Condo Media - February 2018 - 35

notes. "They can't magically create
more staff," he notes, "but they can give
the one employee, sitting at a desk five
pairs of eyes," able to watch multiple
entrances simultaneously.
Lanni has seen cameras used effectively for non-traditional purposes,
among them: The parking garage that
used high-tech video equipment to
scan all sides of cars as they entered, to
refute claims of damages caused by the
valet parking service. "The system paid
for itself in 18 months," Lanni says.
Surveillance cameras have become
almost standard equipment in residential properties today, Lanni says. "You'll
find them in condominiums of all sizes,
large and small." And he thinks that's an
argument for communities that don't
have them to put them in place. An association defending itself in a securityrelated damage claim, he notes, will be
hard-pressed to explain why it doesn't
have equipment that comparable communities have.
Boards considering surveillance cameras should think carefully about their
goals and about the equipment best
suited to them, he emphasizes. "Every
property has its own challenges, its own
philosophy about security, and its own
budget. What is appropriate for one
property won't necessarily be the best
choice for another." Boards that don't
think and plan carefully before buying
their equipment will almost certainly
be disappointed in the results, Lanni
cautions. His suggestions include:
n Scale down rather than up. "Buy a
few pieces of high quality equipment
rather than buying more lower quality
equipment that you'll have to replace
in a year.
n Locate the cameras strategically,
where they will be most effective. Elevators top his list of most desirable
locations, because "they are the most
expensive equipment in common
areas," and are so often damaged by
movers, contractors, and delivery
personnel. Cameras will document
the association's damage claims. They

also have crime detection benefits.
"Professional burglars almost always
take the elevator," Lanni notes. "And
cameras there will provide the closest
clearest image you are likely to get."
He recalls one burglar "who took the
time to wipe his fingerprints from the
elevator button, but forgot to cover
his face."
n Budget for ongoing maintenance,
repair and replacement costs of the
equipment you purchase. "Camera
systems are part of the infrastructure,"
Lanni says. "You can't just put them in
a closet and forget about them."
n Make any system you buy expandable, so you can add to it in the future
instead of replacing it. "I've never seen
a property that didn't decide it wanted
to add features later. You want to
make sure your system will allow
you to do that."

n Consider data security issues. Any
system connected to the internet -as
many surveillance systems are-will
need passwords, access protocols,
firewalls, and other security features
to protect against hacking and unauthorized access.
n Create a data storage policy. Boards
should decide how and where they
are going to store surveillance data,
in what form, and who will have access to it.
n Balance security needs and privacy
concerns. "An association has the
right to monitor activities in common
areas," Lanni notes, and it should
install the equipment necessary to do
that. But boards also have to consider
the sensibilities of their residents.
"No one wants 30 video cameras
starting at them when they're walking
down the hall."

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A preferred general contractor & restoration specialist since 1996
Kieran Fitzgibbon, President
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February 2018

Condo Media - February 2018

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