Members of the Crawford town board discussed four policies for the town’s handbook during their February 22 meeting, passing two for camera security and social media respectively, and submitting two others for their attorney to review

The board opened with a social media policy that applies to the town’s website, Facebook page, and other outlets. The policy ensures that Crawford’s officials and administrators conduct themselves appropriately and professionally when managing the town’s social media, especially so for posting comments or responding to emails and other submissions from residents. The board passed this with minimal discussion.

The board then passed a policy for video surveillance cameras, establishing how the town board and Crawford Police Department would utilize its camera security system. Deputy Supervisor Mike Menendez explained that a limited number of individuals would have access to the camera footage, both live and non-live, and use said footage would town business and law enforcement purposes.

“The video surveillance cameras are the property of the Town of Crawford and are to be used for legitimate town-related business purposes,” Menendez read from the policy. “Viewing of live footage shall be limited to the dispatcher and police officers only for legitimate law enforcement purposes and the protection of town assets from vandalism, crime, etcetera.”

“Viewing of the personal, non-criminal activities of town employees is prohibited at all times,” he continued reading. “The viewing of non-live footage is limited to the police chief, sergeants, and the town supervisor and town board members.”

Next, the board discussed a policy for short-term rentals, which is currently in development. This policy would establish regulations that short-rental rental owners must follow when managing their properties, including a registration process for a rental permit and rules to prevent disturbances to other residents, such as noise or debris. The board finished a draft based on the Town of Monroe’s rental policy and submitted it to the town attorney as of that meeting.

“The town does not have an official policy for rental properties, Airbnb, and those sorts of things,” Menendez said. “But they do exist in town, so it is to our benefit and necessity to actually have a policy to legislate those properties and to make sure that the town residents are safe.”

“It allows and regulates transient rental uses of residential dwellings, and it protects and preserves the town’s appropriately balanced commercial and residential nature and unique, tranquil character,” he continued. “It’s to prevent, to the greatest extent, practicable public safety risks, including noise, trash, traffic, and parking impacts associated with unregulated short-term rentals.”

Lastly, the board remarked on a policy addressing dumpsters, clothing bin containers, and other storage structures in the town. When passed, it would require the owners of these storage units to move them to discreet locations, so as to not crowd roadsides or diminish the town’s scenery. This policy is still in the works and was submitted to the town attorney.

“Basically, it says that these things are not to be in plain sight. They’re not to be on the road, they’re not to be in the right-of-ways, and there should be no accumulation of garbage,” Menendez said. “It’s just to keep the aesthetics of the town pleasing."