City Council will meet in a special session and in committees Monday to hear a number of proposed ordinances, including one that would give the Athens Police Department body worn cameras.
The body worn cameras would be purchased from Axon, the same company that provides APD with Tasers. The five-year contract with the company would include training for officers and insurance for if a camera would break.
Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle previously discussed with council the prospect of body worn cameras that would automatically turn on and record if any officer in the area deployed their Taser.
Council will discuss and vote on several ordinances concerning transportation and construction as well. An ordinance amending a prior resolution would authorize design engineering for improvements on Stimson Avenue.
City Council will also vote on street paving and repairs and will allow Mayor Steve Patterson to apply for an Ohio Department of Transportation, or ODOT, grant for an uptown improvement project.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia Council of Governments will be considered. The council would consist of surrounding local governments and oversee the Wayne National Forest Bailey’s Trail project. Council members will vote to allow Patterson to enter the City of Athens into the agreement once the ordinance enters its third reading.
Funding is the last obstacle for the Bailey’s Trail project, which has been considered since 1994.
Council may vote to suspend vending and soliciting ordinances for an uptown art event in August in addition to the suspension of certain noise ordinances for that same event.
