Cumberland Reimagined | Security a central theme: Nearly 50 'eyes' will be on downtown area

Nov. 13—CUMBERLAND — Several discussions during the downtown revitalization project included safety and crime prevention.

Last year, plans were under way for a state-of-the-art surveillance system, and the city gave roughly 40 Ring video doorbells to downtown businesses.

Nearly $150,000 in grants funded the security project that initially included 13 cameras equipped with sophisticated facial and license plate recognition capabilities.

In April 2023, Matt Miller, executive director of the Cumberland Economic Development Corp., and a contractor from ARK Systems Inc., which is based in Columbia and has an office in Cumberland, visited downtown merchants to discuss the project.

"All 13 of them have been extremely responsive," Miller said at that time.

By August 2023, the city secured agreements with the majority of property owners needed for the installation of the cameras.

The following October, Miller said the CEDC worked directly with the Cumberland Police Department to identify locations for the cameras.

"It was very strategic," he said.

The surveillance system is also expandable, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said last year and added the cameras were located in alleys as well as along streets.

In February, Miller said the cameras were scheduled to begin live recording.

"I'm very happy with the coverage," he said at that time of the surveillance system.

Today, nearly 50 cameras monitor downtown, Miller said.

No smokingThe mayor and city council in August said Baltimore Street in the area of the mall should be welcoming to the public at large.

"Prohibiting smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products at that location will assist in that effort," an ordinance they passed at that time stated.

The law covers the public right-of-way of Baltimore Street from its intersections with the north side of Mechanic Street and south side of Queen City Drive.

Penalties include a $50 fine for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $500 for any violation thereafter.

"Each instance where a person violating the terms of this section fails to comply with an order to stop the activity shall be deemed to be a separate violation," the ordinance states. "Any person who fails to pay the fine within the period set forth in the citation shall be banned from the area where smoking is prohibited until such time as their fines for the violation of this section are paid."