Council Presents Legislation Requiring Security Surveillance at High Occupancy Dwellings and Senior Housing Residences

Legislation Proposed by Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. Includes Camera Surveillance as a Public Safety Tool

The Prince George’s County Council, during session on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, presented Council Bill-066-2023, legislation proposed by Council Member Wala Blegay, Esq. (District 6) requiring security surveillance at high occupancy dwellings and security guards at age-restricted senior housing residences. 

Under the measure, Prince George’s County Government would require high occupancy apartment buildings, or groups of buildings, comprised of more than 100 units to have security cameras located at each building with a 180-degree field of view, and at each aperture designated for ingress and egress, and each parking lot, parking garage, car park, and parking facility. The landlord must retain the camera footage for at least 30 days. 

For age-restricted senior housing dwellings, the bill would require at least one 12-hour security guard on duty each day of the week. Additionally, the Council bill has provisions requiring landlords to repair defective or malfunctioning equipment within 14 business days. 

Council Vice Chair Blegay says more security cameras in the County offer yet another tool to help keep residents safe, including the County’s vulnerable senior community.  

“We want our residents to feel safe. There has been an increase in crime in apartments and age-restricted senior housing dwellings and this bill is one step toward preventing break-ins and other types of crime in Prince George’s County.”

District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha and District 8 Council Member Edward Burroughs III are also sponsors of CB-66-2023, which has been referred to the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) committee for legislative review. 

In other action on Tuesday, Council Bill 067-2023 was also presented. The legislation, also proposed by Vice Chair Blegay, would require County agencies to publish annual procurement forecasts on their websites to inform the public of the County’s procurement selections.

Council Member Blegay said the measure is in keeping with the People’s Council’s core tenet of Ensuring Transparency in Government. 

“We must ensure that the County is held accountable in setting policies to increase small and minority business owners’ participation in the County’s procurement process.  This bill will allow residents to see whether the County is meeting its goal of increasing the participation of small and minority business owners in the County’s procurement process,” said Council Vice Chair Blegay. 

CB-067-2023 has been referred to the Council’s Government, Operations, and Fiscal Policy (GOFP) Committee for legislative review. 

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