PITTSBURGH – Nearly 18 percent of cameras placed throughout the city of Pittsburgh are out of commission after an electronic security contractor pulled the plug on the devices due to an unpaid bill.
In 2009, the city deployed has 153 cameras to monitor the city waterways after receiving a federal grant. The city is responsible for covering the maintenance fee; however, officials have failed to pay Avrio RMS Group, a Washington, D.C.-based integrator, since 2012, TribLive.com reports.
Because of the city’s failure to pay, 27 cameras are not operating.
City council members have blamed former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s administration for neglecting to cover the bill. For his part, Ravenstahl, who left office in December, said he had no direct oversight of the maintenance agreement.
Current Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto notes that the cameras have helped the city catch criminal suspects and is eager for the cameras to begin operating again, CBS News reports.
City council members plan to vote Wednesday to turn the cameras back on.
