The municipality's video CCTV policy came under scrutiny last week when it was subjected to an annual review by council.

Councilor Meirion Jones questioned if Trent Hills was meeting the standards set by Ontario's privacy commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, in the placement of video cameras and the length of time it stored recordings.

The municipality monitors two areas: the swimming pool and the east side of the Trent River where boats dock.

Coun. Jones said the CCTV camera at the public library that is aimed across the street to capture activity at the pool violates the principle espoused by Dr. Cavoukian that cameras should only monitor the property where they are located.

She also advocates the erasure of recordings after 72 hours at the latest, the councilor said, whereas the municipality's policy has been seven days, which a staff report before council recommended is extended to 17 days.

Clerk Marg Montgomery explained the change had to do with the municipality switching from using a succession of one-day tapes to recording images on a computer hard drive triggered by motion. Erasure automatically occurs every two to 17 days under the new system.

Ms. Montgomery stated in her report to council the use of surveillance cameras on municipally owned or operated property must be in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. She also noted the practice assisted the OPP in the investigation of incidents of graffiti and vandalism at the pool in 2010.

Councillor Gene Brahaney supported the municipality's two-year-old policy, saying Trent Hills was forced to take action as a result of criminal activity affecting the library and boaters.

Ms. Montgomery told council the bylaw had been challenged in court and upheld.

Her argument failed to sway Coun. Jones, who said the issue, had nothing to do with breaking the law but with the invasion of privacy. He pointed out the privacy commissioner does support CCTV cameras but "with strict limitations."

He was the lone council member to vote against the change in policy that allows for a longer period for the retention of footage.

Trent Hills and District Chamber of Commerce pushed to have video CCTV put in place along the east side of the river after a boat was broken into and other "isolated instances" that threatened to give Campbellford "a bad reputation," executive director Nancy Allanson said in an interview.