by Geoff Fox
As 2025 comes to a close, there are a few things that need to be tied up heading into the new year.
Among those are the Flock cameras, sewer replacement, and demolitions.
During the November town meeting, town officials voted to remove the Flock security cameras around town. A month later and they’re still up.
Town Manager Mike Faith said the company has yet to remove the cameras.
“We had the trial period. We decided after the trial period we weren’t interested,” Faith said. “They just have to come get them.”
Faith added he hasn’t been told when the company would come get their equipment.
There’s been a lot of questions from the company on why the town doesn’t want to continue using the cameras and who told the town about the issues about the cameras not being able to share information.
Faith said he told Flock town officials made the decision and they can talk to the officials, but the decision is final.
He did say there were some guys working on the cameras about two weeks after the November meeting and that police and town officials have access to the video feed.
Faith noted there is some controversy over these types of camera systems and collecting people’s information.
“If you google Flock camera system, there’s a few stories nationwide where communities are concerned about collecting information,” he said. “In Maryland, your license plate doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the state.”
When the town was sold on the idea of using Flock cameras, Faith said officials were told they’d communicate with the Flock cameras in Hagerstown, and it could help in locating criminals who might be heading west.
However, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department told Hancock Police it’s not legal due to the system not being secure enough.
Faith said that’s probably correct because he and the mayor both have access to the cameras, which means civilians have access to law enforcement cameras.
He likened the situation to 2013 when Maryland passed a law saying you had to have a license to purchase a handgun and after classes, fingerprinting, and fees, you’d be sent your card with your driver’s license.
He said someone at the DMV, who was not a sworn officer, had access to personal information sending license pictures to the State Police.
Photos from those cards have since been removed.
“It’s probably a similar type thing designed to protect people’s information,” Faith said.
With the town’s original cameras, Faith said town officials at the time couldn’t access those unless they were in the police department and then only view them.
He did say the town’s grant writer is working on looking at funding for a new camera system, which would replace the old cameras.
The current system has been become a “patchwork system” put together over the years to save money and parts can no longer be imported due to security venerability.
Those cameras are vulnerable to being hacked, Faith said.
“If somebody hacks the cameras in Hancock, they’re going to be pretty bored because there’s a picture of the park,” he said.
Faith didn’t know if license plate readers would be part of the new camera system.
Gas company, town repair sewer line
A gas leak a month ago at the intersection of Methodist Avenue and Main Street was caused when Columbia Gas hit the sewer line in that area.
There was a discussion at the time if the line was active or abandoned. Faith admitted that’s unknown until it’s dug up.
The gas company represented the line was an abandoned storm drain, but Faith said the way it was laid out – a ductal iron line from the Methodist Church and a plastic line to the street — would mean it was active.
Faith said it was raining and cold the night the gas company was at the site and they didn’t want to mess with it.
He added Columbia Gas was responsible and the town would be billing them for the repair.
“In fairness to them, I think they know they screwed up because they sent a vac trailer up,” Faith said.
A vac trailer is a giant vacuum that will suck the dirt out of the hole and not damage any pipes.
If the town were dig, there’s the possibility they could hit a pipe with their backhoe.
The vac truck saved time, money and labor on December 18. Everything was cleared out and fixed within a couple hours, Faith said.
Demolitions complete, fence and pumproom in spring
Two demolitions have taken place in the last month, Faith said.
The house by Kirkwood Park has been demolished and the end of the pool house in Widmeyer Park has also been demolished.
The pumproom and fence at the splash pad will be late winter or early spring projects to be completed.
The plan is to have those complete by the time the splash pad reopens on Memorial Day weekend.
Town offices closed for the holidays
Faith said the town offices would be open Monday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 23, before closing the next three days for Christmas.
The following week, they’ll be open as usual, closing early on Wednesday, December 31, and closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
