Pennsburg unanimously voted to go ahead with a law that would require commercial establishments notify customers of video camera surveillance in restrooms and locker rooms, the first of its kind in the region.

        On Tuesday council reviewed the ordinance, drafted by solicitor Chuck Garner, which says businesses with video surveillance would need to conspicuously post a notice of the surveillance in the common area of the establishment, as well as the exterior and interior door of the room where the camera or cameras are located. 

        Businesses found to be non-compliant would face fines of $100 a day for each infraction.

        After advertisement, a vote is expected to pass in April, officials said.

        During discussion Councilman Bob Seville asked about the legality of banning cameras altogether in locations where there is an expectation of privacy. 

        Garner said potentially the borough could be held liable, civilly, for an incident which could have arguably been prevented or prosecuted if the borough allowed cameras in those locations.  He said while there isn't a legal precedent established, he thought Pennsburg would be well served by using the disclosure as a "starting point."

        Council Vice President Bruce Lord said he believes the borough "needs to have something" to address the issue.  Councilwoman Diane Stevens made the motion to advertise the law and Councilman Cody Belmont seconded it.  

        Council's action came on the heels of a borough resident complaint last month after he noticed what he believed were surveillance cameras inside the bathroom of a Pottstown Avenue pizzeria and bar.  The resident allegedly asked an employee, who identified him or herself as a manager, if the cameras were real and he was told they were.

        A co-owner of that business, Alfredo Liguoro, told the Town and Country later that week that the devices in the restrooms were antennas, not cameras, and the employee was mistaken.

        The primary concern about the cameras was that there was no law stating patrons of any business had to be notified they were under surveillance.  The resident and members of the public at last month's meeting also said it was disturbing that access to that footage, which would invariably capture children and adults in various states of undress, could be used for "sexually devious purposes" and could potentially be hacked if it was streamed online.

        In other news, Seville proposed security measures for the entrance doors of borough hall on W. 6th Street.  He noted there currently wasn't an audible alarm, like a bell, on the front door when people entered the building and also petitioned for a security camera to be installed so staff could see who is coming in.  Currently, from their office location, they don't have a line of sight to the doors, he said.

        Council President Kris Kirkwood said Seville should get cost estimates on the equipment and installation to share with council.

        Mayor Vicki Lightcap later lauded the Upper Perkiomen Police Department's coverage during the recent record snowfall, including their invitation to area children for a snowball fight.  Lightcap said that post, on social media, garnered more than 400,000 likes and it showed "great community involvement."  She also said the officers were taken up on their offer multiple times in between calls for assistance.