From left, Village Clerk Cindy Capestrani, Village Treasurer Paula Spunaugle, Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr., Mayor James Jaroszynski, Attorney Greg Peterson, Trustee Anthony “Skip” Cavallaro and Trustee Nikki Pierce conduct village business Monday at the Village of Falconer Firemen’s Exempt Hall, 3 Coleson Drive. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

FALCONER- Smile. You could be on camera if firefighters come to your house.

At Monday’s Falconer Village Board meeting, Falconer firefighters presented board members a request to purchase five body cam systems for firefighters to wear when responding to calls.

“There are pros and cons to using body cams as a firefighter,” said Ian Webster, a firefighter with the department. “I think every department member should have one, but there are some cons to using them as well.”

Webster said that by utilizing body cameras, the department benefits by having enhanced training opportunities, highly-improved levels of documentation of incidents, an increase in accountability and transparency, along with enhancing public relations and providing real-time monitoring of dangerous situations.

However, Webster said, there are some drawbacks to the utilization of body cameras.

“There is a potential for privacy violations for not only civilians, but firefighters too,” said Webster.

Webster reported that the Falconer Fire Department board had approved the purchase and use of five body cameras, but the department still needed the Village Board’s approval before any action could be taken. Webster also said that only one other department locally utilizes the helmet camera system.

“So far, only the Village of Lakewood’s Fire Department utilizes these video cameras,” Webster said.

“Give your documentation to the village clerk and we will review it,” said Mayor James Jaroszynski.

No additional action was taken.

In other business:

-The board set April 14 at 6 p.m. as the date for a public hearing regarding changes to Chapter 90 of the village code to clearly define regulations regarding mobile food vending units. The board has tentatively set the following fees to be utilized if the legislation is passed to operate a vending truck within the village limits. An initial $50 fee for usage, then $10 per usage, not to exceed $300 yearly.

– The Falconer Board of Trustees set March 31 at 5 p.m. to host a community budget workshop to be located at 101 W. Main St. The proposed 2025-2026 budget reflects a property tax rate of $8.61 per $1,000 of assessment, which is a proposed tax increase of 3 cents. Last year’s tax rate was set at $8.58 per $1,000. The proposed tax rate increase falls within the state’s 2% tax cap.