Private Flock Meetings with City Staff
To our understanding select members of our City Staff are under NDAs with Flock
Flock Safety on Dec 9th invited Woodstock City Council members to a private “Headlines vs. Facts” Q&A, select members accepted. Those same members will vote on a city budget that includes funding for the 6 Flock AI Surveillance cameras around the Woodstock Square.
To our understanding all have had to sign an NDA with Flock Safety. That’s not normal!
Below is a copy of the Meeting Invite that went out.
FOIA of Flock Meetings with Woodstock [Download PDF]
Our Police Chief John Lieb seems more interested in convincing Council Members and less on bring forward the questions raised by citizens to Flock.
Private Access, Public Money
This was a closed, vendor-run session held in response to negative press. Flock controlled the framing, the discussion, and reportedly what attendees could disclose afterward.
Elected officials should not be receiving material information about a pending budget decision under an NDA from the company that benefits from that decision.
“Headlines vs. Facts” Is Not Neutral Meeting
Labeling criticism as “misinformation” before engaging it shifts the burden away from the vendor. Disagreement becomes something to correct rather than something to evaluate and consider.
If reporting is wrong, the fix is public documentation and independent review. Private reassurance does not correct the record
What Was Not Offered
There is no promise of independent audits, local accuracy data, clear data-retention limits, FOIA analysis, or constraints on future expansion.
Surveillance systems expand quietly. A few cameras at a time. Each addition framed as minor and reasonable. Private briefings and NDAs reduce friction at exactly the moment scrutiny should increase.
Public money should not hinge on private briefings or confidential assurances. If Woodstock is seriously considering additional Flock cameras, we should be asking for independent 3rd party audits.
What is next? What can you do?
Make your concerns heard during public comments Feb 3rd @7pm Woodstock City Hall.
Email our Council Members and Police Chief & Mayor
And Learn more: Learn More about Flock
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