally protected street speech.

What’s next: the solicitor will review the proposed solicitation ordinance and the board aims to put the revised ordinance on an August agenda; officials said they would check camera details and funding sources in response to residents’ questions.