SECURITY CONCERNS AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING

RECENTLY CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM. ..

THE CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED INSIDE THE BUILDING FACING TOWARDS THE EXTERIOR DOORS. THERE IS ONLY ONE CAMERA FACING OUT AT THE PARKING LOT FACING SOUTH TOWARDS THE MAIN GATE.

THE PROBLEMS I SEE WITH THE SYSTEM IS YOU HAVE A SECURITY GUARD WATCHING THE DOORS ON A MONITOR AND A RESIDENT COULD FALL OR BE ATTACKED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW. AS I SEE IT THEY ARE WATCHING FOR RESIDENTS BRINGING VISITORS INTO THE BUILDING WITH OUT SIGNING THE VISITORS AT THE MAIN DESK. THERE IS NO SECURITY FOR THE TENANTS ON THE FIRST FLOOR WHICH EACH HAVE WINDOWS AND PATIO DOORS.

THE CAMERAS ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING DO NOT PROTECT THE CARS PARKED NORTH OF THE CAMERA . WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ANOTHER CAMERA IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED. THE SYSTEM IS ON A STAGGERED PICTURES SYSTEM. IT SHOWS EACH DOOR FOR TEN SECONDS. SINCE IT TAKES TEN SECONDS FOR EACH CAMERA . IT TAKES NINETY SECONDS TO GO THROUGH THE SEQUENCE.

AS A TEST, WE VIOLATED THIS SYSTEM THREE TIMES IN ONE NIGHT. THE SECURITY PERSON NEVER SAW US COMING IN OR OUT OF THE BUILDING SO THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK VERY WELL.

THERE SHOULD BE CAMERAS PUT ON THE OUTSIDE OFTHE BUILDING TO PROTECT THE BUILDING FROM AN OUTSIDE HOME INVASION. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY A SECURITY PERSON COULD SEE SOMEONE COMING IN FROM THE WOODS TO FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING.

AT THE SAME TIME ELDERS AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING WERE DENIED ACCESS TO THE FAX COPIER. RESIDENTS MAY NOW ONLY USE THE FAX COPIER DURING BUSINESS HOURS, IN OTHER WORDS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT AM TO FOUR PM. MY QUESTION WAS ON A SNOW DAY, THE GOVERNMENT IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, THE WORKERS ARE OFF AND A RESIDENT NEEDS TO MAKE A COPY OR FAX SOMETHING HE HAS TO GO OUT IN THE SNOW STORM WHEN A FAX COPIER EXISTS IN THE BUILDING. THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE RESIDENTS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO USE THE FAX COPIER IS THAT IT IS IN A BUSINESS AREA AND THAT THEY ARE AFRAID OF WHAT A RESIDENT MIGHT DO. IS NOT THE FAX COPIER THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS?

ON CONTACTING THE TRIBAL COUNCIL I GOT SEVERAL RESPONSES THE MOST ALARMING WAS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL WHO SAID "THE SECURITY WAS SUFFICENT." HE SAID HE WOULD BUY A FAX AND THAT WE COULD INSTALL IT IN THE MEETING ROOM AT FORT HILL WHICH HAS AN OUTSIDE PHONE LINE. TO DATE THEY HAVE NOT DONE THIS.



I THINK THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SHOULD RELOOK AT THIS SITUATION AND DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY SITUATION.