Open Meetings Act Complaint Filed Against Boonsboro Town Council Over Flock Camera Contract Discussion

Radio Free Hub City has filed a complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board, alleging that the Town of Boonsboro Mayor and Council violated the state’s Open Meetings Act. The complaint centers on the handling of a pricing proposal for a Flock Safety camera system, which is accused of being deliberately omitted from a meeting agenda and discussed through unnotified electronic communication. The alleged violations occurred on July 11, 2025, and July 14, 2025.

The complaint details a series of communications that began on Friday, July 11, 2025, when Boonsboro Police Chief Dave Rizer emailed the Mayor and Town Council a pricing proposal for the camera system. In his email, Chief Rizer indicated he wanted to share the information before the upcoming Monday meeting. Shortly after, the Office Manager inquired if the item needed to be added to the agenda before it was distributed. Between July 11 and July 14, an email exchange reportedly took place involving the Police Chief and multiple Town Council members, discussing the camera system’s costs, capabilities, and potential installation locations. Despite this acknowledged pre-meeting discussion and explicit staff awareness of the agenda item, the agenda published for the July 14, 2025, meeting did not include any specific reference to the Flock camera system or a pending contract vote.

During the July 14, 2025, open session, the Flock camera system contract was reportedly presented and approved for a recurring annual cost of $26,600. This approval was listed under the general agenda item “Police Department Report.” The complaint asserts that this practice circumvented the public’s right to advance notice of significant business and the opportunity to observe the full deliberative process. The complainant notes that the exchange of emails among town officials on July 11, involving a quorum and discussions about the camera system’s merits and operational details, may constitute an unlawful meeting conducted via electronic communication, in violation of the Act’s requirement for public bodies to meet in open session when conducting public business.

Only a week ago, and approximately a year after the initial Flock contract approval, a Facebook post from the Boonsboro Police Department stated that no one attended to speak or request information on the matter. This statement by the Boonsboro Police Department highlights the very harm the Open Meetings Act aims to prevent: the public being deprived of their right to be informed about and observe the deliberations on significant public business.

Town of Boonsboro has indicated their intention to replace Flock with Axon later this year.

Supporting documentation for this article is available in our repository.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from a complaint filed with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board and information from the Town of Boonsboro.

Video Spotlight