Pictured is a Warren County School District bus equipped with a camera. Photo by Brian Ferry

The City Council tabled a resolution that would authorize the installation and management of a bus stop arm camera program for a third time during its recent City Council work session meeting.

Chairwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large, and City Councilwoman Marie Carrubba, D-Ward IV, both expressed continued concerns about approving the Bus Patrol program that has been proposed by the city administration to provide additional safety for students at Jamestown Public Schools. If approved, the resolution would authorize the mayor to enter an agreement with Bus Patrol to install and manage a bus stop arm camera program on Jamestown Public School buses. The Bus Patrol program would serve as a way for the city to issue tickets to drivers that do not follow bus safety traffic laws.

Over the past few months, City Council members, especially Ecklund and Carrubba, have raised concerns regarding the city’s potential liability for the program.

“I looked through the old one and everything that was highlighted was the same that was highlighted on the old resolution,” Ecklund said. “This was changed to a fixed location, so I’m not sure what that means. That was the only difference between the two.”

Carrubba also presented a concern regarding installing city equipment on buses owned by Jamestown Public Schools and driven by Jamestown Public Schools bus drivers. As a result of the continued questions and concerns by City Council members on the Finance Committee, the resolution was tabled for the third time.

“We had a brief discussion with Corporation Counsel again, and he has recommended that we table that and hold that for further review,” Ecklund said.

While the Finance Committee tabled the resolution again, Public Safety Committee Chairman Brent Sheldon, R-Ward I, said the Public Safety Committee approved the Bus Patrol resolution during its meeting on Monday.

“We were informed that the school board had passed that, so we did approve that, but we’ll wait to see what comes with further questions,” he said.

The Jamestown Public Schools District Board of Education approved the Bus Patrol program during a meeting last month. The school district believes the program will help to address issues with cars illegally passing school buses in the city.

“If a car, with the red lights on and the stop sign out, were to pass the bus it records that information and it can be sent to the police department so that they can then issue an appearance ticket for that traffic violation,” Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, said.

Sundquist told City Council members on Monday that while he understands the council has “other concerns” regarding the Bus Patrol program, he wanted to “point out” that the school district has approved the program. The City Council had previously stated that they wanted to wait until the school district approved of the program before considering it for a vote.